The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-03-06
GIVES UNIONS REAL CHANCE
Government Now Weapon of
Workers, He Declares.
Also Protects Public From Long
Industrial Wars.

New York. March Gov. Henry
]. Allen of Kansas last night appeared
before a large gathering of employers,
not in the expected role of strike
breaker" but as the apostle of better
things for labor and his audience was
surprised.
Also his friends, who had worried
at his acceptance of the invitation to
address the association of employers
OF labor in the east on the Kansas in
dustrial court plan, were easier in
their minds when he had finished.
Some of his eastern admirers had
strongly advised him against appear
ing before the organization.
There is one thing / wish to make
entirely clear" said Governor Allen.
1.-The state of Kansas and 1, myself.
are now and always have been for
justice to labor. We support the prin-
ciple OF collective bargaining and those
measures designed to improve better
understanding and mutual interest be-
tween capital and labor
The Kansas industrial court was
bitterly opposed and has been bitterly
denounced by labor generally.
Government Now IabOr's Weapon
But the trouble is" said Governor
Allen, that labor has said that. thru
the court, We have taken away from
them the strongest weapon they have
the weapon of the strike. What
insist and what I am sure labor will
come to realize is that we have not
taken from them their strongest
weapon, but have substituted for the
weapon Of the strike the strongest
weapon they could possibly have-the
government
''I have heard the purpose of gov
eminent variously defined. but to my
mind the best definition is that gov
eminent is established to insure JUS
tice.' and that is what We purpose to
do with it in handling threatened
strikes"
The governors speech tonight was
the first of a series he has been IN
vited to deliver in the east anent his
court plan. Monday he will address
the New Jersey legislature. Tuesday
the New York legislature. and
wednesday the Massachusetts legisla--
ture Bills providing for an industrial
court similar to that recently estab-
lished in Kansas have been introduced
IN seven state legislatures
',SaturaiIy," said Governor Allen to-
day. IT am glad to tell these bodies
what we have done and what we nope
to do with the new institution. Al
ready il has shown results in Kansas
We have not had a strike out there
thus far this year. and in the same
period a year ago there were thirty
two"
..Must Protect the People"
The seed of the court plan, accord
ing to Governor Allen, lay in the con :
H-iction among thinking people that
che final appeal in labor controversies
no longer should rest on the issue OF
an Industrial war. 1t bore fruit when,
in the recent coal strike. Whlch
wreaked suffering and loss upon the
country, it was disclosed that no Pro-
vision had been made in our laws 10
compel continuous operation OF lndus-
tries to insure an adequate and con-
tinuous supply of the necessarles OIL
life, to the people -,
So in order to accomplish the re-
suit sought. Governor Allen explained,
at is necessary to enact laws TO pre-
vent organized capital as well as or
ganized labor from arbitrarily ceaslns
production or transportation OF lne
necessaries of life while the pSople
starve, freeze or go naked. We nave
enacted such laws in Kansas, and am
behind them to the very end, regard
less what my personal fortunes may
prove to be in the long run: But IN
fha long run the fair minded LABOR
leaders will admit that the rights of
women and children and the genera
public to an adequate supply or the
bare necessa ries of life are superior 10
the rights of labor or capital to stop
production in the interests OF selilsH
quarrel.
Gives the Public Chance.
ssThe legislation we have enacted
does not deny labor the right OF col
1actIva ba eafning. but establishes
something saner and juster, when an
effort at collective bargaining mas
failed. than recourse to strike. Arbl-
tration never has provided a guaran
tee of justice, because at best it Leads
only to a compromise. and into the
deliberations of a board of arbitration
there seldom comes representative
of the public, which, In the controVeT-
sizes affecting essential industries is
chiefly concerned. The public has a
right to say that neither associations
OF employers nor employees shall be
allowed to conspire to bring about q
condition which limits production and
distribution to a point that endangers
the safety of mankind.