Denver labor bulletin., 1915-12-18
GOMPERS
ANSWERS
MCLAUGHLIN
President Of A. F. Of l.
Don't Like Ruling
Controversy RACES Over the Bar
ber'S Card Removal in Pueblo.
a Few Months Ago; and
He Is Emphatic

President Gompers OF the American
Federation of Labor has had consider
able correspondence with Chairman F.
Z. Mclaughlin regarding rulings made
by the State Industrial Commission re-
garding the right OF the BARRIERS Union
OF Pueblo to control the Barbers' union
card in that city, some time ago. On
October 8. 1915, President Gompers' let
ter headed. Invasion by Commission"
was published in full in The Bulletin.
In the issue of October l6 Chairman Ne
Laughlin's reply was also published in
full in these columns
II will be remembered by the readers
that the ease was brought before the
Industrial Commission by an employer
OF union BARRIERS in Pueblo. When the
union proceeded to take the card from
the shop because the employing barber
refused to comply with rules of the
union, and created quite furore among
trades unionists OF the state.
In the December issue of the Ameri-
car Federationist President Gompers
publishes further correspondence regard
ing the matter, and We give it complete
herewith MIR. Gompers says: Mr.. E.
j.. Mclaughlin, chairman, in the name
of the Industrial Commission OF Colo
rado, took exception to the editorial, and
wrote me claiming that L had done the
industrial Commission an injustice and
asking that his letter to me setting forth
his position should be given equal pub
licity in the American Federationist with
the editorial l wrote him that l had
no desire to do the commission an in
justice, but that the information upon
which the editorial was based had been
given me from several official sources
and that it would be necessary to make
further investigation before taking any
action in regard to his request
Immediately | wrote to several labor
men who were in position to have init
mate first-hand information in regard to
the incident in question The principle
involved is one OF fundamental import
anee to the whole labor movement ana
to human freedom.
The whole incident was considered by
the convention of the Colorado State
Federation of Labor at its last meeting.
and the convention adopted q resolution.
demanding amendment of the law which
would take from the commission any
power that might be interpreted as an
it to regulate wages, hours OF
work or in any way infringing upon the
rights and liberties OF the
wage earners. The late correspondence
is as follows:
American Federation OF Labor, Washing
ton, d, c., Oct. 10, 1915.
Mr.. +. f. Mclaughlin. Commissioner, In
dustrial Commission of Colorado. Cap
itol Building. Denver. Colo.
Dear Sir; Your interesting communi-
cation. dated October II, reached here
the 18th, while l was in Indianapolis
attending the funeral services OF the late
Mr.. James Kirby, president of the UNI
ted brotherhood of Carpenters ard join
er> OF America. Since sny return | have
been engaged in the closing work in CON
nection with the November issue of the
American Federationist, and also with
the preparation of the reports which ar,
to be submitted to the San Francisco
OF the American Federation
of Labor. Hence | have been unable to
give Your communication earlier atten-
tion. and even now it is impossible TO
give it the attention it deserves.
OF course the information upon which
my criticism of the action OF the com
mission MAS based was forwarded to me
nom several sources, personal and OF
fetal. and had no reason TO doubt it,
and aecuraey.
| should say that | am making inquir,
from those who have furnished me with
The first Information. and others.
Upon one thing you may rest assured.
hat it has not been and Is not now IN,
to attribute any wrongful.
course or purpose 10 anyone when the
same is undeserved. and if as you say
there is no basis for the criticism, it
viii b. clearly set forth.
lnas,nueh as ! am to leave here on
October so for san Francisco, and will
be away from the office Tor fully fN.
weeks. it will be impossible to receive
the information | desire prior to my leas
my, and hence the publication OF your
letter. with such statement as may b,
II, eessary 10 he made by me, cannot bs=
considered before the hcember issue.
but | can assure YOU there will be no
delay.
In addition should say that the tone
Of Your letter is agreeab.y cordial, and
fContinued ON Istpx. Six.l