Denver labor bulletin., 1917-02-03
LABOR,S RIGHTS
AREDEMANDED
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its teeth in the elections two years
from now. Never in the history OF
labor organizations in the state OF
Colorado has there been such unanim-
ity of opinion and action as at the
present time, and if the repeal OF the
industrial commission law is not ac-
complished during this session OF the
legislature the party now in control
will meet the combined opposition OF
the labor forces in the next election.
This is no idle threat, for preparations
are already being made to carry OUT
a well defined and systematic program
to hold to a strict accountability the
party whose leaders pledged them
selves to use their every effort to re-
peal this obnoxious law.
While labor has been patient and
has assailed the law only in an argu-
mentative manner so far, if the re-
peal of the statute is not accom-
plished during this session Of the
general assembly, there will be an
other chapter written IN the indus
trial history of Colorado. Labor will
not supinely permit any liberty-de-
stroying element to permanently weld
the shackles of Involuntary servitude
upon it. If the law-making branch
of the state persists in its efforts to
make vassals of it's wealth producers,
labor will show its teeth, and will be
justified in absolutely ignoring the
law which destroys their liberties, be
the consequences what they may. This
may appear to be strong statement.
but in taking this position labor di-
rects the attention of the Colorado
legislature to the high ground upon
il. ~. Il. e. slA
state legislature has a moral or legal
right to set aside the constitutional
guarantees of the federal constitu-
ton.
Practically every daily paper in
this state is an advocate of the reten-
tion and enforcement of the industrial
commission law. Every daily news
paper is the by-product of some spe-
cial interest. True to form, whenever
they discuss the question. not a fun
damentAl reason is given to support
tanned by the power of organized
wealth, which usually does not bother
itself with argument when il desires
anything. Another factor which en-
ters into the equation is the fact that
the newspapers Of the state hope to
profit by fastening the law upon the
wage earners of the state. One case
involving the newspapers came before
the commission, and rs predicted at
the State Federation of Labor conyen-
ton at Colorado Springs last sum-
mer, the commission, in the event that
It had to deal with any case affecting
the newspapers it would see to il that
the newspapers were protected in the
award rendered. True to that pre-
diction the industrial commission, in
considering the demands of the Mail
ers Union, after sixteen months Of in
vestigation, decided that the newspa-
pere were unable to grant n small
increase to these employees because Of
the increased cost Of print paper"
1t was not n unanimous decision,
one member of the commission dis
sented, but as will always be the case
labor will never have but one repre-
sentative on the commission, so that
there are always two votes ready and
available to defeat the righteous de-
mands of labor. All men are human,
and it is not difficult to discern the
operation of the minds of political
appointees who desire to continue in
office. 1t is the most natural thing In
the world for n political aspirant TO
fear the power of the press. The
power welded even by n vcnal pub
lication is difficult to overcome. but
Colorado actively interested in the
retention of the industrial commission
law it is little wonder that the mailers
of Denver, comprising but a handful
of men, should be placed on the alter
of political aspirations.
That the situation has been cor
rectly stated and based upon logical
grounds, it is only necessary TO recite
the events which followed the mailers'
decision rendered by the industrial
commission. As soon as the commits
sion completed its sixteen months in
vestigation and rendered its award
against the mailers, the organization
of the workers, then free to act and
use its economic power, called to its
assistance one of its international Off
GERS and again presented its original
demands to the Denver publishers. In
less than two weeks the mailers Sc
cured an agreement carrying substan-
tally all of their demands made six
teen months prior.
The Colorado industrial commission
is doomed to failure. The ultimate
result Of its continuance would be
haven for the employers of Colorado.
The employers of the state are in IA
vor of the retention of the law There
has never been time in the history
of our country when employers as n
class are arranged on one side Of an
industrial question that they are not
hopeful and expectant to derive large
benefits because of their attitude.
Mr.. Legislator, united labor Of this
state demands the repeal of the indus
trial commission law. We are in
earnest. We are ready to fight until
that object ia accommodated Do ms