United labor bulletin., 1913-02-20

1t is charged by friends of the depart
ment that promises have been made by
the auditors office to allow the Western
Federation officials to name the APP
pointees OF the labor department, should
the transfer be consummated
While President McIennan of the
state Federation. of the Unions FEEDER
ated Protective league, of the United
Nine Workers of America. district No.
10, etc. Is with the miners in the fight,
secretary Hickey is playing both ends
against the middle. as usual He is hold
ing his position through suffrage of the
two miners organizations and at the
same time working against the wishes
o. the two miners unions officials in the
hight against the labor department
The fight is not one to benefit labor.
out one of control The miners first CEN
tered on Sheriff NJ. P. Capp of Boulder
county to defeat Secretary of State
Pearce, and when this had failed our
laoor politicians are striving to transfer
the department to the auditors Office
Inere can be only one reason for this
disruption and dissention in the ranks of
labor, and disorganization of the labor
department. should the contemplated
legislation be passed. and that reason is
JOBS
Deputy State Labor Commissioner
Brake has addressed the following COM
munication to one of the Western Fed
Grafton locals in reply to resolution
that was passed by that local condemn
ing the state labor department.:
Feb. II, 1918.
To the officers and Members, Castle
Rock Union w. F. of NJ, Salida, Colo
Gentlemen:
l am informed through the daily press
that your union adopted a set OF resolu-
tions condemning myself and the labor
department for the non-enforcement of
the miners eight-hour law: also you say
that Thousands of men have been
obliged to work in direct violation Of the
eight-hour law for miners because the
commissioner does not act.''
VIII you be so kind as to tell me when
and where these men were working in
violation of the eight-hour act? And you
also allege that l have failed to exer-
else the power vested in me in the in
terest of labor. or make any attempt TO
do so until forced by repeated protest"
VIII you inform me where and when
have failed to act on any labor trouble
or violation OF labor law. when reported
to me? l await your reply with interest.
For your information l will inform you
that there has been no miners eight
hour law in operation until January,
1913, and for that matter there is not
now, until the courts have determined
WnlCn elSnt-lOur law Tor miners Is In
operation at the present time.
The truth is that the muddled up con-
dition of the miners eight-hour laws can
be laid at the door of your own officers.
for had they been as active in their duty
to the men who are paying them their
salaries. the miners, as they have been
trying to control the labor politics of the
union people of this state and endeavor-
ing to make political bosses of them
selves. the miners would now be enjoys
ing the benefits of a genuine eight-hour
law.
AS an illustration of this l cite the re-
suit of the last election in the Cripple
Greek district on the miners eight-hour
law: The miners are supposed to have
$50 members in Teller county; they had
II delegates in the last State Federation
OF Labor convention. which would give
them that membership. and yet we lind
that only 675 votes were recorded
against the fake eight-hour law in that
county and that 1904 votes were cast
for the fake law. With this showing in
one of the w. f. of NJ strongholds of the
state who was derelict in their duty TO
the miners OF the state-your officers or
the labor commissioner.
Why We're your officers not awake and
conducting an active campaign for this
measure. instead of being busy with
so-called labor political committee In
Denver. passing resolutions against and
| fighting Mr.. Pearce in his candidacy for
the office OF secretary of state; what for?
No other reason than that they wanted
TO control the labor politics and labor
political jobs in the state labor depart
ment. and indorsing corporation candi-
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