Denver labor bulletin., 1916-07-01


labor's attitude toward the Colorado Ma
tional Guard in particular and the Mex
leo embroglio in general. In Tuesday
evenings Post Jimmy is quoted as say
ing that "a constitutional provision pre-
vents a member of an organized labor
body in the American Federation of La
Dor joining the state militia" As a
matter of fact, the American Federation
of Labor does nothing of the kind, and
Jimmy was either misquoted or is ,reck-
less in his statements because of the
prospect of few of the boys going to
war. In Colorado some of the labor or
CARNATIONS have adopted resolutions,
and perhaps a few locals incorporated
in their bylaws a prohibition against
enlistment in the state militia on Iac-
count of the state troops being used here
to fight labor, as demonstrated at Grip
pie Creek some years ago and later dur
ing the coal strike. So far as The Bull
letin is informed, no members of organ
lied labor have even expressed a desire
to join the Colorado National Guard and
associate with sButcher'' Linderfelt and
Major Hammock, murderers of women and
children at Ludlow On the other hand,
if their services should be needed, they
will volunteer and Join the regular fed
eral militia, or form a regiment of their
own and offer their services direct to the
President of the United States.
At the noondav meeting of building
trades business agents in the Club build
ing Wednesday, enlistment in the state
militia for the Mexican invasion was
the topic while waiting for Secretary
j. Fl. Mitchell to put in an appearance.
Pete Johns. dean OF the agents, presided,
and asked who wanted to enlist, or who
knew of any member of the respective
unions who had any idea of enlisting
in the Colorado National Guard. Not a
single response. Even the o. p, who is
graciouslv permitted to attend these ses-
sions once a week, had nothing to offer
that would assist the state militia In
recruiting its ranks up to the minimum
demanded by the war department At
tention was called to ten-point black
face editorials in the daily papers ap-
pealing to union men to forget and for
give" with inferential reference to Lud-
low, but still no response. Pete smiled
and then volunteered the prediction that
TO- 900 union men in Colorado would vol
unteer if their services were needed,
not in the state militia. but with the
federal troops So it is in other trades
and the cntrainment of Colorado troops
is indefinitely postponed for want of
sufficient numbers to meet army ,re-
quirements.
A drumhead court-martial for n mum.
Der of union men was threatened this
week when they were seen on the streets
wearing the yellow khaki uniform Of
the Colorado National Guard. 1t later
developed that they We're members of a
band that had been hired to play re
cruit music' in front of the Chamber
of Commerce building. In order to make
the music more enticing the musicians
were induced to put on some of the large
assortment of unused soldier clothes
awaiting enlisters. Be it known, the
Colorado National Guard has no band OF
its own. being perhaps the one state
militia organization in the country that
has no aggregation of this kind. There
fore, it was necessary to hire band OF
private citizens. and for this purpose the
services of union men were secured. Even
the prospect of going into a real war
doesn't bring any glory to the discredited
Colorado National Guard.
4 & & &
Judge John II. Denison of the District
court is a good and wise man, but he
didn't obtain his legal knowledge in
Philadelphia. Therefore he confessed in
ability to solve legal puzzle put square
ly up to him this week. Not many days
ago the judge ordered Glen r. Bell, n
Colorado National Guard private, to pay
his wife. Madeline E. Bell, $50 month
alimony. Having been ordered to mo-
bilze at the Golden rifle range. with a
H.
der, Bell appeared before the judge and
asked to be released from the payment
of alimony. He based his plea upon the
only $3.50 per month. Out of this he
could not see his way clear to pay his
wife $50 alimony, yet if he refused he
was subject to be sent to Jail if he es-
capped the Mexican bullets. This ques-
tion is too much for me-" said the
judge. 81 will not pass on the ques-
tion now. Let us see how you serve
your country and then We will take up
the matter of alimony. If you make a
good soldier" the fcourt told Bell 81
will again take up this question when
you come back from Mexico"
Major w c. Danks of the Colorado
National Guard and n member of the
City Council, wants President John Nc
Lehman of the State Federation of La
bor and president of District Is, United
Mine Workers. to form a company OF
union men for service in Mexico, in the
event of war being declared. He also
has taken the matter up with Horace N
Hawkins, attorney for the United Mine
Workers. Major Danks was made n
prisoner during the coal strike war in
southern Colorado, because he did not
agree with his fellow officers. In tell.
ing about his plan for union labor com
pany, he said: 81 have spoken to Mr.
McLennan, and I am in hopes he will
aid in the form ion Of n nornraa.. 1