Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1920-04-22
Daily
Editorial
Digest
(TitIe Appld for q. S. Pat Off
Edited by the Washington
Feature Service
DAVID LAWRENCE, Prest.
The TEST OF
THE KANSAS PLAN


The Kansas plan TO abolish strikes
by setting up all Industrial Court Is
now being tested not only in the
Kansas courts but in the tribunal
OF American press opinion. Alexan-
der Howat leader of the miners
union, is in jail for refusing to ties.
tify before the court, and some of
his followers have expressed their
.disapproval of this legislation by
striking. AS the Kansas law pro
vides for judicial settlement OF la.
Dor disputes and makes strikes lille
gal, many papers agree with the
Grand Rapids Press tlnd.1 that the
attitude on the part OF the miners
chief amounts to rebellion. 9th
ers concur In the belief expressed
by the New York Mail qnd0 that
the success OF this experiment in
compulsory arbitration has been
put to the test by the challenge
thrown down by the miners lead
ers'
The Sioux City Tribune llndD de-
clares that :Howat should be left in
jail until he realizes that no man is
a law unto himself in this country"
al opinion shared by more writer's
than would subscribe to the Trib-
u3a's conclusion which predicts
that the Industrial court idea is
bound to spread Closer 20 the
scene of action, the Topeka Capital
rep admits that it is necessary
thst the las h. upheld, but says
labor IS not going to give up or.
ganization unless something better
is offered. Champions Of the irdust-
rial court claim that this law IS the
Something better that labor is look
ing for. But labor prefers to walt
ard see"
without specializing upon the mer-
H. of the court Itself the Providence
Journal Gnd) declares that 1T is
time for showing such arrogant un-
ion leaders that they must obey the
law whethsc they like it or not
The Spokane Spokesman-Review
(Ind. Rep holds that the miners
are in rebellion against the states
authority" but the law Will be vim
dictated and they Will be beaten"
With this sentiment the ST. Joseph
News-Press, (Ind.) is sympathetic,
going 80 far indeed. as to say that
III the position taken by Alexander
Howat is not bolsheYism, 1t is so
close 10 it that 1t would take an
expert TO ind the difference" and
concluding with the assurance that
there ia no shadow OF a doubt in
the mind of any l0yal American az
to where TIE atra9vl7 ,ill e,4d.
The WORKERS seem - thiuk that
eheir rover is Irresistible" but "tho
people know better
Incidentally, the Muncie STA
lind. Rep, sees a parallel he
tween the case of those who oppose
the Kansas law and many elsewhere
who are unsympathetic with the
Volstead act, but points out that
though "a very large per cent OF the
people in the United States are bit
terly opposed 10 the prohibition
laws" still they do not contend
that they should not he recogniz
ed"
That "Howat. Intentionally or 9th
eywise, has become a red" and tha'
a Showdown is necessary" is tn
belief OF the Kansas City JouIna
Gnd1 The Roanoke Times (Dem.
supports this idea. for 1t declares
THE Howats must come 10 recOg
nlza the supremacy of the law ey
ertuallv. Cntl thew do there cau
rot be industrial and political peae'
In the land
The Idaho stat sman, 1Eep1 il
,or Sdapt tl,a+ flo o,fardar stuyil