United labor bulletin., 1914-11-14


~ lots, the Republicans are now
confronted by new army of
jobseekers They have been
picking dry bones for the past six years
and are as hungry as Belgian refugees
Unfortunately for them, however, the
Democrats, while the feast was on, en-
acted civil service law which permits
of only very limited amount of plum
gathering Under the very comprehen-
sive state civil service law which went
into effect January l, 1913, 1,03l state
political jobs, excluding those of the
courts, formerly filled by the 'to the
victor belongs the spoils" system. are
now under the merit system, and new
appointments may be made only to fill
vacancies which exist through resigna-
tions or dismissal for cause, the latter
of which must be approved by the civil
service commission. OF this total num-
ber, AIS are State House employees. 1t
is understood practically all of these
have passed the examination and hold
firm grip on their jobs. The Demo-
Gratis will have majority OF one or
two votes in the State Senate, so that
any attempt to repeal the merit, law is
doomed to failure. The only state de-
partment exempted is that of the at
torney general, and as Fred Farrar,
there will probably be no changes. Each
State House official is permitted to ap-.
point chief deputy and no more. Gov
ernor Carlson will have a few choice
plums to hand out They are: One tax
commissioner at So 600 year; public
utilities commissioner. $4,000; engineer
and register of the land board, $1,000;
private secretary, $1,000; adjutant gen
eral, S2,400; assistant. 81 500. There are
also number of civil service positions
which will be vacated when civil service
examinations are held, and must be
filled permanently by the governor from
the eligible list established by the civil
service commission. They are: Bank
commissioner at $4,000 a year; state
engineer, $4,000; coal mine inspector.
$4,000; warden of the penitentiary, So
500: printing commissioner. 81 800; pure
food commissioner. $500: commission
er of mines, $500, and four deputies at
81 900. Therefore, the prospects for the
army of job hunters storming entrenched
positions of the present job holders,
most OF whom are Democrats, is not
very promising.
:. :.
This has not been good year for
women entries on the Colorado political
race course. One might think that hav-
ing had equal suffrage with men in
this state for % years the gentler sex
would make a better showing. but the
mean men won't vote for them. appar-
emily, and the dear ones don't seem to
harmonic among themselves to any
4 winning extent. OF the ten women who
figured as nominees of the three lead
ing political parties in the recent state
election only two came in under the
wire as leaders. These two are Mrs.
T. oil tod ff.
superintendent of public instruction, and
Mrs. Evangeline Hearth, one of the three
I Democrats elected to the House of Rep
I resentatives in Denver. Mrs. IIcartz,
however, is not new to the job having
served previously as Estate legislator.
She is the wife OF a union bricllayer.
and is therefore classed among the
small labor group" elected to the Gen
cral Assembly. The o. p. naturally
feels u keen interest in her ability to
come back" for when we made a
speech in behalf of her candidacy few
months ago before the school board to be
appointed to vacancy she was defeat
ed. Notwithstanding the defeat of Mrs.
Agnes Riddle for secretary of state.
whom the women of all political demon
nations professed to support, they still
have hope. Said one of them to the
o. p. this week: There is no gloom
among the women about the results.
The suffragists Of Colorado have lost
the illusions OF youth. In the wisdom
OF maturity they admit that women
are very human; quite as human as
men. They vote and play the political
game much the same as men"
:. -.
c. b. Timberlake of Sterling, the only
Republican elected to Congress in Colo
nh do, tal l. S.II
ridge in the Second district, admits that
he won by reason OF the support and
| influence OF his Democratic wife. Two
years ago Mrs. Timberlake supported
Seldomridge and he won by a hand
some majority over his opponent. He
gave full credit for this victory to the
astuteness and energy OF Mrs. Timber
lake, long recognized as a political pow
er in northern and eastern Colorado IL
is said that this year Mr.. Timberlake
refused to become a candidate until his
wife had made 4 solemn pledge to sup
port him. Everyone now agrees that
this was a very wise and diplomatic
move. Harry Seldomridge, however, is
a good loser and is said to have even
a higher opinion of Mrs. Timberlake's
political sagacity this year than ex
pressed by him two years ago.
=: =
The O. p welcomes Marsden g. Scott.
installed president of the international
Typographical Union on November ] to
the circle of optimists. In his first Of
ficial letter sent to presidents, secre-
taries, label committees and chapel
chairmen throughout the jurisdiction he
says: Straight ahead lies the broad,
safe road to further progress, prospcri-
ty and industrial peace for the members
of our Oreat international Union In
times of business depression the voice
nf fla x,cssiInisf 10 hon I'd ahoyn all the