Denver labor bulletin., 1918-12-21
REPORT ON WAR WORK BY ORGANIZED
LABOR IN THE STATE OF COLORADOI
CONTINUED from Page Four)

dustries in this state. A resolution
adopted by the employers of labor in
Colorado, directed to the department
OF labor in Washington, D. c., was as
follows:
"At meeting of the employers of
labor in Colorado, held today, repre-
senting all of Colorado's essential war
industries, protest was unanimously
passed against the recruiting of labor
in Colorado for other states, because
of the large shortage of all kinds of
labor in this state, and it was ur-
gently requested that all outstanding
orders for labor and all recruiting
permits be cancelled"
Donation of Work.
Denver Typographical Union No. 49
donated to the Liberty loan commit
tee of publicity all the labor performed
by members of the union in setting the
type for Liberty loan advertisements
which appeared in the daily newspa-
pers of Denver. This aggregated to
more than $1,000
In August the Denver Trades and
Labor Assembly announced its inten-
tion of building a gateway for the
army recuperation camp and hospital
at Aurora to cost $500. This gate
way will show how thoroly Colorado
labor supports the war" said Presi-
dent Peter Johns, publicity agent for
the Assembly, land as an endearing
monument to the patriotism of the
union men of Denver"
Profiteers Checked
Splendid work was done by organ
lied labor in checking profiteering in
rentals. 1t was claimed by compe-
tent committees appointed by organ
lied labor that householders in Denver
, and other cities in Colorado were un-
justly raising the rent, thus working
a serious hardship upon the wage
earners of the state. This profiteer-
/ ing, TO a certain extent, was stopped.
Shortly after war was declared
against the central powers in Europe,
the majority of the union labor or
/ CARNATIONS thruout the United States
found that their constitutions and by
laws did not admit of general discus
sion upon political questions, and
that because of this fact they were
not in position to permit their mem
/ bers to talk upon the war conditions
and its various phases at that time.
Leagueof Democracy and Labor.
In order to obviate this condition
there was formed in New York an
amalgamated organization under the
title of "The League of Democracy
and Labor" the object of which was
to give each member in the various
labor organizations an opportunity to
convene under the direction of this
league and there be permitted to give
expression to their views upon the
political sides of America in the
war"
One of the first branches of the
League of Democracy and Labor to
be formed was organized in Denver,
with Otto Thum as its first presi-
dent and l. H. Fitzgerald as its sec
retary. At subsequent annual meet
ing Earl Hoage was elected president
of the local organization.
This organization was very promi-
nent and active in all of the war ac-
tivities that came under its jurisdic-
ton, and it was thru the channels of
their league that organized labor in
Denver, and in Colorado, gave evidence
of its readiness to aid, in every way
possible, in the prosecution of the
great world war.
Every Liberty loan drive and every
war savings stamp campaign car
ried on in this state found in the
league ap able assistant.
One Of the largest public demon
StratlonS nelu IN Denver curing the
duration of the war was that arranged
and participated in by the League of
Democracy and Labor, held in the
great Auditorium early in the year.
Thru the efforts of this league it
was possible to give free discussion
upon all questions pertaining to the
declaration and continuation of the
war. 1t is stated by the leaders that
the attitude at first assumed by the
people, outside of organized labor,
against these organizations, was al
most completely reversed, and that the
public at large soon learned that labor
was in hearty accord with every move
ment of the government that tended
toward the success and victory that
our nation has so gloriously attained.
Now that war is practically ended
it is matter for discussion as to the
ultimate disposition of the League of
Democracy and Labor.