Denver labor bulletin., 1916-03-25
Manly yFilesACtionAeainSt
State Commission
Case Grows Out Of Decision DeClar-
ing Demand Of MaChinists for
Increase Wage and S-Hour
Day Absolutely Just

An action that directly involves the
right of employees TO be represented and
heard thru their unions before the State
Industrial Commission was begun this
week in the Denver District court The
commission has ruled that employees have
this right under the State Industrial law,
and ali hearings since the commission
ers assumed office on August /, 1915,
have been conducted accordingly.
George Manly, former head of the old
Citizens Alliance in Denver, and leading
legal opponent of union labor in Colo
RADIO, has filed application in the Dis
trict court for writ OF cereItorari
against the Industrial Commission OF
Colorado. composed Of L. i. McIAugh-
lin Frank p LAnnon and Wayne c.
Williams. The application asks that
the commission be required to produce
all records Of proceedings in the case OF
labor unions against the Denver Engi-
necring Works and over thirty other CON
tract machine shops which he represents
as attorney.
He claims that the commission acted
without legal authority in recent de-
cision Of a case between the contract
machine shop owners Of Denver and
thclr employees, the latter being repre-
sentcd by MRchinists Union No. Il.
Charge Proceedings Are Void.
According TO the contention OF Attor-
ney Manly, the notice given, in matter
concerning n wage scale and hours OF
labor. was signed by local union and
not by the employees. He charges tha,
this made the whole proceeding void.
The commission, however. consulted
with the attorney general OF the state
and other legal authority, and the right
of cmployes to b. heard thr. com
rnitt.c Of the union or by an attorney,
was held TO be in conformity with the
law.
Attorney Manly's court action comes
as n sequence to a decision rendered by
ii. Industrial Commission holding the
demands Of machine shop employees for
an increased wage and the eight hour
dav absolutely Just IL is significant
that while employees complied in every
detail with the law. the employers are
the ones TO oppose and fight its opera
tion. Manly never loses an opportunity
TO Oppose any claim for justice advanced
bv working people. Now he seeks to
destroy the Industrial law because Il has
been found 60 operate under the present
commissioners in n manner TO give labor
a square deal.
Denies Right of Unions.
Tho complaint filed by Manlcy is
searching in character. II goes TO the
eonstitutiouality Of the industrial re-
lations law. II challenges the rules pro-
mulguted by the commission and the
methods followed by that body in sum.
moning employers and employees before
IT II denies the rights in law of trades
unions TO he represented by counsel at
such hearings Of the commission. 1t
alleges that trades unions are not legal
entities. II charges that the Industrial
Relations Commission has no authority
in law to call employers before it upon
the complaints Of trades unions. And IL
asks the District court TO issue n writ
tf ccritorari and review. commanding
The Industrial Commission TO lay before
the court all the records in relation to
a decision Of the commission Of March
o. in which the commission ruled that