South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-06-01

sas the first executive in the United
states TO attempt 10 put an end 10
industrial warfare by creating
court 20 which employees and en-
ployers in his state are required 20
take their disputes and which for
bids strikes and lockouts that inter
fere with essential industry. is prob
ably the only living governor who
holds his office through having had
% handed TO him on a silver platter.
In 1913 when he was on the bat
tefelds Of France serving as a Red
cross worker the Kansas repub-
leans nominated him for governor.
Without having spoken or wpitten a
word In behalf OF his candidacy he
was elected by an overwhelming
majority and did not return 10 the
United States until a short time be-
fore the time for being inaugurated
Before ne had been in office a
year Gov. Allen had called two spe-
cial sessions of the legislature-ou
70 ratify the suffrage amendment
and the other TO pass the first indus
trial court law ever enacted by any
state.
A}AflHE the latter part or 1873
Kansas. like the rest OF the nation.
was hard hit by the coal strike In
dustries were closing, schools were
closed and patients I'm hospitals and
state institutions were threatened
with much suffering. Gov. Allen
went TO the southern Kansas coal
fields and spent two weeks making
speeches and pleading with the
miners 20 work for the state while
settling their controversy with the
mine operators The miners fatty
refused and even turned a deaf ear
10 a hospital in Pittsburg. where
many of the miners had been cared
for.
The governor then took over the
mines under a state receivership.
sent troops TO guard them and
called for volunteers TO dig coal.
Several thousand volunteers re
spOnded-most OF them ex-service
and college men-and the state be-
gan producing coal at once and con-
tinued 10 do so until the strike was
settled and all the miners went back
tC work.
While in Pittsburg. the center Of
the mining district, Allen called a
special session Of the legislature for
the purpose Of passing s. law TO pre-
vent such strikes as the state was
then enduring. The legislature met
early in January and passed a law
creating the Kansas court of indus
trial relations, which has jurisdiction
over all essential industries and TO
which employers and must take
their grievances. The court has the
power 10 take over any industry
- a
is threatened 10 such an extent that
the public would be made TO suffer,
and it has the power TO impose
prison sentences on any two or more
workers who conspire TO strike and
tie up essential industries.
This court may take over a labor
dispute upon its own motion. upon
the request OF either employers or
employees or the request Of any ten
citizen tax payers Gov. Aliens con-
tentiOn is that il gives the labOring
man a much better weapon to fight
for his rights than the old strike
weapon" because 10 provides a just
tribunal 10 which the laboring man
can go TO get relief and guarantees
him employment while ne is seek
,rg TO have grievances corrected. He
does not contend that any court has
the power 10 require a man TO work
when he does not want 10 work, but
asserts that IL is within the power OF
tie new Kansas court TO forbid men
10 conspire TO stop work for the
purpose Of tying up industry and
making the innocent public suffer
Born on a farm and reared on a
farm. Allen got his start in the
world largely through his own in
dustry and endeavoF. In order 10
complete his education at Baker uni
l. IL,