The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-08-05
line of work in agriculture as soon
as the political situation is clarified.
kansas City. NO, july Is. Is

as the political situation is clarified.
Kansas City, Mo-, July %, 1920.
To all Organized Laborers, Greeting:
This is to certify that on the 9Th
day of July, 1920, the writer had
about two hours and fifteen minutes
talk with Governor Allen in regard
to organized labor and the Industrial
Court I have been a member of or
gaized labor for eighteen years; I
have attended eight American FEEDER
alton conventions and FIVE state con-
ventions, and sincerely believe that
Governor Allen is the fairest man of
his standing that have ever talked to
in regard to organized labor.
Before the laboring men of Kansas
join in the clamor of some of our
labor leaders against the Industrial
Court, they should take the trouble to
understand it better.
There is nothing in Governor
Aliens record to indicate that he was
unfriendly to organized labor, and
nothing in the court to indicate that
it is framed as an unfriendly measure
to labor. The provisions of the law
and the personnel of the court both
hold forth the presumption that it is
court of justice, and all the deci-
sions of the court so far indicate that
it may result in blessing to labor.
Something over dozen cases have
been brought before the court, and
every decision affecting wages has
been rendered in favor of labor.
Mr.. W. E. Freeman, president of
the Kansas Federation of Labor,
helped to bring case for the mem
bers of the Amalgamated Association
of Street and Electric Railway En-
ployees of America against the Joplin
& Pittsburg Railway Company. The
court promptly allowed a scale in
creasing the maximum pay of motor
men and conductors from AZ cents
to 55 cts. per hour; blacksmiths were
increased from 491z cents to 55 cents
per hour; machinists from 81 y cents
to So cents; motormen from AZ cents
to 55 cents per hour; armature wind
ers from 81 Il cents to so cents; head
light, tail-light and telephone men
from 1925 to $135 per month; help
ers and other minor employees were
given corresponding increases. The
order of the court making these in
creases was obeyed by the railway
company, and the increases were
satisfactory to the employees.
In case brought by the Interna-
tional Brotherhood of Stationary
Firemen and Oilers against the var
ious railroads of the state, the court
increased the minimum wage from 35
cents to 45 cents per hour and the
maximum from ~ cents to SIS cents
per hour. The railroad companies
have appealed this case, declaring
that since the Federal Wage Board
was created the Kansas court has no
jurisdiction. The decision of the
Federal Wage Board touching the
wages of this Brotherhood gave them
less recognition than the order of the
Industrial Court provided. H. W.
Wendele, one of the vice presidents
of the International Brotherhood of
Firemen and Oilers, says that the
award by the Kansas Industrial Court
is much more substantial recogni-
ton of their rights than was the deci-
sion Of the Federal Wage Board.
In the Topeka Edison Company
case, involving a wage controversy,
the court ordered an increase of tx
cents per hour on the basis of eight
hours per day, allowing time and a
half for overtime and double time for
Sunday.
A case brought by Alexander Nc
AlliSter and other shot-frers against
the Southwestern Interstate Coal
Operators Association was dismissed
June Is, because the Southwestern
Interstate Coal Operators Associa-
ton met the demands set forth in the
application to the court.
The court also wiped out the prac-
tice Of the coal operators in making
ten per cent discount from the
wages of every miner who drew his
pay between pay days. This ten per