The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-29
Compulsory Arbitration Before
Kansas Legislature.
This, in Case Governor Capper
Calls 1918 Session.
STATE OPERATION OF MINES
Measure Is Suggested by Rep.
Bird of Shawnee.
Appeals for Ratification of Pro-
hibitiOn Coming In.

Compulsory arbitration, legislation
against strikes and lockoutS and pro-
vision for state operation of coal mines
and other properties in emergencies,
will be urged before the Kansas legis-
lature this winter in event Governor
Capper calls a special session. A bill
providing for compulsory industrial
activity will also be urged. The meas
ures were suggested today by w. A. S.
Bird, representative from Shawnee
county.
The Topeka lawyer opposes a spe-
cial session for the lone purpose of
ratifying the national prohibition
amendment. Yet he believes the need
of emergency, war time state legisla-
ton will warrant a special legislative
call by, the governor. Bird today an
nounced his plan to urge compulsory
arbitration and industrial activity
measures in event the session is call
ed. He will also offer a bill permit
ting state operation of semi-public in
dustries in cases where arbitrat1ons
fail to provide relief.
Had the laws proposed by Repre-
sentative Bird been on the statute
books last summer, Governor Capper
would have taken over the Usage
county and southeastern Kansas coal
mines and operated them under state
supervision. Birds bill will he offered
in event of a special session as a pro-
lection to the public against the clos
ing of mines, mills, packing plants and
other industries directly affecting the
public.
No Reason for Strikes.
There is no reason for strikes or
Iockouts which cause the consuming
public to suffer and let the people who
direct such strikes and lockouts to go
free" said Bird. II believe the state
needs a law which will safeguard the
public in these matters. My plan is a
bill which would cause either a LABOR
organization or an operator to submit
causes for lockouts and strikes to a
quasi public board or body thirty days
before the order is effective. If the
arbitration fails, then the state may,
within five days, take over and oper-
ate the industry. 1 am not an enemy
of organized labor. Rather, am their
labor member for several years. But
I believe both sides should have a
hearing, and that in all events the
public should be protected"
I In addition to his plan for COM
pulsory arbitration and state operation
of industries, Bird proposes a law for
compulsory Industrial activity by every
able bodied man in the state.
Similar to Maryland Act.
| kansas should frame law similar
| to he>Maryland act in event a special
session is called" Bird continued.
| 'Sucn a law WOulO make every dDiS
bodied man work. There is no reason
| why a retired farmer should live in
town in ease and howl about the labor
shortage. Nor is there reason why an
| able bodied laborer who suddenly in
/ herits wealth should refuse to work.
The state needs every able bodied man
| in a war crisis. If they won't work on
their own motion, the state should step
| in and make them work"
| While opposed to a specialize Session
| on the lone proposition of ratifying
national prohibition, Bird believes sew
| eral important problems now facing
the state may warrant the calling OF
Kansas lawmakers to Topeka this
winter. His proposed measures will
| be offered to meet war conditions in
event of a special session.
The first petition urging a special
session came to Governor Capper to-
| day More than 100 Yates Center
men and women .Jetitioned the gov
-ernor to call special session to ratify
national prohibition. An early call is
urged that Kansas may lead the pro-
cession of states in ratifying the pro-
posed amendment to the federal con-
stitution.
Senator Baxter D. McClain of lola
representing the Woodson Allen
county district, sent the Yates Center
| petition to the governor.