The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-04
William Allen White Enters
Miners Union War.
Says State Should Provide Pro-
lection to LabOrers.
AROUSES MUCH ANTAGONISM
Lengthy Editorial Covers Com
mitment of Howat to Jail.
He Declares That Kansas Has
Not Won Fight Yet.

Kansas may see some interesting
conferences in state administration
circles this week as a result of divided
sentiment regarding methods of en-
forcing the industrial court act in the
miring district. Governor Aliens
statement that the state could secure
sufficient fuel from neighbor states
and did not need to worry about the
state has aroused antagonism in the
administration own ranks. William
Allen White, right hand supporter and
adviser Of the governor, has declared
that the state must provide protection
for the men who are idle and want to
work.
Presiding Judge Higgins of the in
dustrial court took exception to Gov
ernor Aliens attitude when the state
executive asserted that It would be un-
necessary to invoke the labor court act
during the mine idleness. Judge Hug
gins issued a statement to the effect
that the court had taken notice of
minor strikes in the field and could
not at this time ignore a general strike.
Indicates Real AntagOnism.
The William Allen White express
| sion, tho, indicates real antagonism to
the governors program. In his En-
poria Gazette White published a
flengthy editorial covering the commit
ment of Alexander Howat to Jail. He
lasserted that Howat would fail in his
efforts to pose as a martyr or a hero
and would be recognized merely as a
| mine union chief would gain no new
power and win no followers because
of the course he has followed.
Then White gave over the closing
J paragraphs of his editorial to the posi-
| ton which the state has taken in refer
ence to the coal strike. Kansas hasn't
won it's fight, White declares. merely
| by putting the union leader in Jail.
/ Nor is it just matter of getting some
| coal for Kansans to burn this winter.
| 1t is a question of living up to the let
| ter and the spirit of the court act and
! giving to mine workers who want to
| work an assurance that they will be
protected.
Can't Omit job Now.
! Now is no time to quit the job, y
White asserts in his editorial which
4takes issue with the governor in fTis
| stand. In his editorial lhich is prac-
tically certain to occasion some warm
discussion in administration circles
White said in part:
| Either Kansas as commonwealth has 8
| right to function as a state In an orderly
manner. or it has no such right Either
we are entitled to government or we mus
put up with anarchy. And now is the time
to find it out. Howat need expect no halo
| of martyrdom. He has taken big chance
to hold his job .eader of the theory
of force in labor disputes. and he has lost
thug. He thinks he can get away with bis
crime. SO do thugs and bandits lie
should rot in jail until he finds that he ii
not a martyr but just n law-breaker.
But while he is in Jail, Kansas should
not think the battle Is won 1t is not
won merely by putting the leader Of the
| outlawry in jail. Kansas must See thai
coal is mined in Howat's district. Kansas
must see that the miners who desire tc
break away from Howat are protected II
their right to do So It is not so much now
| a matter of getting coal to the people, as Il
is a matter of protecting the miners o
Kansas in their desires TO work. if ant
when they do desire it. This Is no ques
ton Of union recognition. No one desire!
the miners to leave their unions. The ma
tional union of the miners does not believe
in this contention of Howat's. and the meI
should be protected in their Union righ
and rights of free citizens at the same time
Kansas has come along far in the jour
lney toward a civilized settlement of th'
barbarous business of civil war in INDUSTRY
But Kansas must keep moving. Now is NJ
time to quit the job. Kansas must see thai
Howat in jail means that the miners arr
free to work.