United labor bulletin., 1914-06-27
THE OPTIMISTIC
ILOSOPHER

imam N. rdiIley, one OF tne ma
tional commissioners appointed by Pres
ident Wilson to gather facts in relation
to the Colorado coal strike, upon which
information the President is preparing
to take steps that will force settle
ment of the long fight which has
brought the state into international dis
grace by reason of being inflicted at
the crucial period with weak and vacil.
lating governor, is in Denver this week.
Having known Farley intimately at his
home city of Birmingham, Ala, several
years ago, the o. P. took the liberty of
calling on him one evening this week at
his quarters in the Albany hotel for a
social chat of auld lang syne. 1t was
almost as good as being served up a
dish of corn pone and collards to meet
this man OF the mines from Dixie land,
who has been especially honored by the
President of the United States in an
appointment that requires all the finesse
OF foreign diplomat and the clear
headedness of Southern statesman.
Farley has been coal miner all his
life and now that he has reached his
sixty eighth year declares himself still
able to make good as a coal digger. For
IL years he was national executive board
member Gf the United Mine Workers
for the Alabama district, which place he
resigned to become national immigration
commissioner, filling this office nearly
three years. Then he was appointed ma :
tional organizer for the United Mine
Workers, specially assigned to the task
of settling wage disputes. His success in
this field caused Secretary of Labor
Wilson to suggest his name to the Pres
ident for member of the commission
representing labor to act as mediator
of the Colorado industrial trouble.
90
Our plutocratic friend, Crawford Hill,
who heads the Capitol Hill nobility and
was formerly publisher of the Denver
Republican, has entered vigorous pro-
test against the construction OF Billy
Sundays revival tabernacle at Tenth
avenue and Sherman street, Just across
the way from the pretentious mansion
of our aforesaid p. +. Mr.. Hill complains
that the foot tread of thousands who
will journey thence to get a permit to
travel safely across the Jordan are liable
to raise a dust that Will mantle his lawn
and disturb the peaceful quietude OF that
orderly neighborhood. so far removed
from usual paths of the average prole-
tartan. Besides, the hoi polloi might
rub elbows with sanctimonious members
of the hand-pieked ''thirty-siX," who
compose the cream de la cream of Den
ver's aristocracy. BY inference Mr.. Hill,
says himself and neighbors are not in
need of soul salvation, and If the wicked
poor want to be saved they should
gather in some other less sacred pre-
cinct OF the city. He tells the City
Council if a permit for the tabernacle
in that locality is granted he will apply
to the courts for an injunction.
{, q e
1T can't be DONE" declaim the pessi-
mistic men, while the optimistic women
proclaim, I'VE will do it." All because
the Colorado women politicians are
planning a silent gimshoe campaign to
elect some of their sisters to office
They have picked out for their very own
| the posts of state auditor and secretary
of state because they have the most
patrchage and can pass around some OF
the fat plums to the hungry sisters
| Also they want the job OF lieutenant
| governor and are grooming Mrs. Alma
V. Lafferty. former member OF the
House, for this place. For 81 years the
women have had the ballot in this state
and have not gained political prestige
| further than to get u superintendent oi
public instruction and an occasiona
member of the Legislature. But thi,
1 y
sooth, they are going to change theil
tactics, first OF which is to stop talking
''Wc have talked and we have accom-
plished nothing" said one dissatisfied
suffragist. 1--WE have talked too much
that's the trouble" Absolutely silent il
is to be, and it even pains the womer
politicians to tell about it. 1t is reall,
too clever an idea to keep secret. There
fore the frameup is in the making will
office as the goal. and no back talk t,
anyone. If your wife or sweetheart
refuses to talk it's sure sign she il
either a candidate or is getting in form
to throw her latest Sixteenth street
headgear into the ring.
Colorado spent $500, 900 to erect new
marble state museum at Fourteenth
avenue and Sherman street, opposite tn,
Capitol, and then discovered that it ha,
no use for the structure, as there wer,
no collection of relics not already suita
bly, provided for other than n few mum
/ mics and stuffed animals to be remove,
from the Capitol basement. Efforts o
the Capitol managers to induce th'
Court of Appeals and other state off
cials to move into the new building bav,
been in vain, for they resist bein,
classed as freaks for curious visitors t,
inspect and comment upon as they do II
the Smithsonian Institute at Washing
ton. Tenants are wanted, for the bean
tifnl marble palace is practically cmpt,
and unless the Bull Moosers win tn,
election this fall there will probably b.
no demand for it, as Governor Ammon
has already announced that he prefer
retiring to his obscure ranch in Rout
county. A museum without exhibits will
prove n very uninteresting place TO
tourists. However, there is talk of plas
tering the walls of one room with tn
unstable 81 100000 worth of bonds is