The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-03-26
HOWAT DE =.
NOUNCES LAW
Leader Of Outlaw Strike in Kan
sas Sees Nothing Good in I'm.
dustrial Court


Union officials point of view has been
made by Alexander Howat. president
OF District No. li United Mine
Workers OF America. Mr.. Howat
says:
The Industrial Court has been In
existence one year. During that PEE
riod II has accomplished nothing In
bettering labor's condition in this
state. "A few wage claims involving
but q very small number of men have
been handled by the industrial court.
fow crumbs handed out as bait
10 labor, but tor every penny that
has been paid out to labor. hundreds
OF dollars have been given to the
Public Utilities corporations in in
creased rates. Eight or ten cents an
hour Increase was given TO the en-
ployces of the Joplin and Pittsburg
Railway company. who were already
working for a starvation wage of
$3.50 or $500 Fer dag. and the pas
scnger rates OF the company were
almost doubled.
The Industrial court also added
about S3 Ia per cent to the value
OF the telephone company at To-
peka. and did tho same at Kansas
City, Kansas, and permitted their
rates To be adjusted accordingly.
THE Industrial court has cost the
tax payers many thousands of dol
lars directly, and many hundreds
of thousands of dollars i'm increased
rates TO public utilities that have been
given by the Industrial court. 1t has
prevented no strikes and has done
nothing but aggYavate the labor prob
lem and create industrial STRIFE.
Every honest. r sclf-respecting
working man i'm the state should re-
sent a law of this character. There
Is no law even I'm the most auto
cratic country of Europe today that
ens'aves the workers in such a man
ner as Is intended 10y this law.
This law is an infringement on the
sacred rights of every honest working
man In the state OF Kansas. This So
called industrial court law Is an in
sult TO every man who believes I'm
the principles of liberty and Justice
and Is disgrace to the state of Kan
sas. This law il meant to enslavc or
ganized labor and to place us In the
same condition that we were In years
ago, before we had established the
United Mine Workers. 1t is meant 20
place US at the complete mercy OF
the employers OF labor. 1t is intend
ed TO destroy the usefulness and ef-
fectivcness of our organization. and
In fact, is only the beginning of II
movement that Is finally intended to
cns'ave the working class of Amer
"a and to destroy the organized labor
movement of the entire country.
"OrganiScd labor is not opposed to
the Industrial conrt law because OF
our sdeslre to call strikes. but we
know from bitter experiences OF the
past what II means To US IL we sur
render the right tn strike. or IL that
right is taken away from us. IL is
only because we have I'm the past en-
1oyed the right TO strike that we have
ever been able TO compel the employ
ers OF labor to grant any concessions
that have been accorded us. We know
how little sympathy or consideration
we may expect at the hands OF the
employers when We arc chained TO
our jobs like slaves. Organized la
Dor In Kansas has right to expect
the same degree OF liberty and Justice,
that is accorded the organized work
ers I'm the other states OF the ma
ton. and we are going TO continue TO
hSht until that principle is rccog-
nized and recstablished In this state.
1njunctions and Industrial courts shall
not be permitted To interfere with
our policy I'm any way"
The Kansas Industrial court law
was the outcome OF the min .rs'
strike OF 1919 and was passed chief
1y through the influence of Governor
Henry j. Allen. IL created "a court
of three members To hear controver-
nies In industries and utilities; was
given power to intervene ON its own
initiative In Industrial controversies
and may make orders relative t.
wages and hours of employment.
Tho law declares it unlawful for
operators to- willfully limit or cease
operations FOR the purpose OF limiting
production or transportation or to- cf-
feet prices for the purpose OF avoid
. Ing any the provisions of the act.
The law also declares II to be un-
kPwful for any two or more employees
n Industries named TO conspirc TO
Rpit employment for the purpose of
)0dering. delaying or suspendin;
erat ions.
he right OF any individual u
employment at any time is rec
he'd
re law provides that q willful vio-
pm of provisions of the act or of an
pr of court Is "a misdemeanor. pun
pie by - maximum fine of $1,000.
maxinum term of one year. or
In the case OF an officer OF a
otion or tho officer of a labor
alton willfully violating tho
ns of the act. they will be
a felony. punishable by a
lno of 5000 or a maxi
OF two years. or both
IA, March 22.---w. v.