Denver labor bulletin., 1918-06-08
PROCLAIMS THAT LABOR
HAS NO RIGHTS DURING
PERIOD OF WAR.
Governor Sets Himself Up as
Bigger Than the United States
Government; National War
Labor Board to Give Him
Some Tips on How
to Deport-
BY LAURENCE TODD
ecial Representative The Denver Labor
Buiietfn.l

Ao D0AfcE A%AooE
WASHINGTON, June Upon
complaint by the principal officers of
the Minnesota State Federation of
Labor that Governor Burnquist of
Minnesota issued a proclamation on
March 80 that denies the right of free
men in the state to ask for recogni-
ton of a union, during this war, ex-
cept where that union has already
been recognized, the national war labor
board has prepared to thrown down a
direct challenge to Burnquist
Former President Taft, Frank P.
Walsh and the five employers and five
trade union officials who make up the
board have agreed upon opening up
the whole issue as to whether Burn
quist and his state commission of pub
lie safety can override the principles
laid down for enforcement by the
board in the Presidents proclamation.
They are going to find out whether
Burnquist is biooer than the -.
government, in time Of war, when he
anu his commission issue this ort.--r:
That employees shall not ask for
recognition of union which had not
been recognized before the war.
That employers, by lockout or
other means, shall not try to break up
union which had been recognized
before the war.
That employers and employees
agree in good faith to maintain the
existing status, in every place of en-
ployment, of a union, non-union, or
open shop"
Question Up to Burnquist.
The Minnesota proclamation set
forth that employers and organized
workers had agreed upon these prop
ositions. The State Federation of La
Dor says that none of its officers or
representatives was ever authorized,
IN any manner, to make any such
agreement, and that none was re-
sponsibly made, Accordingly, Mr..
Taft and Mr.. Walsh have written
the governor, asking him "as to the
basis for this proclamation and as to
who were the signer sof the petition
Of"
Notice what the walsh-Taft board
agreed upon, and the President ap-
proved, as the proper principle in this
matter:
Il. In establishments where the
union shop exists, the same shall con-
tinue, and the union standards as to
wages, hours of labor, and other con-
ditions of employment shall be MAIN
tanned.
'.2. In establishments where union
and non-union men and women now
work together and the employer meets
only with employees or representatives
engaged in said establishments, the
continuance of such conditions shall
not be deemed grievance. This dec
laration, however, is not intended in
any manner to deny the right or dis
courage the practice of the formation
of labor unions or the joining of the
same by the workers in said estab-
lishments, as guaranteed in the last
paragraph, nor to prevent the war
labor board from urging or any UNI
pire from granting, under the ma
chinery herein provided, improve
ment of their situation in the matter
of wages, hours of labor, or other con-
ditions as shall be found desirable
from time to time"
Right to Form Unions.
In the preceding paragraph occurs
the keystone principle of the whole
war labor board position:
The right of workers to organize
in trade unions and bargain collect
lively thru chosen representatives is
recognized and affirmed This right
shall not be denied. abridged, or inter-
fered with by the employers in any
manner whatsoever"
1t is because Burnquist and his pub
lie safety commission do deny this
fundamental right of workers to "bar-
gain collectively thru chosen represen-
tatives," where they get the oppor-
tunity by new organization, that the
national war labor board is going to
bring them to a showdown.
For Industrial Unity.
Even the National Association Of
Manufacturers. (which has for gem