The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-03
POLITICAL GOSSIP
Talk About q State Arbitration
Board.
w. L. A. Johnson Tells What Is
Needed.
HOW HE PLANS 1T.
Would Have Three Men TO Settle
Dispute.
Also Wants an Anti Child Labor
Measure.

An arbitration board to settle labor
disputes VIII be asked for by the state
society of labor and industry, and the
legislative committee of that organiza-
ton will meet next week to draw up a
bill providing for such q board, for pre-
sentation to the legislature
Secretary w. L A Johnson, Of the
society says: Kansas needs an arbi-
tration bill There is at present on the
statute books an old law giving the
parties to q labor dispute the right to
go before the probate or district court
and ask for the appointment of an ar
bitration board, but of course neither
side is willing to take advantage OF
such 4 law I don't think there has
ever been anything arbitrated under
the old plan.
What we want is some sort of a law
providing for the appointment, when
necessary of a board of arbitration con-
sisting of our representative of labor
one OF the employers and one to be Sc
lected by these two I don't know just
how such a board could be chosen, but
that is one of the details which can be
adjusted. The present law is entirely
obsolete, and it is necessary that we
have some tribunal to which labor dis
puteS can be referred. I think that the
existence of such a law will cause the
labor and capital leaders to get tOgeth-
er and reach a settlement of their trOu-
bles without the help of the arbitration
board. They will say, If we take this
thing before the arbitration board, the
facts viii all come before the public
anyway; we might just as well get to-
gether and talk it over and settle the
trouble between ourselves In my Opin-
lon, public sentiment viii be strong
enough to enforce the decisions of this
tribunal"
The State Society of Labor and in
dustry will also ask for a law prohibit
ing child labor. Such law has been
advocated at the last two sessions of
the legislature without success. The
labor society and the Federation of
AVomen's clubs Joined hand in the fight
before the last session, but it was
without results. At the coming session,
another effort will be made to secure
the passage Of the child labor law. The
proposed law will prohibit the employ
ment Of children under IA at any kind
of manual labor during the time when
they should be at school
Secretary johnson says of this law:
kansas is getting to be more of a
manufacturing state all the time. This
Of course means that the employment
of child labor is becoming more COM
mon Down at the big Kansas City,
Kan, packing houses, many children
are employed. These children have al
been taught to say, in response to
questions. that they are over II years
of age. Tt is therefore going to be nee
essary to investigate their statements,
in case a child labor law is passed.
The truancy law passed by the last
k6RDiD2
children out OF factories, but in some
parts OF the state, the truancy law is
unpopular, and is not being enforced.
The reason we have failed to get the
child labor law through the previous
session of the legislature has been the
opposition Of the big manufacturing
concerns, which threw their influence
against the law, and were able to de-
feat its passage"
It is said that Speaker-to-be W. R.
Stubs of the house of representatives
has selected the chairmen for some of
the important committees. J. NJ.
Creech OF Herington is said to be the
man who Will be at the head of the
ways and means committee. Charles
s. Beekman of Arkansas City will
probably be at the head of the gas and
oil committee, which is likely to have
lot of important work before it at
the coming session.
J. E. Junkin, editor of the Sterling
Bulletin, has announced that he will
be a candidate for the Office Of state
printer. Junkin was supposed to be
a candidate for the office of private
secretary to Governor Hoch. and when
he failed to land this place, hel
switched his boom over to the state
printer track T. A. AIcNeal, Conner
Davies and J. z. Junkin are now the
candidates for the state printer job.
The fight for the office of state bank
commissioner is one of the hottest
which has yet developed. A delega-
ton of Third district politicians which
was in Topeka last week, held a meet
ing in the interest of Harry w. Bedeu
of ChetoDa- and will push his can
didacy before Governor Hoch. There
is a rumor that the fight on John O.
Royce has proven successful, and
that the PhiliiDsburg man will have
to stand aside for some tried and
true" boss buster.
Money for the state treasury is
coming in slowly. The county treas
urers are not prompt with their re-
nittances, and the state may have to
begin working the mot paid" stamp
some time this week TIL ere is onIvi
$4,000 on hand. with all the Deem
Der bills coming in. The state no
doubt feels very much like a good
many individuals do when the Christ
mas bills begin to drift into port on
January 1.
William Campbell, one of the Pop
ulist leaders in Kansas, has come in
from Stafford county to consult a
Topeka physician. He has been sick
for several months and is becoming
alarmed over his condition
THE Pop party is dead" said he
mournfully- But it accomplished
some good and the people are better
off for its having been born. Why
a@-aa--HH
I'VE hnar. that vour. kohl