The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-06-14
Several Members Favor Passing
Strike Legislation.
Special Session and Strike Start
on Same Day.
CONFER BEFORE CONVENING
Strangling of Business Argu-
ment for New Laws.
Copy of Suffrage Amendment
Has Been Received.

Possibility that the legislature may
go into the wire strike situation in
Kansas were discussed today by sew
eral legislators who are here for the
special session which convenes Mon
day noon. Telephone employees in To-
peka and several other towns are due
to walk out at o'clock Monday morn
ing In view of this situation several
legislators today considered measures
which would either provide compul-
sorry arbitration or protect against
tie-up of business thru strikes and
lock-outs affecting public service cor
porations.
The fact that the state Legislators
meets in Topeka at almost the very
hour the wire strike is to begin may
affect both the strike and the activi-
ties of the session. Demands have
been made by number of legislators
for strict adherence to the governors
Standardization of nation suffrage
and adjournment. But the new strike
situation, coupled with the desire of
many members to introduce bills en-
sundry subjects, may affect the activt-
ties of house and senate members.
Bill Was Up Last Winter.
Last winter Representative Free
man presented a bill which would take
strike and lock out matters before the
public utilities commission. 1t pro-
vided for subsequent court relief. The
| bill was not satisfactory to either Ia
Dor leaders or corporation heads. But
with the possibility that wire strike
may paralyze telephone service in
many localities in Kansas, there is
chance that the legislature will over
lstep the governors desire and take
strike action. Whether such a meas
ure would naturally carry with it the
| consideration of other proposed laws
was also discussed today by the early
arrivals for the special session.
One legislator today suggested an
enactment which would prohibit a tie
UP of public utility thru strike or
lockout until any dispute or conten-
| ton had been settled by a board or
commission. Other members would
go even further and provide for board
or commission action in settling public
service corporation disputes and barr
ring entirely the rights of public utili-
ties employees to walk out.
| Arguments for BIZ.
The fact that the strike situation
affects business and industrial condi-
| tions in a most vital manner is one of
the arguments for presentation Of a
| bill covering the problem of public
service corporation strikes. Final ac-
ton as to the introduction of proposed
strike legislation will probably be
taken at a conference of house and
senate leaders some time before the
| opening of the session.
Mrs. Lila Day Monroe of Topeka
has received a certified copy of the
| federal suffrage amendment. Mrs.
Monroe, who Is at the head of the
| National Women's party in Kansas,
| secured a copy of the federal amend
ment before it was received in state
| house departments.
| Copies of the resolution to be Of
fered in the house and senate Monday
have already been prepared The
resolution merely ratifies in formal
/ legal terms the action of the national
congress in granting to women of the
! United States the right of equal suf-
| frage.