The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-14
Reconstruction Work After the
War Presents Problems.
Employment for Returning
Soldiers Is First Action.
LARGE APPROPRIATION ASKED
More Than $4,000 in Appeal
to 1919 Legislature.
Secretary Alone Would Draw
as Much as the Governor.

state Council of Defense members
are today laying plans for reconstruc-
ton work at a special meeting in Gov
ernor Capper's office in the state
house. The members voted to con-
tinue their work pending legislative
action. Committees will proceed with
the direction of an after the war pro-
gram to provide employment for re-
| turning soldiers and to absorb the new
army of labor created during the war.
| Council members were advised by J..
/ Will Kelley. director OF labor for the
government, that plenty of places
would be opened to the returning SOL
diers. Persons really demanding con-
/ sideration, he declared. were workers
who took up special work in order to
meet war time demands and are now
| confronted by losses of positions or
general abolition of war work. Plans
| for sending returned soldiers to Kan
sas farms were freely discussed and
Governor Capper urged that fedora:
aid be enlisted. E. E. Frizell, repre-
sentative-elect from Pawnee county.
stated that central and western coun-
ties would be able to care for two and
three times the number of men called
into service from these localities.
The war really ended at the most
inopportune time for the army of la
borers." said J. Will Kelley. "Agri-
cultural conditions are now at a stand
still and there is no public work avail
able to absorb the increasing labor
supply. There will be no trouble in
caring for the returned soldier. Every
organization will be looking after their
interests. But the worker who has
stayed on the job and helped win the
war will need attention"
i Plenty of Work in Kansas.
Plans to send excess labor to the
farms and to work out colonization
projects, were discussed by several
members.
Central and western Kansas coun-
ties can use two and three times the
number Of men called from the re-
spective localities" said e. L. Frizell
of Larned. "A practical irrigation
project would pave the way for more
intensive farming and greater crop
production and cultivation of smaller
, acreage by the individual. In the oil
district and in manufacturing centers
programs are already being worked
out to care for returning men and per-
J sons out of employment. Butler
, county has asked for the return of all
, her men. Places will be provided in
: the oil fields"
Colonization Plan.
: Governor Capper urged that the
state and federal government CO.
operate in a program of colonization
, that would send thousand Of men to
a the rural districts He told council
members that large numbers of these
: men could be used in Kansas. In
order to meet the situation, however,
federal aid would be necessary and
: incentives provided for directing the
: returned soldier to the farms. Sew
u eral members suggested aid in pur-
chase of farms thru more liberal
|, offers by the federal farm loan banks
i Blackmar Opposed to budget.
Prof. w. +. Blackmar. forever on
the outlook Tor the state schools. took
I a fall out of a plan to continue the
i council of defense on an extravagant
o basis.
IT don't believe we ought to abolish
|: ourselves or meet to preach our owr
I funeral" he said. But 1 am posi-
u lively opposed to any of the proposed
r plans which would prpbably call for a
I. legislative appropriation of $4,000 a
o year or any other large sum. Our in
e stitutions are too greatly in need OF
). funds to consider large expeditures by
: this body. However. 1 think we should
| continue our work pending Legislative
> action regarding our future"
The council voted to remain in ex
istence pending a vote of the legisla
hIre providing funds for future worl
bil:ty of the defense council as ar
after the war organization.
q Appropriation OF $181,25O.
n For continuation of the work of tn,
= Kansas Council of Defense until Jul,
: 1. 1921, the state legislature is to b'
= asked for an appropriation of $191.
e 250. - The budget of the council hai
It been sent to Fred w. Knapp. stat,
auditor. by w. F. Wulfkuhler. Leav
l. (Confinupd on Page Two.D
r C---
y REV. J. F. HENDY DIES