United labor bulletin., 1914-08-29
THE OPTIMISTIC
PHILOSOPHER

Next to visit to that dear old At
lanta, Ga, trip to Pueblo is the next
best thing for the encouragement of a
genial disposition. While down there
last week attending the State Fedora
tion of Labor convention the o. p. had
the pleasure of mingling with friends of
former days who are always on the
level and stand hitched to the good
fellow post on stormy days as faithfully
as when the sun shines and the big cot
tonwoods are in full bloom along the
Arkansas river or when apple blossoms
shed their fragrance on the shores of
Lake Minnequa. No city this side of
Dixieland corrals so many men and
women of even temperament. NJ. ID.
Thatcher, with his 60-odd millions, still
goes to the postoffice for the a. m.
mail just as he did when he conducted
business of the First National bank in
a little adobe house, and Frank NJ
Hermond continues to settle all political
issues at the Waldorf. There is no
great class distinction, and the man
who works in the smelter is Just as
free and welcome in the magnificent
Elks' club rooms as the merchant
prince. Women shun cosmetics, and
their natural charms, not too lavishly
displayed, form one of the city's chief
attractions to Denver pilgrims. Yes. it's
a real treat to spend week in Pueblo
and hear Judge George Sets tell about
his hay fever and how he lost the stI-
perfluous crown he once wore on the
northeast corner of his bald pate
{. -.
And speaking of Judges recalls the
pleasure of renewing acquaintance with
Judge Bob Cowles on this occasion. The
o. p. and the judge met one afternoon
in front of Billy Aliens thirst en-
porium at the juncture of Main street
and Union avenue. After compliment
ing each other on our rejuvinated and
youthful appearance, the judge involun-
tarily invited the o. p. inside to 'have
something" and We marched to the ma
hogany with accustomed. alacritv
"What'll you havef" said Judge Bob as
he placed a bright piece of coin on the
bar. "a glass of Manitou water" was
the answer. and he took the same Billy
recovered from his surprise in time to
serve the aqua pura, while the Judge
and the o. p. discussed other DAYS when
We were both members of the Amalga-
mated Association of Four Flushers.
organized for interior irrigation pur-
poses during the international Trriga-
tion Congress held at Pueblo four years
ago which aforesaid A. 4. of F. +. had
four members and a waiting list of 524.
Those were the times when We worked
day and night on the job and were
considered without rivals in the game
Now the judge is married, has his law
offices on the top floor of the new
Thatcher building and is leading the
simple, peaceful life. But his genial
nature and optimism are as radiant as
ever.
There are no self-proclaimed bell.
COWS" among the trades unionists OF
Pueblo, and therefore factional fights
and discord are unknown. The true
spirit Of unity exists all along the line
and among the skilled trades there are
comparatively few non-unionists. OF
course there is a large foreign element
employed in the smelters and steel
works who have not as vet been reached
by the unions, but for the most part
they are unskilled laborers. The Trades
and Labor Assembly is a growing, CON
structive organiza tion. and is Just NOV
ing into new and more commodious
quarters vacated by the Order of
Moose, which has purchased a new
home. During convention week the AS
sembly kept open house, and the brand
of hospitality passed along to delegates
and visitors was class A Also citizens
of the city generally took cognizance
of the fact that labor meeting of
some Importance was being held there.
Business houses and the princpa,
streets were profusely decorated with
the national colors, and the hand of wei.
come was extended by all.
{. -:
While Denver printers are investing
all their surplus funds in Fords those
of Pueblo are acquiring ranches and
outstanding for eventualities of aid age
Harry Mcintyre had just come in from
three months planting and harvesting
on his broad l60 acres near Boone and
told a story of prosperity that even
beat editing labor paper-aud he had
money to prove it. Told the o. p. that
reading this column each week had
been of great help to him in his farm
work, principally because of an ener.
getic effort to find something herein
that would harmonize with the title
given this department, for he claimed
the innocent amusement thus afforded
took his mind off the rough work con-
fronting him next day. OF course there
was more or less sarcasm in this, for
Harry ran a labor paper in Denver at
one time, and just because he had no
Optimistic Philosopher or some other
avenue in which to give vent to the
overflow, it busted. However, Harry is
now a successful farmer, and only re-
grets that he did not find his proper
sphere earlier in life.
{. -.
Another labor union farmer of Pueblo
is Lee Tanquary. He is on the in
tcnsivc order with less acres and
greater production. Lees activities are
of the orchard and garden vegetable va