Denver labor bulletin., 1915-10-09
huasion by Commission
By SAMUEL COMPERS
Editorial IN October American Federationist.

OF wide discretion. Interpretation and ap-
plication. This has recently been illus
trated by an action of the Colorado in
dustrial commission This commission
forbade the BARRIERS Union of Pueblo
from removing 2 union card from a
shop the proprietor OF which had violated
the rules governing prices for certain
work When this case WAS brought be
fore the commission. il decided that the
shopkeeper must be given certain num-
ber OF days to make up his mind to
charge the price demanded by the union
before having the union card removed
The controversy grew tout OF the fact
that a machine for sharpening safety
razor blades had been installed in the
barber shop and the work was done for
rs cents dozen instead of the regular
price OF 80 cents for sharpening an ordi-
nary razor. Altho the union finally
won in this dispute. the incident plainly
demonstrates how such commission can
and does interfere in affairs wholly
without its jurisdiction.
The law which created this commits
sion prescribed its full powers fol-
lows: To enforce laws relating to child
labor. factory inspection. employment of
women wage Gamers and to protect the
life. health. and safety of employees in
employment and places of employments.
The commission was authorized to pre-
scribe safety devices and TO establish
standards OF safety, to license and super
wise private employment agencies; col
lect. eollate and publish statistical and
other information relating to the work
under its jurisdiction and to administer
and enforce compensation laws of the
state
Tho the jurisdiction of the commission
was clearly defined. limited and easily
aseertained, that newly made body has
usurped the authority to interfere with
the rules which the BARRIERS Union had
established to regulate relations with
their employers This incident indicates
a tendency that is regarded by those
who are watching the situation carefully
as extremely significant. In this in
stance il was an invasion OF the lawful
rights of the BARRIERS Union. Who knows
but that these invasions may not be ex-
tended to other workers and to other or
ganizationss
Ii the Industrial commission of the
state OF Colorado or any other state in
terpreted its functions authority to
interfere in the regulations which the
voluntary organizations of labor shall
determine for themselves. il is plainly
pare to protect itself against such in
vasion OF its rights and power. Such
regulating power exercised by any polit-
zeal agency would create the same sort
OF u trade union that exists under the
wages boards or compulsory arbitra-
tion laws. that is to say. this new svs-
TEN would break the power OF the or
ganization. would destroy the voluntary
spirit and would sap the militant spirit
and the resourcefulness and independ-
enee that have made the trade union
organizations OF America the most pow
ertul aud most effective organizations
that are to be found anywhere.
The wage earners can not afford to
delegate To any outside authority polit-
ical control for the determination OF
their conditions OF work or hours OF
work or wages. To do SO is to detrnct
from their prestige, to destroy their
power and to render them ineffective
Repeatedly the warning has been given
that these numerous attempts to rcgu-
late industrial conditions and evils 5v
law are insidious dangers 10 the best in
tcrcs,> and welfare of the wage earncrs.
Numerous illustrations of this have oc-
CURED during the past year. One of the
most notable was the attempt to enact
for the state OF California law which
prevented the voluntary trade unions
from establishing regulations for apprcn-
ticrs. The trade unionists must guard
with particular care against all such at
tempt, at legislative invasion OF the
jurisdiction that they control thru thei,
ecouomic organizations. Their safety and
their welfare depend ON their maintain
ing their economic power and economic
organization wholly under their own
control.