New-York tribune., 1921-10-22
X ansas Ready
To Seize Roads
And Rum Trains
State Law Forbidding F Strikes
VIII Be Invoked, Gov. AL
len Says, and Any One Vio-
lating 1t VIII Be Arrested
Lists Men for All Places
Will Move Traffic and
Guard Public if Lines.
Can't, Executive Promises
speciaI pispotch. to TAe rri1uno


TOPEKA, Kan, Oct. 21- Kansas ID
getting ready to provide .trahsparta-
ton for the people of this state who
may need it. If the railroads cannot
give this transportation the state will
do it. That was the announcement Of
Governor Allen this morning.
THE industrial act prohibits any
men engaged in transportation from
conspiring to deprive the public of this
essential utility" said the Governor.
ut prohibits the railroad managers
from closing down their transportation
lines or from entering into any CON
spiracy to deprive the public of this
utility. 1t prohibits employees from en-
terine into conspiracy to deprive the
public of transportation. The Kansas
law provides that all controversies be-
tween the railroads and their en-
ployecs relating to wages or working
conditions shall be adjudcated in the
court of industrial relations. In the
mean time the lines. shall continue to
function. This law Will be enforced
IN Kansas just as it was during the
outlaw switchmen's. strike, when the
lew VINO violated 1t, were arrested and
prosecuted for the violation.
Can Take Over Roads
"The executive Office is now receiv-
ing and listing the names of volunteers
who are capable of working in railroad
Industries. The law gives the state the
power to take over the railroads and
to operate them in defense of the pub
lie.
"ln case of the failure of the rail
roads to operate their lines the state
will take over those-which are neces-
sary to the public welfare. 1t is possi-
bic that the strike will, not be made
applicable to Kansas. When the gen
eraf strike was ordered, something over
a year 40 by the International Broth
erhood OF Stationary Firemen and Oil
crs, the executive committee specjfcal-
ly exempted Kansas from the proyi-
sions of the strike on the ground that
a railway strike in Kansas is strike
against the law of the state"
The Governor has obtained a list of
mepl who can and are willing to op-
~erate trains. From one man he has re-
ceived a list of one hundred expert
cnced railroad men who will be ready
10 pO W WcTN lHc minute the SCale
needs them. Some of these men are
engneers. others fremen, conductors,
bridge builders, dispatchers, and con-
siderable number of mechanics for
shop work. These lists are beinc tab
ulated as rapidly as possible.
Agree to Work for State
The lists of the men will be turned
over to the railroads if they desire
them. Some Of the men NAV refuse tc
work for the railroads during the
strike, but they have agreed TO work
for the state.
''It should be distin~tlv nrae~~ - 8 ,
said the Governor, that we have no
intention of taking over any r-...roa0
which is able to fuhct Or on it's own
account If it gives the people along
its line service we will be satisfied We
have no intention of taking ov.,r am
branch lines or parallel lines, but we
do intend to give service to all Jhost
who now enjoy railroad service. If the
railroads cannot function the state can
and will do it in the interests of the
public"