Denver labor bulletin., 1915-02-27
The Optimistic
Philosopher
HERE isn't going to be any sun
burst halo of glory encircling the
totem pole heads Of members of

DuIst ualo Vi Sioiy tuShSAihB e.5c
totem-pole heads OF members of
the Twentieth General Assembly
of Colorado. judging from performances
mp to the hour this issue of The Bulle-
lin goes to press. Already it is being
compared with the dirty Seventh"
(which established a record for assinnine
Stupidity and duplicity in buneoing the
people. This assembly began by elect
ing o speaker Of the house before the
members had been sworn in. II has
been in session now for two months
without a single general measure of inn
portance being placed before the govern
or for his signature. Even the short
appropriation bill. once passed but ve-
tocd in part by Governor Carlson, still
hangs fire in the senate. As a sample of
incompetency almost unbelievable in a
parliamentary body, bill reported out
favorably by committee. was discussed
for two hours in the house the other day
and about to pass, when attention was
called to the fact that it carried no en-
acting clause and was therefore a dead
one. A spirit of revenge and intent to
get even" with some one dominates the
actions OF majority in both senate and
house The one consolation is that when
the members have drawn down 81 900
each ut the rate of 81 per day the scs-
sion will come to an ignominous close.
80
One member of the house at least has
been hailed before the Denver County
grand jury, in the person Of W. w. How
land, who has bad record as one of
the old Republican machine gang poll
ticians. He is called upon to explain
the mysterious delivery TO him in the
house some days ago OF a package con-
tanning $500 in 50-dollar bills with not
word to explain where from or for what
purpose A messenger boy delivered
scaled envelope addressed to Rowland to
the doorkeeper Of the house and the
latter, after signing for the package and
dismissing the messenger, called the
Denver soion TO the door and handed
him the envelope. Howland opened the
letter, which contained two pieces Of
cardboard and n number Of bills. In his
agitated surprise, Iiowlaud allowed sew
eral Of the hills to drop TO the floor.
Later he tried TO explain the incident
away by saying that the money WAS
due him from n private business tran
saction. This did not satisfy members
Of the grand Jury and the politician who
VAS mixed up in contracting a debt
upon the city OF SlS2.0Oo for voting
machines that were never used. seems
TO he IN for n regular third degree scs-
sion at the court house. Rowland in
troduced an anti-cigarctte bill. which was
later Withdrawn upon his own motion.
90
President Jesse r. Wclborn OF the
Colorado Fuel and Iron company has
been called upon the carpet at 20 Wall
street by both the John ID. RockefeIler-.
l.. x4rxl ... Iut Ia
nation as head Of the Rockefeller indus
tries IN Colorado viii be demanded. lie
may he unable TO satisfactorily explain
the vide difference between his tcsti-
mony given in Denver relating TO the
'toal strike and that submitted by young
John d. Rockefeller at the more recent
hearing ia New York. And the 10000
bulletins issued each week giving Facts
about the struggle for industrial free
dom In Colorado" 80 shamcle-siy ex-
posed by the United Mine Workers. Is
said to have caused Wclborn's stock to
drop with dull sickcning thud" at
headquarters Of the real hos. in New
York. II II believed Rockefeller may
discharge wclborn in order to convince
the public Of his good faith in trying
TO arriv- at better understanding with
labor. Up To date. Rockefeller has not
announced when he will make the trip
to Colorado 10 lcam the real truth about
conditions. as promised '.Motber" Jones
in New York during the industrial COM
mission hearing. This journey may come
soon after the conference with Wclborn.
which is being held this week. When he
left Denver last Tuesday, Welborn
merely announced that he would be ab-
sent ten days. but gave no reason for
his sudden departure. Maybe he will
he transferred to the staff OF the Rocke-
fellcr Foundation, as was l.. N. Bowers
recently. It's a way the Standard Oil
boss has Of shelving officials who have
lost their usefulness in exploiting labor.
Some public speakers seem never to
know when they reach the point to quit
and make good with an audience. Last