Denver labor bulletin., 1916-04-08

petition circulators. Says there
- are at least 500 men and wom-
en- in Denver who are eligible for men,
bership in such an organization. Barney
makes petition circulation his regular
trade or calling, but says the work needs
to be better regulated, with a standard
ization of emoluments. He is strictly
neutral as to parties, charter amend.
ments, recalls or mayoralty candidates
circulating any or all with equal energy
and persistency for a price. His only
fixed conviction as to government rests
with the Henry George doctrine of single
tax, and is trying to inject this issue
into the present campaign in order tc
create more work for petition circulators
Since the present charter election cam
paign opened Barney has circulated five
of the Macy petitions, one for Speer
one for Booth and two to recall Guyer
and Jones from the school board,
now, like good many other circulators,
he is waiting for more petitions. Circu-
lators usually receive five or six cents
for every signature, and each petition
has space for 100 names. Speaking of
the tricks of the trade, Barney says:
"As soon as new headquarters are opened
to give out petitions, we experts always
try to be on hand so that we can get the
first ones out. We have learned from
experience that those who get the first
petitions can easily fill them in the bus
mess section, and that those who come
afterwards will be told, I've done
signed A good hustler who is first ON
the street can get 100 voters to sign any
petition in four hours. However, by the
time he gets his first one filled, there
are generally 100 or more in circula ton,
and in order to fill the second one he
must make a ouse-to-house canvas in
the residence section, and that he will
find is slow work. | have found that n
good way to do it is not to explain too
much until | hear what the party ap-
preached has to say. Then, when | know
where they stand, / can emphasize some.
thing in the petition that comedies with
their own views. For instance, ii IT,
woman | am canvassing, believes in
closed town, l point to place In the
petition where it promises strict en-
forcement of the laws. If she think the
lid should be lifted little, call atten.
ton to the liberal views OF the men We
are trying to put into office. My wits
are always taxed when | meet one who
reads nothing but the sporting page and
head lines of the daily papers. such
voters, and there are quite number Of
them, have no motives for signing, 50
1 when hand them the petition ani in
delible pencil to sign with, they listen in
open mouthed wonder while | try t. put
motive in their minds. | find, how
ever, that most any kind of motive
will do. For instance. the other day 4
woman listened to me for long time,
and then with glance at my frayed
coat, she commenced to sign, and ,mil-
ingly gave as a reason that while she did
not know what she was signing, she
thought / needed the nickel. OF course,
| returned her smile with an approving
nod and hurried to the next house, for
while | meet many pleasant people, in
the residence section, | cannot linger
with them long and make fair wages.
am now organizing circulators union,
for it is evident that a closed shop is
necessary not only to limit competition
but to keep phony names off the petit
tions. That hurts the business
Donald MacGregor may be lead in
Mexico, a victim of Villas bandit gang
or he may be confined in an Fl Paso
iail on the charge OF acting as a Mexican
spy, according to various newspaper re-
ports Dead or alive, don" is an inter
esting character and many friends and
acquaintance in Colorado are concerned
as to his fate, for he is one of those
restless, magnetic soldiers of fortune who
make their entries and exits without
ceremony, leaving host OF friends to
wonder where he will turn up next.
Three years ago "Don' was u reporter
on the Denver Express, tarrying here for
a while on one of his jaunts about the
globe. He was sent to the southern
strike zone to report daily events for the
Ill
with years of travel and adventure as an
aid, his articles attracted wide attention
His spirit of daredevil, however soon led
him to resign his newspaper job and cast
his lot with the coal strikers, and for a
time he lived at the Ludlow tent Colony.
When the union miners took up "a posi-.
tion on the "hogback" at Walsenburg to
defend themselves against Chase5 ruff
fian mine guard soldiers, Macdonald was
chosen as their leader and was in COM
mand of the defending forces the day
Major Piney p. Lester of the state mill
tia was killed, for whose death four un-
ion miners were recently tried and ac-
quilted at Castle Rock. With scores of
others Macdonald was indicted in the
blanket charges filed in Las Animas and
Huerfano counties, but left Colorado be-
fore Sheriff Jeff Farr could locate him.
In search of new adventures, he went to
Mexico and joined the Villa forces.
"Don" was born in Scotland about 2S
years ago and educated for the ministry,
but his nature demanded more stirring
life than as pastor of a flock. He went
to India and then came to San Francisco
on tramp steamer. working his pass
age. There he got his first newspaper
Job. While in Denver he delighted to
gather about him few congenaI spirits
and tell of his wonderful adventures in