Denver labor bulletin., 1915-09-18
Strictly Business and No
Pleasure FfillS
First Session VIM Cenveae At Noon
IN Trades Asseably IAN: uec-
Ton ef 0liicers Nay Prove
ExcitiafEvsatslWeek

The twentieth annual convention OF
the Colorado State Federation Of Labor
will open at noon Monday in Trades A.
ssmbIy hall. corner Eighteenth and
Champa streets. Inssmuch ~ the meet
ing was originally scheduled for Selida
and only recently tsansferred TO Dem
yer by a referendum vote, the usual pro-
gram OF entertainment will be missing.
For this reason IL Is expected the con-
vention will at once get down to bust.
ness and probably make a record for
shortness of time in which the work
IL completed
No formal exercises viii mark the
opening session. President John Me
Lehman viii call the meeting 10 order
and appoint a committee on credentials.
aud u there arr no contested delegs-
tions a report may be submitted the
same afternoon. The standing conven-
tion committees will be named and re.
ports of the president. secretary -treas-
urer and vice presidents read
Sentiment Favors Change.
As stated in last weeks Bulletin. there
u widespread sentiment in favor Of re-
peaIing the present initiative and refer
cndum plan Of nominating and ciecting
Officers. and this may BE- considered
early in the convention when the COM
mittee on rules and order Of business
submits its report
The referendum plan Of ei-cting Off
ccu was adep<e1 st ~ Trinidah con-
- Sss,SSse z 8 - 1tcsssS i "a
aever sefessel - vsts ~ the snssas
and therefore can h rpeaIed BY
majority vote Of the delegates. In event
.thie is done election and installation Of
3sfsccrs win take place during this con-
Erntion.
Y Some ten or twelve years ago the ini-
tiafive and referendum system Of cleo
ticn was tried by the State Federation
and proved unsatisfactory as II has in
this instance. The state body being q
federation of unions and not individual
members. makes the referendum plan i'm
practicable, in the opinion Of many who
have observed It's operation.
Several Candidates Announce.
Whether the election IL in convention
or by referendum. one Of the most in
teresting eontests held by the Federation
in many Year, IL assured President
John McIcnnan, who IL also president
Of District Is, United Mine Workers.
has nut announced his intentions as TO
standing for reelection. He was chosen
six years ago at the Lafayette conven-
tion. rnd has since been reelected each
year. having had opposition only once.
He may therefore BE- termed y passive
candidate
Clint c. Houston Of Denver Typo.
graphical Union No. ~ and editor of
The Bulletin. has announced his can
didacy either in convention or by refer
endum. James q. Bulgcr, deputy city
plumbing inspector Of Denver and MEM
= - st.r~ MI O. Ir..sr
No. :. has also announced his candidacy
for president.
For secrctary.trrnsurer to succeed
William T. Hickey. who will not offer
for reelection, there are three an
no,Inccd candidates. They are William
Koch. secretary and business agent of
the four Denver Brewery Workerr'
Unions; Richard E. Croskey. formerly
~coretary-trcssurcr Of the State Fedora
tion. statistician In the state labor
bureau for four years and member Of
Cooks Union No. lS; Ed. Anderson Of
Pueblo, secretary Of the State Bnrbcrs'
Association.
There are no announced candidates 40
far as The Bulletin Is informed for the !
nine vice presidents, who are also mem
bcrs of the executive board.
will Approve Act. Of waish. i
Iherc ~ no uOuut the convention VIII |
20 on record as approving the probe |
made by Chairman Frank p Walsh and
the recommendation made 20 congress
in his report. Congress- will be asked
TO, publish these reports, including the
Colorado strike investigation, and 70 en-
act laws looking to correction OF indus
trial ills as shown by the commissions
report.
Other matters, such as the persecution |
OF former coal strikers and union Off
cals thru the "lawandorder" program Of
Governor Carlson and Attorney General
Fred Farrar, the new workmen's compen-
sation law, the state militia scnndal,
aud plans for renewed organization work
will be considered In the convention.
There II some doubt about the state
supreme court reaching decision on the
petition to grant bond for John r. Law
kon before the convention ndjourns, and
the expectations Of having him addrcss
the meeting may not be realized.
a i