Denver labor bulletin., 1918-08-17


in which work the State Federation
was invited to join, and which invita-
tion was accepted
One thousand petitions were printed
and over seven hundred circulated
over the state. 1t was expected that
| in view of the fact that the coal situa-
ton during the past winter was very
acute, the price of coal having been
raised to the consumer to a price
never before dreamed of, and that the
municipal coal yard instituted by the
city of Denver had reduced the price
of coal to the citizens of that city,
that we would have no trouble in Sc
curing the necessary number of sig
natures thru the voluntary work of
the members of the organizations in
terested. In these expectations we
were disappointed and will have to
report to this convention that we were
unable to secure the necessary number
of signatures to permit US to file the
petitions and allow the people to vote
on this proposed law at the next state
election.
This second failure to initiate this
proposed law has forced me to realize
this one fact: That no matter how
meritorious a law may be, no matter
how much it affects the every day life
of our membership, and the general
public, there is absolutely no use in
attempting to initiate it unless you
have at least $1,000 to go out and
hire paid solicitors to secure the
necessary number of signatures. Our
own people will not take the time,
and go to the trouble to secure the
signatures for the initiation of any
proposed law unless they are paid to
do so. In this case we had the en-
dorsement and good wishes of the
State Federation of Labor, the Farm
ers Non-Partisan League, the State
Farmers Educational Union, the State
Grange, the Consumers League of
Denver and a large number of people
who are in favor of the state owner
ship of public necessities. / have
spoken at many meetings of labor or
ganizations, the state convention of
the Farmers Union and to many meet
ings Of the National Non-Partisan
League, and know of large number
of others who have used every endea-
vor in behalf of this proposed law.
The Federation had no finances to use
in the work, and the Denver Trades
Assembly was likewise financially
embarrassed, and the Non-Partisan
League was compelled 70 send the most
of their organizers into Minnesota to
assist in organization work there,
which prevented them in assisting US
as they expected
1 believe that no effort should be
made by any officer Of this Federation
to initiate any proposed law unless
there is proper financial support In
sight to carry it out to successful
! conclusion.
To attempt to initiate any proposed
law and fail in the attempt casts re-
Elections on our prestige, discourages
our membership, and places US in an
unenviable position before the public
and no effort should be made by this
Federation to initiate any proposed
law unless there is proper financial
support in sight to carry it to a sue
cessful conclusion, and would recon-
mend that this convention take such
action as will prevent a repetition OF
this kind in the future.
Legislation.
} One of the principal reasons for the
assemblage of the delegates, repre-
senting the various affiliated unions
in this annual convention is to adopt
. policies and map out plans to secure
for the workers of this state some
beneficial legislation from the coming
session of the state legislature. Ir
. fact, that is one of the cardinal rea-
sons for which we are organized into
. a State Federation of Labor, and to-
wards that end the efforts of the dele
gates here assembled should be di-
rected.
One of the chief reasons for sending
report blanks to all of our affiliated
unions was to secure from them an ex-
preston of opinion as to legislation
desired. which in their opinion would
be of benefit to the workers. / am
. glad to be able to report that in this
one particular all unions paid a gen.
eral interest While the desires of our
. membership in the way Of legislation
as expressed in these reports, does not
show any great divergence of opinion
. as to what legislation would be for the
best interests of the workers of this
state. II the reports from some lS5
local unions are to be taken as any cri-
terion, the desires of our membership
. in the way of Legislation would be
about as follows:
. First-Amendment to the work
mems compensation law, which would
give the workers increased compensa-
, ton, lower the waiting period, and
make it more easy in operation.
Second-Repeal of the thirty-day
period in the industrial commission
law, or repeal the law altogether.
Third-Repeal the state constabu,
, larry law.
Fourth-Enactment of anti-injunc-
tion law.
Fifth-Enactment of good wom-
ems minimum wage law, with an ap-
, preparation of sufficient amount tc
, put it in force.
Sixth-Repeal of the anti-boycoti
law.
A number of other proposed laws
y