Denver labor bulletin., 1915-08-07
DENVER ISCROSEN
FORSTATEM MEETING
Referendum Vote Decision Is
Practically Unanimous
State Federation Of Labor Convention
Will Be Held Here in September and
Reorganization Plans Under Way

With one or two exceptions, every al
filiated union voting has declared IN
favor of holding the Colorado State
Federation OF Labor convention in Den
Yer some time during the latter part of
September. This is in response to the
two referendum propositions submitted
about three weeks ago. Returns were to
reach headquarters in Denver not later
than August 8. \ call for election of
delegates and setting a date for the
meeting will be sent out by the Fedora
tion officials next week.
At the Pueblo convention last wear
it was voted to hold the 1915 meeting in
Salids. but later developments made this
plan inadvisable. Salida unions voted in
favor OF changing the meeting place to
Denver. There was some talk OF call
ing off this years convention. but Il
was frOwned down as being i'll advised,
and the movement to change the place
and date was submitted to a vote of
the various unions
Now that it / definitely determined
that the session viii be held in Denver,
plans for changing some of the laws are
being discussed. and program for re-
habilitsting the State Federation will no
doubt be undertaken. To this end it l.
certain that repeal of the present mi
tiative and referendum election OF Of
fieers viii be proposed. Many claim it
has enabled officers OF the Federation 70
perpetuate their tenure and taken
most important interest out of the an
nual meetings. Last year the repeal OF
this law was advocated at the Pueblo
convention, and lost by a narrow mar
gin. 1t VIII no doubt pass at the Den
Yer meeting next month.
A fight viii also be made it is said.
to eliminate delegates who represent
paper organizations For years the
Colorado State Federation of Labor has
permitted delegates TO be seated Who
represent no unions other than a name
inscribed ON piece of paper, These
delegates are able often to be the con-
trolling factor in the conventions and
are responsible for legislation that is
not indorsed by bora fide labor unions
II those who are advocating this change
have their way, no delegate will be
seated unless he represents real union
payirg per capita To the State Fedora
ton
Some of the Denver unionists are
said TO be in favor of complete re
organization. with an entire new set OF
officers. particularly the secretary and
eNtNAtNt pNdiu iutHiptI>- WHO are >Htu
to have been controlled by certain po-
litical interests in the past
While no outspoken opposition to
John McLennau OF the United Mine
Workers for president. has been heard.
the opposition TO w. I. Hickey for re-
election as seeretary-treasurer Il loud
and voluminous. 1t is predicted he will
not stand for another term. For this
position three candidates have been gem
orally mentioned. They are William
Koch of the Denver Brewery Workers
Union. Richard +. Croskey OF the Dem
yer Cooks Union. former secretary OF
the State Federation. and Ed. Ander-
son Of the Pueblo BARRIERS Union. now
one of the vice presidents and member
of the executive board. 1t is under
stood the Trinidad unions will also have
a candidate for secretary treasurer.
Repeal of the initiative and referen-
dunn law and adoption of Il plan for re-
organization by the Forthcoming CON
vention. may result in Officers being
elected by delegates at the Denver meet
ing