The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-16
Threshermen in Convention
Here Make Summer Plans.
Boost Good Roads and Urge
Strong Stream Spans.
WILL CARRY OWN INSURANCE
Steps Taken To Organize a
Mutual Company.
Labor Still a ProbIem-NO
Price Advances.

Good roads, the organization of a
cooperative insurance company among
their members, and the labor prob
lens of the state are the principal
things scheduled to be discussed and
acted upon by members of the Kan
sas Threshermen's association who
are in Topeka today for their annual
convention. The first session of the
meeting, which includes today and
Thursday. was held Tuesday night at
the National Hotel assembly room.
Probably the most important move
to be accomplished at the convention
is the organization of a cooperative
fire insurance company. Details of
the project have been worked out, it
was said today, and the formation of
! the company will be completed before
the convention adjourns. Whether or
not tornado insurance, as we'll as fire
policies, viii be handled by the thresh-
ermen organization is yet to be defin-
itely decided.
Are Good Roads Boosters.
Considerable time is being devoted
to good roads. of which the thresher-
men are heartily in favor. Inciden-
tally the matter of good bridges will
W
| structed bridges are regarded as one
| of the greatest hazards of moving ma
| chimes and engines.
Threshermen in the city for the
convention forecast but little or no in
| crease in threshing prices this year.
The labor problem, however, will be
serious all over the country, it was as
serted. IT. c. Wallace, a representa-
tive of the Link Manufacturing Co.,
which puts out a type of blower. who
a - 11se =,
Minnesota, Indiana, New York, Ohio,
Oklahoma Missouri. Illinois, Iowa
and South Dakota, asserts that condi-
tions are much the same all over the
country. Wheat harvest and crop
prospects were never better-the Weld
and acreage this year is much better
than before the war when some local
tiles found 1t almost impossible to get
help during both the harvest and
threshing season. The supply of la
Dor will not be as large-or any larg-
er-if all the men in Europe are home
this year, which, of course, will be i'm
possible. Altho the threshermen do
not expect to raise prices, they do not
look for any decrease in the price of
labor-an increase may be registered
in some parts of the country, it is said.
Swat the L. w. W.
Altho the matter may not be taken
up officially during the convention,
the members of the association here
are giving a good deal of time as indi-
viduals in figuring out ways to swat
the |. W. VIZ In years past this ele-
ment has caused the threshermen con-
| siderable grief, especially in western
| Kansas
The mayor, Herbert J. Corwine. of
| fically welcomed the threshermen to
Topeka at the meeting Tuesday night.
| Tim Payne, Oskaloosa, secretary of
the national brotherhood, talked on
what Is the Matter With Kansas ?''
and w. c. Giberson of Kansas City was
also scheduled to make a talk. Others
on the program for the convention will
include J. B. Parker. representing the
american Thresherman;" E. C. Cald-
well, Halstead. is president of the Kan
| sas association.