Milford chronicle., 1920-03-05
THE KANSAS ANTI-sTRIKE LAW

Governor Allen of Kansas made
this declaration last night, at Chlc-
ago. No matter what issues from the
conference between Director-General
Hines and the railroad men, there II
he no railroad strike in my State. In
the first place the law forbids 1t, and
in the second place the chairman OF
the Kansas strike committees OF the
Railroad Maintenance Union have
asked their superiOrs to exclude Kan
sas from any strike order that may
be promulgated
Governor Aliens optimism is due
to the new State law which makes
strikes and lockOuts illegal and which
provides a Court of Industrial Rela-
tions with full authority to adjust all
labor disputes. Referring to this
court, the organization of which was
completed only a few days ago, Cover
nor Allen said,
Already we have seven cases on
the court docket and the court IS but
ten days old Three of these cases
were filed by employers, four by en-
Dloyees In all these cases direct ne
gotiations between employer and en-
plove failed and, according to the
law, they have fetched their troubles
into this court where matters will be
adiudicated. Meanwhile work is go
ing on as usual.
This court is founded upon the
principle that government should
have the same power to protect socie-
ty against the ruthless offences of an
industrial strike that il has to pro-
tect against recognized crime"
This new court has full power, the
Governor said, to settle all industrial
which threaten to him
der, delay, or suspend the operation of
such industries as those affecting food,
fuel, clothing. and transportation"
Continuing Governor Allen said.
LAS believers in Anglo-Saxon insti- /
tutions, we must realize that the only .
sure source from which justice may
emanate is orderly and impartial gov
at an hour when radical la
Dor leaders are seeking to create a
political organization
which shall threaten public officials.
It is time for patriotic Americans to
insist that there shall be one stand
ard of justice for all men,"
If the railroad strike, which has
been ordered for the 18th, actually oc-
ours. the practical working of this
new law in Kansas will be watched
with much interest by the people of
he entire country. Among those who
know Governor Allen, however, there
is no question as to the result, for he
will undoubtedly see to it that the
aw is enforced.
Indeed, reports from Kansas indi-
cate that there is, among the rank
and file of the labor union member
ship in that State, but little Opposi-
ion to the law, and the trouble there.
rs in many other parts of the cOun-
-ry, seems to be primarily that the la
Dor leaders see in all proposed anti
strike laws a danger to their dicta-
.orships in labor circles. Their ac-
ions in the matter are apparently
governed by personal selfishness ra-
her than by solicitude as to possible
Impairment of the rights of the rank
md file Of organized labor as a result
If such legislation
The purpose of the Kansas law is
lot merely to protect the public from
he injurious effects of strikes, but al
10 to see to it that employers treat
workers of all classes fairly. In other
words, Kansas, as a sovereign State.
proposes TO 10 for the workers with
n jurisdiction whether they belong to ]
mi, rs Or not, with - strike. all and
nore than the labor union leaders
lain to be able to do for labor union
members by means of the strike. And
q addition the Kansas plan respects
nd protects the right of the great
ody Of the people, while the strike
Ian Of the labor leaders utterly dis l
egards such rights.
Even from the standpoint Of the or
anized worker. there should be no {
uestioL whatever but that the Kan ]
as plan is the best. And 1t is to be
Oped that labor uniOnists everywhere T
ill recognize this fact; for why a
lould they continue to bear the I
eavy financial burdens incident to
le raising of strike funds and the a
ayment of the salaries and expenses t
{ strike officials when the State C
ands ready, at all times, and with a
ut cost Of any kind or loss of time to ?
orkers, to give them a square deal Y
connection with all controversies il
ith their emDlOvers II