The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-08
UNLIKE AUSTRALIAN FAILURE
Committee Probe Found Public
Endorses the Idea.
Attention Called to Difficulties
Facing National Tribunal.

Chicago June S.-Indicating that
as the Kansas industrial court law
was passed primarily for the protec-
ton Of the public, the subcommittee
Of the national Republican committed
on policies and platform today sub
mitted report to the convention
committee on those documents quali-
fiedly favoring the Kansas plan.
The committee report submitted
by r. J. Caldwell. chairman of the
sub committee. is as follows:
only a few aspects of Industrial
relations are political in their nature.
Therefore only a few of them are
proper subjects for the consideration
and action of political party.
1t is important as matter of
economies to distinguish between two
different conceptions Of the relation
between capital ana labor. one is
that the relation is contractual and
that employer and employee have d.
verse interests The other is that the
true relation is that OF co-proprietor-
ship in a common task. The only
questions which have a political char
acter are those which concern the
settlement of Industrial disputes by
strikes or thru tribunals created to
adjust them.
There are three general schemes
for the settlement of Industrial dis
putes which have been tried with
plication, and with varying degrees OF
success and failure. % Compulsory
adjudication, or compulsory media
ton, cancellation or arbitration; t2)
voluntary mediation, Cancellation or
arbitration. coupled with compulsory
inquiry and reliance for enforcement
upon enlightened and informed public
opinion; CD economic pressure, with
a minimum of governmental super
vision, and without eompulsion, except
as a matter of voluntary contract.
Unlike Australian Law.
The first of these schemes has
been tried in Australia, and in some
Of its features in at least two Ameri-
can States Colorado and Nebraska
but is best exemplified in the recent
Kansas Industrial Court law. 1t vir-
tually makes the strike illegal, al
least as far as t affects the basic in
dustries transportation. food, fuel and
clothing), which are declared to be
affected with d public Interest, and
provides for an impartial tribunal and
Tor judicial procedure which makes
the interests of the public the supreme
consideration and the responsibility oil
the government clear and definite ir
the adjudication of any dispute. II
does not take away resort to existing
machinery for the private settlement
Of disputes thru collective bargainint
or any other means OF voluntary medi-
tat'on. Cancellation. or arbitration
where these agencies are able to oper-
a'e without causing the Industry Il
shut down or The public to suffer.
1t provides a court OF industrial
ela-ions as a state agency, which may
institute inquiry in the case of any
controversy coming within the scope
OF its Jurisdiction, and may serve upon
al parties notice OF its findings. II
any party fails to obey the order OF
this court, proceedings may be brought
IN the supreme court OF the state Ia
enforce its order and penalties Inn
posed for any violation of its order
Suspension or cessation of an industry
affected by the act, in violation of the
act or the order Of the court may lea d
to the court proceeding. by legal ma
chinery, to take over the industry and
operate it during the emergency.
Public Likes Kansas Plan.
The results of our inquiry show
that the general principle OF the Kan
sas industrial court, in its application
10 government employment. is favored
BY very large majority of those who
have answered our questionnaires
The same is true, altho the majority is
not so large, in the application of this
principle to public utilities. In pri-
Vate employment, however. a large
majority is opposed to the principle.
1T is to be noted that the replies
opposed to the application of the prln,
ciple of the Kansas industrial relations
court to private employments come
Tor the most part from persons resi-