The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-06
His Speeches and Others From
Unions To Be Limited.
Labor Leaders Get Little Com
fort From Scrappy SOlOns.
LAWYERS TO TELL PUBLIC SIDE
House Plan for Bill to judiciary
Committee Blocked.
Senate, However Red Tapes 1t
TO Legal Advisers.

Immediate action is TO be taken by
the Kansas legislature looking to pas
sage of the industrial court bill and to
stage the biggest law making battle in
the states history right out in the
open. The house in a spirit of bitter
determination against all radicalism,
this morning voted to dump the entire
fight onto the floor without sending
the bill to the Judiciary committee.
The senate sent the bill to the COM
mittee. House action will bar
speeches by radicals and limits
speeches to Frank Walsh and other
recognized representatives of labor in
terests.
Labor leaders found no comfort IN
today's house action. Preceding ad-
journment Monday night, house mem
bers had indicated they would send
the court bill to the-Jut4Qiary commit
tee. This course would Have given
opportunities for general discussion of
terms of the bill by many labor repre-
sentatives.
Martin Leads Fight.
Frank L. Martin of Reno county led
the fight which brought. the bill
promptly before the whole house. Ac-
tion looking to the immediate calling
of Frank Walsh before the house was
taken before the noon recess. Walsh
may open the fight on the bill late this
afternoon. In any event he will ap-
pear Wednesday.
Martins course leaves hearings in
the hands of four persons-the speak
er chairmen of the judiciary, rules
and labor committees. In addition to
the calling of labor representatives,,
constitutional lawyers representing
the public will speak before the
vii n
bate on the general provisions of the
bill and the measure will be reported
directly from committee OF the whole
TO third reading for final passage.
This course may give the house final
action on the bill almost as soon as the
measure is reported back to the sem
ate by the judiciary committee OF that
body.
Senator Price introduced the bill in
the senate and Harley of Douglas pre-
sented the measure in the house.
In Desperate Fight.
Settings were made today for the
most desperate legislative fight Kan
sas has known when the industrial
court bill goes to the hearings and de-
bate on the floor. Smarting under
the stinging speech of Governor Allen.
leaders of the labor lobby today pre-
pared to hand back to the state execu-
tive tho challenge of unfairness and
partisanship which will be made in
discussion of the bill. Forecasts were
made that labor would join in efforts
to defeat every provision in the legis-
lative program.
Governor Aliens attack on the rail-
road brotherhoods was clearly the
feature of the joint session of the two
houses following formal organization
Monday afternoon. Time after time
the speech was interrupted by ap-
plause-applause which came from
town and city employers and most
notably from the farmer membership
OF the two houses. Sullen and waV-
ering under the unexpected extempor-
aneous attack. labor lobbyists with
held their comments until they coun-
selled with their brethren in the labor
halls. Now they are out to finish
fight--a fight wherein Frank Walsh
will direct and lead the union labor
forces.
Hour Ahead of Senate.
As soon as the house and senate
convened this morning the new labor
court bill went to the reading clerks
desks. The house was a full hour
ahead of the senate in the introduction
of the bill The lower legislative body
didn't start the session with observ-
snce of banking hours. 1'hev ware
----= and bre=---steo ant m session and
rarin' TO do things at o'clock. An
hour later the serious minded upper
house took up the formal tasks of the
session.
In the house an effort was made to
block committee hearings on the labor
court measure. Frank L. Martin of
Reno made the fight to take the
measure Immediately before the whole
. house for discussion from the floor.
This legislature isn't bound to a
great many courtesieS to the labor
unions" Martin declared. Il am not
so sure that we must call them in and
give them a hearing on what they as
sert to be their rights. Labor didn't
call the public in and talk it over
when the coal strike was declared. In
stead of talking about rights. some OF
these leaders ought to talk about
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