Denver labor bulletin., 1917-05-05
1Ae Optimistic
Philosopher

CITUATE midway between the two
~ oceans, Denver was a little slow
in getting enthused over the job
of whipping Kaiser Welhelm to a
standstill This week, however, all the
patriotic atmosphere and war prepar-
ations we have read about in the mag
azines and lurid newspapers is being
demonstrated here. Bands and drum
corps have been marching thru the
streets, score or more of recruiting
stations are open and men kept busy
drilling on vacant lots and in empty
store rooms. One evening this week
the o. P. watched four squads of raw
recruits being drilled in military tao
tics on the Stout and Nineteenth street
sides of the new postoffice building,
where there is a broad cement pave
ment and plenty of room for maneu-
vering. Every day at noon the post
office clerks and carriers drill on the
Champa street terrace of the building.
While these men are not subject to
conscription, being government en-
ployes, they are none the less patriot
ic and getting ready for any emer-
gency. Even the o. P. has been
drafted to do duty on committee of
citizens to encourage enlistment. Each
day at noon a parade of recruits
marches thru the street, and then to
the depot where they entrain for Fort
Logan. After being put thru the pre-
| liminaries there these men are sent
to various mobilization camps, accord
ing to the branch of service they may
select. In all of the moving picture
houses scenes of army life and actual
war in Europe are being shown upon
the screen. On billboards there ap-
pear calls for enlistments. With the
war fervor now shown in Denver it
would appear that when the conscrip-
tion officers get going they will find
comparatively few men available here
for duty in France. Most of them
will have already enlisted.
:. :. :.
MOT long since Denver Journeymen
/ Y BARRIERS Union No. 2O5 gave a ball,
which was a financial and social
success. Over 500 was realized and
I it was the purpose to use this sum in
purchasing spectacular effects to be
displayed in the Labor Day parade,
I for the BARRIERS had set their hearts
on winning a prize this year. How
ever, this was to have been kept
secret and the Denver labor movement
to be taken unawares. AT the regular
monthly meeting of the union Wednes-
day night of last week. when Interna-
tional President Frank X. Noschang
was present and had been invited to
occupy the presiding officers chair
during the meeting, member arose to
his feet and told a story that caused
the heartstrings of everyone present
to vibrate. He had that afternoon
visited the home of brother member,
for several weeks confined to his bed
by illness. The good wife and seven
children were struggling to prevent
their neighbors becoming acquainted
with their dire needs. Hunger was a
daily visitor in this home of suffering
When the brother had completed his
story he took a seat amid a silence
that denoted sympathy. Then another
brother arose and moved that $50 be
appropriated from the treasury for
the benefit of this stricken family
! Numerous seconds from among the
large membership in attendance were
heard around the hall. Before the pre-
siding officer could put the motion, a
brother who had served on the ball
committee arose with an amendment
to the original motion that the entire
net proceeds of that social event,
amounting to something over $1OO, be
donated and paid over to the wife of
! the sick brother, Mrs. " P. Consaler,
1904 South Lincoln street. There were
seconds to this motion from every
part of the hall, and when Interna-
tional President Noschang, who was
visibly affected by this sincere express
sion of brotherly regard, placed the
motion before the meeting, it was
adopted unanimously. As one broth
er expressed it, Labor Day is a long
way off, but the needs of our broth
er's family must be met today" This
voiced the sentiment of everyone pres
ent. No finer illustration of the
brotherhood of man as exemplified in
the trade union movement was ever
before shown in Denver.
! :. :. :.
| ERANK A. KENNEDY, editor, pub
! l. Usher, proprietor and promoter of
/ the Omaha Western Laborer, was
drafted last week by Mayor Dahlman
as a member of the board of public
welfare. Kennedy has had previous
service as a member of the fire and
police board, and says the mayor no
doubt began on him in the practice of
"selective conscription." This ap-
pointment to a position of more than
ordinary Importance in the municipal
government of Omaha will be learned
with pleasure by Editor Kennedy's
hosts of friends in the labor movement
thruout the country. In addition to
being the editor of a successful labor
paper, Kennedy is achieving fame as
a farmer. Each member of his fam
lily, more or less numerous, has home
steaded 160 acres in the Rosebud res
ervation of South Dakota, so that he
bids fair to eventually rank as one of
the most wealthy labor editors this or
any other nation ever produced. The
u. +. congratulates Brother Kennedy
and felcitates Mayor Dahlman upon
the wisdom thus shown in drafting
man who is not afraid of work