Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-07
Editorial Digest
Industrial Court" on Trial Again.


The recent decision of the Kansas
industrial court, once more plunged
into publicity in the case against the
millers who were accused of closing
down their plants in order to force
up the price of -four. has this time
brought forth more unfriendly com.
ment from the press than it did last
miners had no right to strike while
the public shivered. The statement
of the court that essential indus
tries" should keep a certain minimum
Of skilled and and faithful employees"
on the pay roll in slack seasons as
OF criticism. On the other hand, the
fact that the millers' case was dis
missed aroused scatching comment
from other quarters.
number of newspapers are un-
certain as to what the significance Of
the Bridgeport Telegram Gndepend-
enD. which admits it is difficult to
tell whether the Kansas body is max
ing economic history" or economic
nonsense"
From Kansas itself comes the opin-
independently, that the decision was
wholesome" and an added footnote
that it is wrong for critics to assume
that THE court may arbitrarily COM
pei a mill to rum; it's powers are
simply the broad and simple police
applied except where the public is
endangered" To the Springfield Re-
publican Independently it is not as
broad and simple as it may seem.
Suppose firm were made insolvent
by strict application of the prin-
ciple of the faithful and efficient
workers right to employment" it
the fall complacently as the failure
of the UNIT to survive. or would 1t
prepare itself to assume the conduct
of the industry as public obliga-
tion?"
The New York Globe independently
upon employers the responsibility OF
providing for workmen under all
conditions, though it shows how 1T
was free to judge labor without
check.
The Wheeling Intelligencer Gre
certain employees be kept on pay rolls
in slack time is nothing startling.
since at is the usual practice. 50 far
as possible, in all occupations" and
ut will be observed that the court
says that employers should do these
them" But the Toledo News Bee
to enslave the employe, the Kansas
court now proceeds to rivet the
shackles on the employer. In both
instances it reveals itself poorly
grounded in business sense and legal
lore"
without making a direct charge
against the economic basis of the
courts awards. the Chicago Daily
News Independently implies it's
weaknesses by asking:
What happens il employers are
unable to pay living wages, or in
porarily. or to pay full wages to men
working only part time? Is the state
prepared to subsidize the employers
thus circumstanced? And why does
the law. SO benevolent to skilled en-
ployes. turn its back on the unskilled
employees in the same essential in
dustries? Does not the state Of Kan
sas need unskilled as we'll as skilled
labor. and are not unskilled laborers
entitled to a living wager"
A western labor view OF the de-
cision, expressed from a legal stand
point and covering the principle back
Of the court. is set forth by the San
thinks the idea of the court "is based
on bad or immature consideration"
Although rejecting the opposite
opinion. the Wall Street Journal Gin
dependency objects TO the equity OF
the decision. declaring that it pro-
vides wages for idleness.' and as
sumes that capital once committed
to a business may not be Withdrawn
when the business proves unprof1ta-
BILE"
A similar expression comes from
the New York Times independent
democracy, although that paper
makes it plain that it does not wish
ito carp" but merely ito show a
warm and lively interest" in this
vital and difficult problem with
which the Kansans are trying to
cope.
But the plan is not without its
stanch supporters, who. like the
Pittsburgh Leader progressive re-
publican), believe that 1.-The opinion
delivered the other day by the Kan
sas court Of industrial relations will
be ranked in legal history with the
momentous judicial decisions Of the
world dealing with human privileges
and obligations" The Grand Rapids
Herald republican, is another en-
thusiast. which declares that, like
the motor car, we shall some day
wonder that there was ever time
when the Kansas idea didn't every
where exist and function"