The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-10
Court Better Than Right to
Strike, His Challenge.
Efforts to Keep Men From
Working a Crime, Assertion.
PLAN HITS CAPITAL, TOO
Walsh Talked Without Reading
the Bill, Claim.
Should Be More to Union Than
Strike, He Declares.

In a two-hour speech in the house
of representatives, w. L. Higgins,
author of the labor court BILL tore
down the two days of oratory by
Frank p. Walsh and Jake Sheppard
He gave to the legislature the chal-
lehge that no law making body should
take from labor it's right to strike until
something better was offered. He de-
clared the relief was in the court bill
To labor, he handed the def that
while the right of an individual to
quit work is fundamental. organized
efforts to keep men out of work is
crime and must be punished.
Higgins talked right to the labor
lobby.I He drove home the argument
that labor was put on an equal foot
ing with capital under terms of the
measure. He pointed to the fact that
the new court may look into the books,
pay rolls, expenses and earnings of a
corporation and make wage findings
accordingly.
And the justice which you laboring
men must not refuse to recognize in
this BILL said Higgins. sis the fact
that the penniless man comes into
this court on an equality with his rich
employer. He is given transcript of
the evidence without cost. His case
may go to the supreme court and
defy Uncle Jake Sheppard to find one
line in this bill where a. cent of money
must be put up for costs or even an
appeal bond provided. 1t simply isn't
there. Justice is free to the worker
under this bill-not even a lawyer is
required"
Better Than Strike Right. =
Then to the legislators Higgins
urged:
You have no right to take from la
Dor the right to strike when the strike
m nrIh Q xrn M fer1f
to take away that weapon until you
have provided something better. The
relief comes in the enactment pro-
posed to this legislature
Higgins was at no time bitter in his
speech. But his talk was one of the
most forceful speeches before the leg
islature in many months.
Higgins declared Frank P. Walsh
had seemingly talked without reading
the BILL
when Uncle Jake Sheppard en-
dofsed the bill except the penalty
clause and Mr.. Walsh condemned the
bill as bad thruout, I am inclined to
question whether Mr.. Walsh gave
much heed or thought to the bill.
wish I might have had time to ask
him a few questions.
Perhaps Mr.. Walsh might have
told me just why labor insisted the
strike should remain paramount. T.
want the Kansas laboring man to look
this thing fairly in the face. If there
isn't more in labor organizations than
the strike, there should be.
DenOunces Production Denial.
THE right to quit work is not de-
MED to any man. But the day has
come in this nation when the right of
an organization to deny to a. man the
right to work is a crime and a penalty
clause will be attached. The right to
work is denied not by law, but by
organized labor in its strike order.
Look at the case of the Pittsburg
miner who periodically worked for
the state. When his union returned a
move was made to drive him from the
community
No effort is made thru the bill to
place labor on an unfair basis with
capital, Higgins stated. He pointed
to the fact that public regulation of
interests is now the established right
of the state.
LOOK at the public utilities COM
mission, the state welfare commission,
the labor department, the public
health department. the factory in
spection. the mine inspection and
other state departments" said Hug
gins. "and tell me why any honest
laboring man objects to this bill that
protects his rights and gives him an
honest, fair hearing"