Denver labor bulletin., 1918-10-26
APPROVED BY TRADE UN-
IONS AND RAILROAD
BROTHERHOODS.
Legislative Records Show That
Colorado Senator Has Sup
ported and Voted for
All Vital L a Dor
Measures.


American Federation of Labor, in a
letter to the editor of The Denver
Labor Bulletin this week, gives a
resume Of Senator John F. Shafroth's
attitude and vote on important labor
legislation during the six years he has
been n member Of Congress. No man
in the United States Senate has n
better record favorable to labor meas
ures than the Colorado senator.
This information is authentic, COM
piled from the Congressional Record
by the Legislative committee of the
American Federation Of Labor, and is
one that the organized wage-earners
of Colorado should remember when
they go to the polls on election day,
Tuesday. November 8.
Senator Shafroth took his seat on
March 4, 1913 The first labor meas
ure considered and voted upon after
he had entered the Senate was the
antitrust section of the sundry civil
bill. Shafroth's vote was recorded as
favorable to labor.
On May 81. 1913, he voted in favor
of a senatorial investigation OF the
West Virginia coal fields. This was
n matter of supreme interest to the
coal miners Of the nation. and resulted
in n clearing up Of the West Virginia
situation.
Voted for Clayton Act
July 8, 1914, Senator Shafroth is
again recorded as voting favorable on
Sterling's motion to strike provisos
from the antitrust section of the sun
dry civil bill.
September 2. 1914, the memorable
Clayton antitrust bill came to n vote
in the Senate. II declared that ''the
- - h..,- Il x~N
modify of commerce" Senator Shaf-
roth is recorded as voting in favor of
the Clayton bill. perhaps the most i'm
portant labor measure ever written
into the national legislative statutes.
Senator Shafroth is recorded as vot-
ing favorable on all the measures
which finally resulted in the adoption
of the immigration bill, and on Feb
ruary s, 1917, voted to pass this bill
over President Wilson's veto. thus con-
summating n labor Legislative act ad-
vocated for many years.
The Railroad Eight-Hour Bill.
During consideration of the rail-
road mems eight-hour bill in Septem-
Der, 1915, Senator Shafroth was paired
with Republican senator, absent on
account of illness, and could not under
the rules cast n vote. He declared,
however, on the floor of the Senate
that, if permitted, he would have voted
favorable on this bill. Hence. Senator
Shafroth is recorded by the American
Federation of Labor and the railway
brothcrhoods ms being favorable to this
great measure.
On September 10, 1917, an amend
ment was proposed to the revenue bill
exempting labor papers and farm pub
lications from the provisions which
would have practically put them out Of
business. On this measure Senator
Shafroth voted favorable.
On October 4, 1917. he voted for the
war risk insurance bill, by which the
government has placed millions of dol
lars of insurance on all soldiers in the
national army at nominal premium.
This measure was vigorously opposed
by the insurance trust. 1t ipsures pro-
lection to the family of every man
who joins the national army.
Opposed Drafting Workers.
On April 81. 1918, he voted in favor
of a motion to strike out the work
or fight" amendment from the draft
bill: This amendment was vigorously
and successfully opposed by the
American Federation Of Labor.
September 13, 1918, he voted to
create commission to establish a
minimum wage for women and minors
in the District of Columbia. This
measure has since become law, bene-
fiting thousands of women and chill
dren in the national capital.
The records kept by the Legislative
committee of the American Federation
of Labor in Washington show that
Senator Shafroth has been n consist
ent friend of organized labor thruout
his entire six years in the Senate.
Favored by Brotherhood Chiefs.
A communication was received by
The Bulletin this week from the leg
islativc committee Of the four rail-
road hrotherhoods in Washington.