The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-26
PrOber Heney Divulges Private
Letters OF Meat BarOnS.
Fought Women Compensation
Bill in Kansas Legislature.
SENT LETTER TO W. R. BROWN
Also Had Agents Working
Against Union Organization.
Tried To Defeat Eight-Hour
Law in Illinois Legislature.

Chicago. Feb. 26-More letters,
some of them opposing legislation in
various states. were introduced by F.
j. Heney at the federal trade commis-
sions packing industry. They ranged
from advice to increase employment
of negro labor and caution to drop
union men at Denver, without allow
ing the unionism to appear as the
cause, to opposition against the eight
hour law in Illinois and against
Kansas act intended to regulate and
shorten hours of women.
Recommendation to increase the
percentage of negro help at the Den
yer plant of Swift & Co, was con-
tained in a letter to Louis +. Swift and
signed Swift & Co, per j. Ii. b. IL
said the intention was to get this per-
centage fifteen per cent or higher. as
soon as we possibly can" The letter
was not dated
To Prevent Union Organizing
The next letter. addressed TO the
Swift Co., at Denver. July IL, 1917,
and signed -. Burns" read:
Answering: Want you to work
closely with Hanson to prevent your
house becoming organized, handling
so as not to force strike.
The third, from the files of Wilson
G. Company, April 6, 1915. signed &C.
E. HamIll, attorney" reads in part:
I'm re Illinois eight-hour bill.
'.As per arrangement with the COM
mittee l went to Springfield last Mon
day ana remained there until Thurs
day night working for the defeat of
this bill"
The writer believed the bill would
be defeated but said that Medili Nc
Cormick sponsor for the bill. Fin
jects bitterness into practically every
question that he asks"
Mr.. Hamill said that he was con-
vinced that a subcommittee appoint
eda to investigate thruout the state
whether women employees favored
such a isw will have the desired ef-
fect'
Opposed "Unfavorable'' Law in Kan.
Next came a letter on August II,
1917, from Louis F.. to Edgar F. Swift.
reading:
IF it looks as tho our Sioux CITY
men are going out what would YOU
think of telling them just before they
go out that if they go out, the plant
viii be closed down permanently
This. to certain exten. is a
threat; something we have never done.
but sometimes l like to try a thing
once to see whether or not it will
work"
files, dated Kansas City, 1915, ad-
dressed to "W. r. Brown, Kansas leg
islature," and signed 20. S. b." men
toned that Governor Capper had men,
toned strengthening the compensa-
ton act The letter continued:
I'VE are perfectly safe in assuming
that the compensation bill is going to
be more favorable to the workmen un-
less decided opposition is put up or
some other means used for getting
thru legislation that will suit u.s."
"Defeat Whole Bill IL Possible
Bowman" on February %. 1917. ad-
dressed to Roy N. Hope, Topeka read:
Female labor bill very desirable
not to have any limit in hours per day
or per week. Defeat whole measure IL
possible. If you have to compromise
offer nine hours a day, total fifty
hours per week. but do not permit
fixed time for beginning ending
day. All our labor must be sufficiently
elastic to meet heavy runs livestock
we have particularly on hog killing
season. Drastic legislation affecting
women labor would certainly result in
forcing out large number of women
now employed in packing houses at
good wages, and substituting men"
There is record of wv. r.
Brown" connected with the 1915 leg
islative session. The legislative lob"
book in the secretary of states office
fails to show such a person registered
as a lobbyist. Neither does the house
and senate journal show an employe
of such name. There was no MEM
Der bearing the name. Both the As
sociated Press and United Press gave
the name w. r. Brown. leaving little
chance of doubt as to initials
In the sessions of 1s11-13 a W. r.
u Jah I1l.k