Denver labor bulletin., 1917-02-17

road employees siye Of the controversy.
simultaneously with the distribu-
ton Of vase sums for advertising con-
tracts the entire editorial and news
sections of these journals underwent
a significant change. That this trans
formation was due 10 the ability OF
the railroad corporations TO pour gi-
gantic sums Of money into the cash
registers of the press is self-cNplana-
tory. Only few years ago, when the
International & Great Northern rail-
road passed into a receivers hands II
developed in an investigation that this
road had been contributing $4,000
yearly TO the Galveston and Dallas
tTcxasJ News. The service for which
this large sum was paid consisted of
publishing short articles in reference
TO the arrival and departure Of trains.
II was likewise true that the papers
mentioned were always champions Of
every contention Of the International
& Great Northern.
A vivid memory is not necessary to
recall the methods of railroad corpor-
ations in this state in securing legisla-
tive control. Passes over the roads
were lavishly distributed by the off,
cials, and members of the legislature
were in many instances provided with
unlimited transportation TO be distrib-
utcd where it would produce results.
The newspapers Of the state were in
cludcd ms distribution agencies, and
their influence could usually be count
ed upon.
II is significant fact that at this
time the press of this state is almost
unanimous in its advocacy of the re-
tenion of the industrial commission
law. The underlying reasons are
analogous TO those which sought to
create national public opinion favor
able to the railroad corporations thru
the expenditure of large sums of mon
cy with the daily and weekly publica-
tions of the country.
That the railroad advertising policy
brought its reward it is only neces-
sary to review events. Upon the re
convening of congress after the holi-
days the Newlands bill in the United
States senate and the Adamson bill in
the house of representatives, both in
cluding compulsory service features
advocated in the railroad corporation
advertising campaign, made their ap-
pearance. II is likewise true that the
president in n special message to con-
gress had advocated period of COM
pulsory service where railroad trans
portation was involved. With fever
ish haste to enact these measures in
the law hearings on the Newlands bill
were arranged for January 2.
The American Federation of Labor
and the railroad brotherhoods united
in their opposition to the provisions of
the Ncwlands bill and when the OBJ
noxious provisions were submitted to
n vote of the members of the commit
tee they were defeated and excluded
from the measure. The Adamson bill
in the house, so far as the compulsory
features were concerned, received such
universal condemnation that the pro-
ponents of the measure have practi-
cally abandoned them, ms evidenced by
the fact that Representative Adamson
has introduced another bill with the
compulsory features eliminated.
But in the light of the developments
of the past few months. notwithstand-
ing the failure of the railroad trans
portation companies to weld the shack
les of compulsory service upon the
train service employees by the prodigal
use of advertising funds, apparently
there still remains n controlling scnti-
ment among the members of the Colo
RADIO state Legislature to retain the in
dustrial commission law.
Labor men and women of this state,
however, are not dismayed by the atti-
tudc of the assembly. 1t is the pur-
pose of our movement to continue its
efforts to the end that the commission
law be repealed. Every honorable
means will be employd to secure that