The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-23
PALMER is FRANK
L. s. Attorney General Talks
Kansas Language.
League of Nations Real Issue,
He Says in Topeka.
RADICAL LABOR NO MORE
Conservatives Getting Upper
Hand Turnout Nation.
Public Must Decide on Dealings
With Unions.
RADICAL LABOR NO MORE

Adoption of the peace treaty and the
League of Nations defines whether
America accepts in good faith re
suits" of the world war. A. Mitchell
Palmer, United States attorney gen.
eral and presidential possibility.
stated upon his arrival in Topeka to-
day. The dominant issue before the
voters next fall will be the treaty
problem. Palmer asserted with the
elements of labor issues and the ever
present tariff trailing far in the rear.
As he completed his roast beef.
lighted a cigar and waited for his
portion of apple pie and black coffee
at the Elks club this afternoon, Pal
. mer talked of politics. labor, the Reds
and his experiences following the
dynamiting of his home in Washing
ton. 1t was the most impersonal, off
hand sort of an interview. Palmer
opened his soul and talked a man-to-
man. 1t was the most frank and can
did sort of a conversation in which
there was no attempt to sidestep, duck
and dodge. Palmer was simply talk
ing in the free frank and candid man
ner which Kansas knows and likes so
we'll
There isn't but one big issue be-
fore the people this year" Palmer as
serted with a frankness that dismissed
contravention. THE issue is whether
or not America accepts in good faith
the Issues ana results OF the WOTlu WAL
"Oh, yes" he said. with just the
slightest evidence of bored express
sion. the tariff question will be
raised. But it is away in the back
ground with the issues of other cam
paigns. The peace problem is the big
issue and nothing else can take its
place"
What of labor?" he was asked.
Radical Labor ENDORSED.
1.-THE radicals of labor are out of the
saddle" he calmly replied. "Conserv-
alive labor is getting control. Con-
servative labor is in the majority.
They have strengthened and will con-
TRUE to strengthen the position of la
bor because they are unseating the
agitators and the radicals. Just as
Lewis and his followers lost in the coal
strike, so radicals are being driven
out of control. The same was true of
j oster in the steel strike. Howat, less
dominant, was also of the crowd
which talked too much. I do not say
these things for the purpose of calling
names, but to define facts"
Public Will Decide.
Then the attorney general was
asked for an expression as to the
Kansas labor court act - would it
prove in a general way the solution of
the national labor problem
Il haven't read the new Kansas law
and I can't talk about it specifically"
was the reply: Something must be
been done long, long ago. You can't
take from a man the right to quit
work. You can't compel him to obey
an order because board of compul-
sorry arbitration passes on his case.
But some body must go into these
questions. The public will decide
just as it decided in the coal strike and
in the steel strike. You can't un-
warrantedly enforce famine and suf-
fering and stop transportation. The
public has a right to the facts. The
public is fair and once the public is
given the facts, the fair side will win
as it always does in any fair issue"
Palmer then told Of the government
action to drive the Reds and radicals
from the country. He said the Demo-
crat party was the friend Of labor.
But that radical labor was not the rep
resentative of true labor, was Palmer's
emphatic assertion-and he pounded
his fist on the table to enforce his r.
mark.
Mrs. Antoinette Funk came to To-
peka this afternoon with the Palmer
party. She, also, was a guest at the
Elks club luncheon. She goes to EN-
poria tonight for a political speech
Tuesday. She is a niece of the late
Cyrus Leland of Troy-for many years
ruler in state politics
Prosecute Packers.
Attorney General Palmer stated that
the finishing touches had been put on
arrangements for the presentation Fri
day of the governments bill in the
packer case to the federal courts.
The great opportunity of the cattle
raising industry is that it may show
under the bill that it has a voice in
the management and control of the
great market centers." Palmer said.
Cattle raisers may assure them
selves that the charges for the yard
age, weighing, dipping, betting. load
ing and reloading cars, vaccinating,
etc, for which they pay the toll. shall
be moderate and the services rendered
shall be sufficient to their needs"
Palmer declined to state which
court the bill would be introduced in,
but it was understood an eastern court
had heen selected