The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-21
Union Labor Leaders Clash at
Walker Meeting.
+. p. Mention Resented Charges
of Federation.
CALLEDIN REPORTERS
Secret" Meeting Was Opened
to the Public.
Walker Makes Peculiar "De-
nial of Interview.

| Inc expected happened last night al
the meeting which was addressed by
Henry M. Walker. general organizer OF
| the American Federation of Labor at
GIG Kansas avenue. The trou-
Bile which Mr.. Walker in his interview
in the State Journal last night init
mated would happen was produced as
per schedule. The i'll feeling which has
been brewing between Mr.. Walker and
the state bureau Of labor and industry
for some time came to a head in the
meeting last night.
The principals in the clash last night
were Thomas P. Mention, statistical
clerk in the office of the state bureau
of industry and labor, and Henry M.
Walker of Wichita, organizer for the
American Federation of Labor.
The meeting of last night was held at
6lS Kansas avenue and was extensive
iy advertised as for union men exclus-
lively Mr.. Walker, when he came to
the State Journal office Friday morn
ing, stated that it would be useless to
send reporter to the meeting because
it would be secret meeting.
At nearly o'clock at night, a COM
munication reached the State Journal
from Mr.. Walker that 1t had been de-
cfded to open the meeting to the press,
and representative of the State Jour
nal was promptly sent to the hall.
1t seems that Mr.. Walker felt that
he had put himself in a bad light with
the union men of Topeka by his inter-
view with the State Journal printed ON
Friday afternoon. This interview was
given by Mr.. Walker at the State Jour
nal office about noon on Friday, In the
interview Mr.. Walker told his grieV-
ances against W. L. A. Johnson labor
commissioner, and against certain of
Mr. Johnson's assistants. He declared
that the office of labor commissioner
was being made subservient to politics.
and that T. p. Mention, statistical clerk
in the office, was sending out letters
injurious to the American Federation
of Labor. No request was made by
Mr.. Walker that his remarks be not
printed; in fact he remarked that he
was outlining in a general way the
matters which he would bring before
the meeting in the evening. The writ
ten notice of the meeting which, he
brought to the State Journal office
stated that he would have something
labor laws in Kansas = -
At the meeting Friday night Mr..
Walker declared to the union men that
his interview was unauthorized" that
printed in the State Journal he was not
talking for publication; that he had
been ''misquoted.' When Mr.. Walker
said he had been "misquoted," T. P.
n. W
letters injurious to the FEEDER
alton Of Labor, arose and said:
Isn't it a fact that you showed a
copy of this letter to reporter
nere?"
Mr.. Walker answered. "It is a fact
hat 1 had, as 1 have indicated, in a
ak with a reporter today, and it is |
possible that he. saw copy of a part |
IF the letter."
Mr.. Mention replied: 81 don't care
anything about any part that you may
mention. 1 want to know about this !
story, and L want the reporters to get |
t in full if anything is to be said
about it,
Mr.. Walker answered by giving de-
ails of his appearance before labor |
>ody at West Mineral in southeastern |
Kansas some weeks ago. 'It was
greed he said, that nothing should |
,e said about the State society, about
Mr. Johnson, Mr.. Mention Mr.
refer" Mr.. Walker then read a /
,art of a letter which Mr.. Mention had I
to w. E. Bryan of Wichita,
ecretary of the State Federation. "I
# the bureau or of the State Society
# Labor and Industry, Mr.. Walker
aid.
81 think it's time that should be
justified before this meeting. And 1
Ion't understand how this statement
ould have got out to the public unless
GU, Mr.. Walker, gave it out" declar-
d Mention
IT have said repeatedly that I have
zen misquoted in this interview and
repeat it again. said Walker.
Did you or did you not show the
Exporter this part of the letter to
which you have referred ?" inquired
Ienton-
at insist that I didn't make the
tatements credited to me here. 1t
J possible that the reporter saw this
art of the letter. But I have been
nisquoted throughout" was Walkers
nswer.
'I don't care to discuss this matter
nv more here You have the advan-
want to talk this matter over with
GU after the meeting" said Mention
Walker said: Very well, 1 will take
o more time here to discuss the mat
er We will talk it over afterwards"
However, at the end of the meeting
fr Walker did not talk with Mr..
Ienton and the others in the contro-
ersy. but made his way from the hall.
The chief matter in Mr. Walkers
lterview which raised the bone of
ontentfon was the reference to the
,tter of Mr. Mention in the interview.
Ir. Walker seems to have secured the
,tter in some manner and is now
howing it wherever he goes
Outside of this little turmoil where
e assailed the veracity of the State
ournal. Mr.. Walkers address was a
eaceful narration of the work of his
rganiZation in Kansas. He advised ,
he different unions to join hands and
and for organized labor He assert !
d that his motives in the work were !
ure and above reproach.
HASKELL Names state pr;D+o-