Denver labor bulletin., 1916-01-01
HEATING CHOSEN
HEAD OF GROUP
Coiorado's Congressman WIN
Act as Lab0r'S Pilot
Seventeen in House and One Senator
Hold Union Cards: Child Labor Bill
to be Among First Measures Urged

The first meeting of the .ssLabor
Group in Congress was held in the of
flee of Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, Thurs
day evening, December l6, according to
a letter received from Washington by
The Bulletin. 1t developed that there
are seventeen members of the House and
one member of the Senate who hold
cards in labor organizations They rep
resent all political parties. Buchanan
OF Illinois, Casey of Pennsylvania, Gen.
Isaac R. Sherwood OF Ohio, Heating of
Colorado, Helvering Vt Kansas. Van
Dyke OF Minnesota and Key of Ohio are
Democrats; Nolan of California is q
Progressive; London OF New York is a
Socialist; Farr rof Pennsylvania, Coop
er of Ohio, johnson of Washington,
Garland of Pennsylvania and NORM of
Pennsylvania are Republicans. Senator
Billy Hughes OF New jersey, Demo
crat, is the lone senator.
Keating Is Chosen Chairman.
Edward Heating of Colorado was
elected chairman OF the Group for the
coming session. Congressman Frank
chairman during the last congress, de-
clined to permit the use OF his name for
a second term. He nominated Heating
in very flatterinf Ispeech, and the
election was by aeclamation. Farr OF
Pennsylvania, Republican, was chosen
secretary.
Printing ,of Walsh Report
The first matter considered by the
Group was the printing of the Walsh
report, and it was decided that Congress
should be csked Tor sufficient money to
print 10000 copies OF the evidence and
very reasonable demand, and will COM
mand the support of very large ma
jority OF both houses.
The first skirmish on this PROPOSE
tion came the following Friday morning
in the House, ,but was knocked out on a
point of order. The discussion, however,
was decidedly advantageous, because it
revealed the sentiment OF the House to
be in favor of printing the reports.
Group" Makes . Point.
Some OF our opponents, says the let
ter to The Bulletin, attempted to dis-
credit the Walsh commission by charg-
ing that Congress had already appro-
priated 100000 to meet the printing
bills OF the commission, and that the
money had been used for other pur-
poses. Congressman Heating, however.
had the necessary evidence at hand to
disprove this charge and to demonstrate
beyound cavil that the appropriation Of
100000 was to defray all the expenses
of tin commission. He made this point
50 very clear that the attack will prob
ably not be renewed.
Will Push Child Labor Bill
The question OF securing national
child labor legislation was also consid-
cred by the Group and everyone pres
ent at the first meeting promised to
earnestly support the Heating Owen
child labor bill which went thru the
House last session and wss talked to
death in the Senate. The opponents of
this bill are endeavoring to sidetrack it
by having it referred to the Committee
on Interstate and Foreign Commerce in
stead of the Committee on Labor. The
matter of reference is still in the hands
of Speaker Clark. The other day he
heard arguments, and Heating made an
appearance on behalf of the Labor Com
mittee, while the cotton mill owners of
the South were represented by former
olina. The Labor COMMITTEES has al
ready agreed TO make the bill special
order for the first meeting in january,
and a favorable report is certain
Other Legislation Outlined.
The Labor Group also decided to take
up Industrial education. the immigration
question, the safeguarding of the sea-
mems bill, safety legislation desired by
the railroad brotherhoods and other
matters OF prime Importance to work
ingmen everywhere
Many of the most distinguished lead
ers OF organized labor in the country
attended this first meeting OF the Labor
Group. Among them were Samuel Com
pers, Prank Morrison, James Lord.
Wills, McNamara, Fitzpatrick and Clark.
representatives OF the railroad brother
hoods, Arthur Holder, legislative repre-
sentative of the A. +. of L., and many
others.