The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-30
EYES ON PRINTERS
Much Interest Shown in Walk
Out Scheduled for Monday.
Employers Take Out Industrial
and Strike Insurance.
HAVE COMFORTABLE FEELING
Shop Owners Will Lock Up
and Go Home.
Labor Heads Forming Attack
on Insurance System.
have COMFORTABLE FEELING
BY A. L. sHuLTz.


The big printers strike which starts
Monday may mean a whole lot moro
in the shaping of industrial legislation
probably in revising the Kansas in
dustrial court law-than is apparent
just at this time. new weapon is
being called into the printers strike.
1t is industrial and strike insurance.
There isn't a bit of question but
that the strike insurance feature is
causing worry. There is also no ques-
ton but that in certain other quarters
possession of this insurance is provid-
ing very comforting feeling. Back
of it all is growing industrial prob
lem which state legislatures may soon
be called upon to tackle.
They Buy Strike Insurance.
When union printers fail to report
for work in hundreds of print shops
Monday morning, a large number of
proprietors will turn the key in the
door and go home. The printers will
stay at home to live on their savings
and strike benefits. The shop owners
will regularly collect their strike in
surance. Hundreds of shop owners
have in recent months purchased
strike insurance. Most of this insur-
ance is written on basis of paying
to the shop owner a percentage of his
normal profits over given period of
weeks or months-or during the term
of the Strike In consequence of this
ers in Topeka and other cities smiled
broadly when the walkout was ore
dered.
Labor to Attack System. =
Now organized labor is forming for
an attack on the strike insurance sys-
TEN. Their fight will be based on the
argument that such forms of insur-
ance destroy common incentives OF
give and take in settlement of labor
troubles and tends to arbitrary action.
And the owner of the insurance policy
is back with the answer that strike
insurance is essential to industrial Sc
curity and as necessary as other forms
of protection against business hazards
and acts of providence.
There is a considera BILE probability
that the State Federation of Labor
will speak harshly OF strike insur-
ance when it meets in Chanute in May.
And it is just as probable that it will
receive an earnest and sincere en-
i dorsement from the National Manu-
| facturers' association when it meets
| on almost the same day in New York
One side will argue that it destroys the
spirit of compromise and fair dealing.
! The other will urge that it protects
| against destruction of business thru
arbitrary demands and offsets the
strike benefits of the men who re-
main idle.
Legislature May Take Action.
That legislatures will be asked to
take action is practically assured. The
fight may be waged in Kansas next
winter - provided Governor Allen
should decide to call a special session.
If the insurance plan should prove a
determining factor in settling the
printers strike, there is more than a
passing probability that the system
may meet attack in labor's campaign
in this state next year. The situation
is certain to receive keen and earnest
attention from labor and industrial
leaders during the next few weeks.
And Kansas is almost certain to be
one of the states in which the fight to
determine the right of employer to
| insure his business against the acts Of
his employee will be waged.
Industrial Court Is Powcrlcss.
Under the state law the Kansas in
dustrial court is powerless to interfere
with the printers strike. 1t can initiate
hearings only where questions of food.
| clothing. fuel or transportation are at
stake Beyond that, it may merely
conduct Investigations but cannot en-
force order or demands.
The law permits the industrial court
to act as arbiter in a case such as the
printers strike. But the issue could
be submitted to the court only on
agreement of both parties to the dis
| pute.
| Members of the industrial court will
! watch the printers strike closely. But
| they will not interfere. And IL the
strike insurance plan proves effective.
the legislatures will be called upon to
J determine future use of the anti-strike
remedy.
( S------