Denver labor bulletin., 1915-10-02
UNIONISM THE KEY
T0LABOR QUESTION
Best Means of Preserving Our
Democratic Institutions
Deposed Member Of State University
Law Faculty Speaks at the Labor
Federation Convention

One of the most interesting short
talks made before the State Federation
of Labor convention was that of James
H. Brewster, deposed recently by the
board of regents from the law faculty of
the Colorado State university because of
his avowed sympathy for the striking
coal miners Brewster was introduced
by President McLennan at the opening
of Thursday afternoons session, and at
once gained the close attention of every
delegate present.
Mr.. Brewster stated that for the last
twenty years he had attended convex
tions of this character, whenever he had
had an opportunity to do so, for the
purpose OF observing the development of
union ideas. He had noticed a distinct
progress and improvement, and agreed
with the opinion entertained by the most
careful observers and students of econ
omic and social questions that unionism
is one of the most important means of
preserving democratic institutions.
The freedom of debate in a conven-
tion like this is one of its most excel
lent features" said the speaker, 'for
full and free discussion is necessary in
any real democracy. Any admirer of
the principles of unionism need not con-
tend that unions are perfect. Being
made up of men and women, they pos
sess both the defects and excellencies OF
all human organizations.
~The ideals OF unionism should always
be kept in mind, and when, within the
ranks are found traitors to those ideals,
they should be thrown out without hesi-
tation- Unity in meeting opponents of
unionism should be one OF the aims of
a convention like this.
During the last two years in Colo
RADIO to 20 no further back - events
have accurcd which made il clear that
the purpose Of special privilege is to
destroy unionism. An attorney for the
coal operators stated to a class OF law
students that one way TO do away with
the unions was TO keep them in constant
litigation. And special privilege, in
making its attacks on union orgaDiza-
tions, will stop at nothing TO gain its
ends
"The governor, who pretends to be a
friend OF labor. will appoint Hillyer to
try striking miners for alleged crimes:
viii appoint Boughton to investigate
himself; will retain a man like Chase in
office over the protest of more than
thirty officers of the state militia; will
order the prosecution OF lawyers like
Hawkins and Clark on criminal charges
which neither he nor the attorney gen
eral can possibly. a. presumably sane
men, believe TO be well founded
while il IL right enough. probably,
that unions should not enter politics as
a body. official acts like these should
not be forgotten at the next election,
and all who suffer. directly and indi-
rectly. from such official acts should
unite in an attempt to elect public off
cials who will be consistently fair and
just to all. Acts such as these show the
true character of officials and the influ-
ences controlling them. and the merit
Of advocating compensation laws and
industrial commission laws cannot out
weigh the demcrit of official misconduct
which really strikes at the fundamental
principles of our institutions.
-Unionism, living up to its ideals. is
the key to the so-called labor question,
and therefore constantly increasing or
ganization should be the aim of union
men"