Denver labor bulletin., 1915-09-11

There will be no program OF special
entertainment to divert delegates from
the straight and narrow path of strict
business when the twentieth annual con-
vention OF the Colorado State Federation
of Labor meets in Denver at noon OF
Monday, September 2O. Therefore all
the work is expected to be transacted
within the time limit OF three days.
Sessions will be held in Painters Union
hall. corner Eighteenth and Champa.
This convention was originally sched-
ule TO be held the third week of August
in Salida. but the date and place
changed by referendum vote
Nay Change Election Law.
There is strong sentiment among
the unions and delegates so far elected
in favor of repeating the initiative and
referendum plan of electing Federation
Officers. adopted two years ago at the
Trinidad convention, and returning to
the old system of convention election
and installation. 1t is claimed the refer
endum system has detracted greatly
from interest taken in the annual state
labor meetings and permits officers per-
petuating their terms
1nasmuch as the state labor body is
a federation of unions and not of mem
bers, the criticism of the referendum
plan appears to have weight This will
probably be one of the first matters con-
sidered.
Blanks for initiative nominations have
been sent out under the present law. but
many unions are withholding action
pending the conventions decision.
The initiative and referendum plan of
nomination and election of Officers was
nd faI in, rafp
endum vote. and therefore can be re-
pealed and the former law re-established
in the same manner
Action on Industrial Report.
Many other questions of vitaL import
anee to the working people are to be
considered. among them the present at
titude of the state administration in
prosecuting former coal strikers and
union officials; the report OF the United
States commission on industrial rela-
tions and the fight being made by cor
poration interests upon Chairman Frank
p. Walsh and the union labor members
OF the commission; adoption OF resofu-
tions calling upon congress to publish
these reports for public distribution and
enactment OF laws to correct industrial
evils disclosed in the commissions in
vestigation.
some action Will also no uouhIl ne
taken pointing out defects in the Cola
rado workmen's compensation law and
perhaps acommittee created to properly
draft and bring proposed amendments
before the next session OF the state
legislature
Failure OF the Carlson administration
to enforce the present labor laws on the
statute books will be another matter to
receive attention. as will also the one
sided program of ~lawandorder" now be-
ing pursued by the governor and attor.
ney general
Lawson May Be Present
1t is confidently hoped by time the
convention meets that the state supreme
court will have granted the plea OF John
r. Lawson to be released from the Trim
idad Jail on bond. pending n new trial
of his case before an unprejudieed trib-
unal. In the event Lawson is given his
freedom. he will no doubt attend the
conyention and perhaps make his first
address after being delivered from prison.
This will prove an historical event and
attract nation-wide attention to the
meeting.
Another matter that will be proposed
is to write into the Federation laws a
prohibition against its officers printing
so-called year books or other forms OF
solicitating funds that have been placed
under the bau by the American Fedora
tion of Labor.
There is a feeling that complete re-
organization OF the State Federation ia