The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-05
Governor Allen s Message
Full Text Paper Delivered Special Session of the
Kansas Legislature Today.

| field or effeeuybe service Tor court oil
| this character. Such court must hold
! the possibility of equal and exact justice
for employers. employees, and the public.
| Government or the Unions?
I 1t should represent, in its broad power,
government. with all Of it's dignity and
! righteous Justice IL moral principles do
not exist in Anglo Saxon institutions to
| Justify their eXteution 10 meet this vital
! American need, then Anglo-Saxon institu-
tons are doomed to failure It may be APP
parent to all that we can not allow the
erection in this country of a recognized
condition of warfare between government
and any organized portion of society which
and Ti"t to e" chaiienge government itseif Rny
minority which has secured control for the
purpose of affecting wages or profit. to
until the public shall freeze or starve, has,
in effect, superseded government and has
arrogated tc itself the control of the des-
alone may have the power to safeguard.
Block Intimidation. Protect Society
Events OF the recent months have I'M
yelled the startling dangers OF a conscious
purpose to build In this country. out of
Il minority, a deliberate process of intimi-
dalton which sets government at naught.
Its radical leaders think of nothing but
their own class interest. If allowed to go
on this destructive philosophy would wipe
| out all that the ages have builded for So
eiety. 1t may be urged that government
has not the power to protect itself against
the offenses which arise in industrial war
fare.
The thought of establishing a court of
this character is not Il new one. 1t has
come out Of the evolution of hundred
years during which industrial contro-
versies have been growing In number and
importance. This evolution has brought
society reached after the evolution of
events had brought the need of the crimi-
nal and civil courts.
I am not unconscious OF thief that
labor has bettered its condition thru its
organized solidarity; that capital has been
forced to make concessions under threat
w Ghnn1d nf orfl r
and would be opposed to any form Of
, legislation which deprived labor of the
proper use or benefits Of wholesome organ
lzations. But certainly the trend of events
has convinced us all that the final appeal
In labor CONTROVERSIES shall no longer rest
on the issue of an industrial war.
Must Prevent Strikes.
In my Judgment the legislation enacted
should not deny 10 labor the right Of col
lective bargaining but it should establish
something saner and juster when an eff
fort at collective bargaining has failed
than recourse to the strike Arbitration
has never provided guarantee Of Justice
promise and into the deliberations of a
board of arbitration there seldom comes n
representative, of the. public, which, in
tries, is chiefly cOncerend.
obviously. government can not forbid to
any man the privilege to quit work. 1t
to either employe or employer the right Of
discussion and negotiation of their diff
of the progress that has been made has
come from negotiation. The finest type of
industrial peace Is that which rests upon
a basis Of common agreement mutual un-
Outstanding and mutual advantage. 1t
Is only when negotiation fails and the
misunderstanding has reached the bitter
ness of a private quarrel that the public
is menaced- The public has right to say
that neither associations OF employers nor
employees shall be allowed to conSpire to
bring about a condition which limits pro-
duction and distribution to a point that
endangers the safety of mankind.
Public Need Is Paramount.
The doctrines that certain industries and
occupations are impressed or affected with
public interest and therefore subject to
T reg baTe sSs state is an old one
for public regulation Of railroads and
public utilities generally. By means of
this regulation the people are assured con-
tinnous service by the owners of such
utilities. No such legal enactments exist
with reference to the great corporations
fuel.
1t has been recently demonstrated beyond
lie may be made to suffer more acuteIy
by the suspension of production OF these
necessities than by cessation OF the serv-s
Ice OF transportation companies and other
public utilities. The recent coal strike
is no new experience, altho a more star
Ting one than heretofore known in Kansas.
1t has been believed for years that the
great packing plants and other great IN
terests affecting food production have so
lhdulpulhleN their business as to control
the market and the price, not only to the
producer, but to the consumer.
Is the State Helpless:
Surely the state is not helpless to pre-
vent such calamities to the public. Yet
no provision has been made in our laws
to compel continuous operation of these
Industries to insure an adequate and con-
tinuous supply of the neeessaries of life
70 the people In order to accomplish
this result 1t is necessary to enact laws TO
prevent organized capital, well as organ
lnhOF from rh urfl Cfr
duction or transportation of the neces-
saries of life while the people starve,
labor is a commodity, and with this state
ment cheerfully agree. Labor is not q
commodity in the sense that merchandise
Is or that capital may be. When we pro-
coed to deal with labor problems we inn
mediately come into contact with humane
tartan considerations which are of vital
Importance. However, when we are deal
Ing with problems of the supply of the nee
essities OF life to the public, we are also
dealing with. humanitarian propositions.
fhe fair minded leaders of labor will admit
that the rights of women and children and
the general public to an adequate supply
OF the pare necessities of life are superior
to the rights of labor or capital to stop
production in the interests of a selfish
1t seems to me that legislation is impera
lively needed and should be Immediately
Regulation OF Industries.
~ Declaring the operation of the great
and transportation to he impressed with
public interest and subject to reasonable
regulation by the state.
t2D Creating strong, dignified tribu-
nal; vested with power, authority and
jurisdiction to hear and determine all con
troyersies which may arise and which
| threaten to hinder. delay or suspend the
operation Of such industries.
(S) Declaring 1t to be the duty of all
persons, firms, corporations and associa-
lions of persons enga ged in such Industries
70 operate the same with reasonable con-
tinuity. in order that the people of this
state may be supplied at all times with the
necessaries of life
"a Providing that I'm case Of contro-
versy arising between employers and en-
plOyes or between different groups or
crafts OF workers which may threaten the
continuity or efficiency of such industries
and thus the production or transportation
OF the necessaries OF life. or which may
produce an industrial strife or endanger
the peaceful operation of such Industries.
it shall be the duty of said tribunal. on
Its own initiative or on complaint of either
party, or on complaint of the attorney
general. or on complaint of citizens, to
investigate and determine the controversy