The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-05
ROCKING THE BOAT
Machinists Union Sees Trouble
in Industrial Bill.
Resolutions Adopted Fayoring
Hopkins Acts.

Local lodges of the International
Association of Machinists have gone
on record as being heartily in favor of
and endors.--s, Attorney General Hop
kins's three bills. designed to curb
profiteering, inaugurate municipal
fuel yards and provide municipal ice
plants. At a regular meeting this ac-
ton was taken and a committee drew
up the resolution Sunday. Opposition
to Governor Aliens industrial court
plan was expressed.
Labor is keenly alive to the splen-
did features of bill providing for
municipal fuel yards" said a state
ment issued in connection with the
resolutions today. Labor feels that
with the interest of the people as
whole more closely interviewer, as
would be the natural result of mu-
nicipally owned public utiiitles, tnat
such things as anti-strike bills and the
calling of a special session of the legis-
lature by the governor of any state
to consider a bill to establish an in
dustriaI court would be quite unneces-
sary.
present. the right of labor to the only
weapon it has. the right to strike. has
ever been held as inviolable. Any law
taking away that right cannot be eX-
pected to find favor with organized Ia
bor Some one is rocking the boat
1.-THE anti-profiteering bill certainly
cannot be feared by an honest or right
minded concern and should be the
means to stabilize general conditions
and bring into being in all fullness
the Just needs of all concerned.
governor Allen has at this time a
splendid stage on which to erect and
put into operation some real ma
chinery that will be of real service In
this period of reconstruction. LABOR
cannot see it, however, in his bill, as
they understand it,
The Resolutions.
The resolutions adopted by the ma
chinists follow:
Whereas, The governor of the state
has called special session of the legis-
Iature to convene in Topeka on Janu-
airy 5, 1920, to consider emergency mat
ters affecting the people of the state;
and
Whereas, The most important ques-
ton confronting people in all walks of
life is the high cost of living, and the
charging by many dealers of what ap-
pears to be unreasonable and exec s.
sive prices for the common commodi-
ties of life; and,
Whereas, Much of the distress and
suffering during recent weeks on ac-
count of the lack of fuel, could have
been averted mad there been laws
making possible municipal owned and
operated fuel yards, or the state able
to see that this supply on hand would
be in sufficient quantities of necessary
fuel to supply the needs of the people;
and.
Whereas, The city of Topeka. and
many other cities and towns in Kan
sas, have periodical ice famines dur
ing the hot summer months, and the
people are compelled to pay unreason-
able and excessive prices for ice; that
combinations among ice dealers are
said to exist which are contrary to
law; and,
Whereas, Attorney General Richaed
]. Hopkins has prepared three bills
designed to alleviate and correct these
deplorable conditions; therefore be it
Resolved, That the members of the
International Association of Machinists
here assembled and represented, do
heartily approve of the anti-profiteer-
ing bill, the municipal fuel yard bill
and the municipal ice bill as prepared
by Attorney General Hopkins. That
we respectfully request our represen-
tatives in the legislature to use their
best efforts to adopt these bills as
measures of vital Importance to the
commonwealth of the state of Kansas.
Signed. TOM PARKS,
President No. 1870.
A. B. THOMPSON,
President No. "a.
Publicity Committee:
l.. G. BELL.
AcTvr