The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-05

istOry Of the industrial quarrel the public
ias told that, while the controversy over
wage scale was going in between capital
nd labor. it could freeze. The operators
rould make no effort to operate the mines
nd the union miners officials stated that
10 one would be allowed to attempt pro-
uction Of coal until the demand they made
or a sixty per CENT increase in wages and
shortening of working time to six hours
day. five days a week, should be granted
" the operators. In the midst of winter,
nth the shortage of coal which usually
onfronts this section of the country be-
ause of Indifferent mining during the sum
1er months. operations ceased. All resa-
Ions between operators and miners were
'roken off and the two sides watched each
Their with sullen hostility. IL was esumat-
Il that the reserve supply IN TINS sectlOn
nder the most economic use. would provide
Or not over two weeks OF fuel. Both par
les to the quarrel had supplied themselves
nth sufficient coal to keep themselves
rom freezing. and tn attitude TO the puphc
sas of that callous Indifference which has
ecome familiar 20 the public -.
lg down rapidly. In many communities
rnOols closed almost Immediately. Ihere
fas suffering In homes and in hospitals.
the situation had gone on two weeks
rithout relief actual death would have &C
ompanied the fuel famine The baleful
o relief should be granted the public dur
az the quarrel is illustrated by n typical
acident at Pittsburg where the principal
ospital of the town located in the very
cart of the coal district, was allowed TO
without coal until the state stepped In
provide relief. Two union miners VINO
It for the sole purpose of relieving that
Ospital were warned to quit
Death Threatened the Helpless.
1t was pointed out to the miners officials
rat death would ensue unless ,e re the were we're
ltal. Nevertheless, the edict OF the coal
liners officials was that not pound OF
pal should be Pro9q iSe 70
While these tragedies were impending
he state thru receivership ordered by the
bpreme court, took charge OF the mines
hd spent a week urging the miners to re
i'm TO work for the state to relieve the
lblic from the menace OF the FAMINE.
roposaI similar to the one they accepted
.veraI weeks later at Indianapolis, was
tade them by the state of Kansas Many
liners expressed the desire to accept II,
ut the leaders refused to allow them to re-
Urn to work. A large number or miners
spressed TO me their desire TO WORK, thelr
ok of sympathy with the effort 10 Iree re
re public; but SAID that IT they snouiu go
nck 10 work their property would he IN
eriI. their families Inundated, and their
cry lives endangered.
volunteers went to Mines.
The state then called for volunteers to
Ike charge Of the mines. The response to
70 call provides aInfine an exhibition OF
ieir patriotism as Rs ever been given by
tousand men from every vocation in life en-
,lled From this great offering about one
inusand men, many OF them IRON on l., IN. .ne
umber of whom were eX-soldiers from the
lncrican Legion: were chosen. with IN
t.fIsh devotion. during tine seyerest wealth.
. Of tho winter they hurried to the coal
c!ds with them went the Fourth regi-
cnt Of the Kansas National Guard Tor
10 DurDosp of maintaining order IN the
jstrict The volunteers and the guards
en- reached Pittsburg upon the same
e'ius aud uraceeded at once to the strlp
It's OF the district White the guardsmen
ere making their camps and establishing
uard lines the volunteers began WORKING
90 mincs Not moment was lost.
The weather at times was below zero and
Din Guardsmeu and volunteers lived under
ost uncomfortable and trying conditions.
IT there was little complaint and the very
rst day OF the Operation cars were loaded
18th coal. The second day the output In
.pased and IL grew with every day until
the end OF two weeks the volunteers had
reduced a sufficient quantity of coal to
lleve the emergencies in 200 Kansas com
uuities. The union miners and operators
Ike predicted that it would be impossible
produce thru volunteer effort any coal
this district which has been 100 per cent
nionized for many years. Miners officials
I'd boosted for long time that not
ound of coal would ever be mined in that
istrict except by union miners. Yet un-
or state operation. in two weeks the mines
lat had been lying idle in the dead of win
ir, with the machinery out of repair and
te pits flooded with water, were placed
working cOnultlon DN inexperienced HleH
any of whom had never seen coal mine.
Dug Coal in Billiards.
Under weather conditions so severe that
normal times these pits would not have
zen operated at all, quantity production
coal was reached. During the first ten
avs Of the recelyership two hundred cars
coal were mined thru volunteer effort in
tawfOrd, Cherokee and Linn counties. Dur
z the entire period of the receivership
bmething like seven hundred scars were
Toduced but the two hundred cars &C
!ers do not give any adequate measure
the practical value Of their services in
ie mines. 10 was necessary to expend
cry much time and effort TO get the idle
lines into condition for operation. The
ork they did In restoring these mines to
roductivity was at least equal, in value.
the production OF 200 additional cars of
when the volunteers went out and the
nion miners returned the latter found
ie pits in better shape than had eharac-
'rized those mines for long time. The
alter had been pumped cut, new drainage
pnditious established and the machinery
laced in better condition; In some mines
etter equipment provided md the posi-
lity OF Increased productivity established.
hat the action Of the state, in entering
he situation. not only warded off the dan
r Of famine. but hurried forward the
'ttlement Of the strike. no thoughtful per-
IN doubts. en- told by the receivers that
Ike care of the cost of mining operations.
Must Safeguard the Future.
believe, however that II would be a
reat error II Kansas, having taken ad-
antage of the nnselfish devotion Of these
plunteers to relieve the immediate emere-
ency, should now neglect to provide at
ace safeguard against the recurrence of
lis expensive and dangerous form of in
nstrial warfare As we review the grow
X quarrel between capital and labor we
re all impressed with the fact that we
ave made absolutely no progress toward
le provisions of Just and orderly basis
solution. Every settlement of every
intrOversV has been upon a temporary
psis ana the sole concern in every tenn
orary adjustment has had TO do with the
avantages of capital or labor. Into few
pntroversles does there ever come con-
Iteration OF the rights Of the public. The
irGeSt party at interest scarcely receives
hearing I believe the time has come,
the increased Industrial life of the coun-
y, when tribunal should be estab-
shed which shall have the power to take
nder Its jurisdiction the Offenses COM
lifted against society in the name Of in
ustrial warfare, aAtribunnl which shall have
se authority to meet Industrial discomfort
efore 1t crystahzes by careful oversight
Ud regulation OF the conditions of labor
efore any injustices are allowed to tester
nd breed class hatred and bitter antagon-