Denver labor bulletin., 1917-11-10
PRESSURE OF THE COAL
DIGGERS HAS AT LAST
PROVEN EFFECTIVE.
international Officers Say Dis
trict Charter Must Be Restored
and Letter Is Sent to Locals
Saying an Election Will
Be Held in December.

ames +. Moran of Iowa and
Warren E. Pippin of Kansas,
acting" president and secretary
OF Colorado District IS. United
Mine Workers of America, have
announced that they will soon
begin a "strategical" retreat TO
former positions held by them in
distant sectors. Their evacua-
ton OF Colorado is made neces-
sary by advancing pressure Of the
rank and file Of the army Of common
coal diggcrs who demand that the
district be given democratic form of
government whereby those who pay
the war tax and fight in the trenches
may have the right TO select their own
commanders from among their own
members.
On NO Mans Land"
II is understood that John McLen-
nan will be left as rear guard to do
scout duty for the eyacuating officers
and organizers. but inasmuch as he
was not considered dangerous to the
mine operators during the strike of
1894, there is little to be feared
from his presence on "No Mans
Land"
In his capacity Of acting" presi-
dent Moran recently visited head
quarters Of the United Mine Workers
at indianapolis, where. il is under
stood. he was given orders to quit
bluffing in Colorado and prepare to
move OUT. Frank J. Hayes, who has
just succeeded John p. White as in
ternntional president, wants the situ-
alton here Strengthened out and Off
GERS placed in charge who can COM
mand the respect and confidence Of
the men who dig coal, as well as of
the employing operators and the pub
lie in general.
Must Restore Charter
Upon his return to Denver last
week, Moran gave out n statement to
the daily papers that the charter of
District Is. taken away ten months
ago. was to be restored. and that n
referendum election would be held
during the month Of December to
choose officers. Perhaps Moran. Pip
pin. McLennan and their crew of hotel
lounging organizers imported from
the lame-duck discard Of other dis
tricts. hope by thus calling special
election TO supplant John r. Lawson
and Ed. l.. Doyle, who were elected
anu naAibilhl btttu
respectively at the regular election in
December, 1916. for terms of two
years.
Can't Fool the Diggcrs.
Judging from the temper of the
district members this scheme of the
Moran-Pippin McLennan trio will
count for naught as have all their
diplomatic" negotiations
Moran has told members of the
union that he has the district charter
in his safe in the offices maintained
by himself and Pippin in Pueblo, and
that it was never returned to head
quarters Mt Indianapolis
II will be recalled that when the
protest meeting was held in Pueblo
three weeks ago "Mother" Jones ap-
pearcd unexpectedly in the convention
hall and told the delegates that il ac-
tion was postponed she would guar
antee that the charter be returned.
She left at once for indianapolis,
where the executive board was then
in session. She no doubt presented
the Colorado situation in her charac-
teristic fashion.
Take Chair Warmers Along.
At any rate the charter has been
ordered restored to the district, the
"acting" officers and rctinue will de-
part in the near future. and the mem
bers are to choose their own officers.
With the Colorado district in con-
troll of its own affairs, there is every
reason to expect that the coal mining
industry of this state will soon be-
come thoroly unionized. This dis
trict. with harmony among the min
ers prevailing, ought to be one of the
best under jurisdiction of the United
Mine Workers Of America.
Finis of peace Conference.
From the day Moran, Pippin and
McLcnnan held their so-called "peace
conference" in Denver the second
week in June, the situation has been
growing worse. At this conference.
made up almost exclusively of paid
organizers, n motion was adopted de-
claring John r. Lawson to be no
longer a member Of the union. Be-