The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-11
TO HEAR Mill CASE
Industrial Court Sets Hearing
|; for Monday.
Formal Complaint Signed To-
day by Judge Wark.

Judge George w. Wark of the court
of industrial relations today assigned
the mill case for hearing Monday
morning at 10 o'clock. The assign
ment was made by Judge Wark in the
absence of Judges Higgins and Reed.
Formal complaint against the mil
lers for suspending maximum produc-
ton was signed by Judge Wark today.
Immediate action will be taken in the
case, which involves a new phase of
the industrial court law.
Rights of Kansas mills to suspend
production without permission from
the court of industrial relations will be
tested under an order issued against
Topeka millers today by the court.
Action was taken following reports
that mills here had laid off many
workmen because of the slump in the
flour market and slow demand for
mill products.
Employees of the Ismert- -Hincke
mills asserted that many of the men
were suspended without notice. Every
Topeka mill is reducing production,
according to information received by
the court. ]. F. Baldwin of the Shaw
nee Milling company said every mill
was slowing down, but trying to keep
as many mills as possible going. At
present many of the mills are operat-
ing half time. 1t will be necessary to
shut down entirely, Baldwin said, un-
less conditions improve.
The Inter-Ocean mills have been
shut down a week because of engine
trouble. They started production
again today and Armin Fassler, man
ager, said the company would resume
full output. The Kaw Milling COM
five days a week
Workmen who have asked the in
dustrial court for relief urge that the
provision against suspension of pro-
duction of essentials be enforced in
the case of the milling companies. A
total of seventy-eight men were re-
leased from the mills of the Ismert-
Hincke company.
No Call for Deliveries.
Officers of the mill stated that men
who were suspended had intended to
quit last week. John H Ismert stated
that purchasers who bought flour at
the high prices are not calling for de-
| liveries, while there is a general ten
dency to suspend movement of wheat
and flour in view of the decline in
prices.
Action by the Industrial relations
court in seeking to enforce maximum
production by the mills will doubt
| less result in a finished fight with the
mills There is little question but that
| the issue will be taken to the su-
| preme court as soon as possible in
an effort to secure that tribunals in
leTpIelaLlon OF the scope oA tHe enact
| ment-
Workers assert they have been
thrown out of employment and call
upon the court to prove that it is
@'the workingman's friend" On the
other hand the mill operators declare
| they cannot be compelled to operate
at capacity when they cannot market
their product. The order citing the
millers to appear before the court was
issued today.
The court states in its order that ac-
cording to the information received.
milling industries in other parts of the
state are limiting their production In
violation of the industrial court act.
The Topeka mills. which are the
only ones actually cited. are Shawnee
Milling company. Topeka Flour Mills
company, Ismert-Hincke Milling COM
pany, Forbes Milling company and
Kaw Milling company.