Denver labor bulletin., 1917-06-23
ORGANIZED LABOR ASSISTS HOOVER TO
TAKE FOOD SUPPLY FROM EXPLOITERS
United Mine Workers Given Representation
Production Committee Metal Trades Are Demanding
Voice in Regulating Conditions Where Arrna-
and Munitions Are Manufactured

/ debate the coming week. Meanwhile
it is to be passed thru the house.
Getting Down to Brass Tacks.
Representative John I. Nolan told
Hoover that the wage workers are to-
day "sullen and restless" and that
they are being paid in a dollar that
is worth about 40 cents" He sue-
gested that people must eat, and that
the quicker the food legislation became
law the less would be the danger of
widespread disturbances in the United
States.
Much the same spirit of getting
down to brass tacks marked the con-
ference, Friday noon, on the coal min
ers' demands. John P. White, presi-
dent; William Green, secretary-treas-
urer; Frank Hayes and James Lewis
Of the United Mine Workers were
there, as were Secretary Wilson, Mr..
Gompers, Chairman Peabody of the
coal production committee, and Direc
tor Clifford of the staff of the council
of national defense.
White called attention to the fact
[ that the Mine Workers, on April 4
had adopted resolutions at their meet,
I ing in New York, offering to assist the
government. Then the council of ma
tlonal defense had proceeded to name
a committee of thirteen men, most of
whom were coal operators and man
ayers, and none of whom were spokes-
men of the 350,000 members of the
union. Then this big business commit
tee had issued a warning to coal min
ers to stay in their own districts. and
not seek better Jobs in other districts.
White was not over gentle in his re-
marks on this attempt to shackle the
miner to his job for the profit of the
mine owner.
1t Was an Accident
Peabody and Clifford claimed that
the absence of union men from the
committee was an accident" They
agreed to reform. The names Of
White, Hayes, Green, Lewis, John
Mitchell, President Jim Lord of the
mining trades department of the A.
r. OF L., and Hugh Kerwin, private
secretary to the secretary of labor.
were proposed and agreed to, as Mine
Worker members of the committees
Then 1t was agreed that on Thursday.
June p, the committee should meet
and revise its policies and its sub
committees, in harmony with the new
deal
A few hours after this smashing
thru of the big business crust by the
INST of the Mine Workers, the metal
trades and other branches of the A. F
SCS eSSSNACA III the same once
at the department of labor. and tried
to arrange a plan of securing the same
sort of representation where their
trades were involved What they
agreed upon was not divulged. 1t is
safe to assume, however, that thew
considered three possible methods Of
getting at what they want, and that
they chose the Mine Workers plan as
the most practicable. Danger of a
hifv strike IN, tho +,r
New York region lent interest to the
discussion.
Three Plans Submitted.
The three plans of possible settle
ment of labor's demands for ADEQUATE
safeguards during the war period
were:
l. That the international unions be
represented in the committees hand
ling all contracts for work to be done
by their respective trades.
2. That a national joint board of
workers, employers and chairman
representing the public, be established,
with broad legal authority to set and
MAINTAIN proper labor standards in
war time, covering all industries
which might be affected by the war
contracts.
8. That specific clauses as to labor
conditions be written into all war con-
tracts, and that these clauses have the
effect of regulating labor standards
for the various industries.
The first plan was the Mine Work
ers' plan. 1t has been adopted in one
great industry, and that seems to
point the way for other industries,
even tho the problem becomes more
difficult where half dozen crafts are
involved in one job.
One thing is certain-the coming
two or three weeks will see organized
labor finding its feet in this war. lust
as it did after few months in Eng
land.
Jim Duncan in Petrograd
James Duncan, first vice president
of the American Federation of Labor,
called by the Russian council of work
mems and soldiers delegates, in Pet
rograd, to consider the calling of a
worldwide congress of the Socialist
bodies and the labor federations. A
cablegram urging him to take part
was sent by President Gompers the
other day. In this message Mr.. Com
pers made clear his view that while
a conference was worth while, no dis
cussion of terms of peace could be
tolerated by the American labor move
ment so long as the military autoc-
racy of the central powers was not
destroyed. He said that the Ameri-
can workers stand for the establish
ment and maintenance of democracy
thruout the world and will not agree
to peace with any despotism.
This message brings the American
labor movement into the scale Of in
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