The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-13
III FLAIS GUURI
Alexander HOWat Says. Indus
trial Court Is a Joke.
Kansas Newspapers Form a
Corporation Press" He Says.
COAL WORKERS WERE DUDES
More Than Two Thousand Per-
sons Heard Labor Leader.
Says Industrial Law Was Made
to Disband Labor.
COAL WORKERS WERE DUDES

ne newspapers OIL hanSaS 4Orm a
corporation press" the Kansas in
dustrial court law is a Joke" the
Kansas men who went to the coal
fields to get coal when the miners
struck were five cent dudes" and
Governor Allen is ''wonderful-he ad-
mits it, according to Alexander
Howat
Large Crowd in Attendance.
With singing epithets in almost
every sentence for Governor Allen, the
industrial court law, the corporations
or the newspapers, the miners leader
and bitter opponent of the anti-strike
legislation addressed more than two
thousand persons at the city audi
torium Tuesday night. Frequently in
his two-hour talk HoWat was cheered
vociferously, indicating that union
labor was present in full strength to
encourage the speaker. Altho the in
dustrial council had protested paying
the usual rent for the auditorium to
accommodate the Howat meeting on
the ground that the fee would be
averse to free speech no doubt ex-
listed in the audience that Howat was
not speaking freely.
Court Formed to Disband Labor.
Inc lnQuSlTldl court law OIL hdnSdS
was made to diSband labor in this
state and finally to enslave labor all
over the country" Howat declared.
The fight from now on is organized
labor against the corporations and
the courts Joined together to crush
the life from organized labor of the
country. Their one object is to estab-
lish the open shop everywhere. Or
ganized workers must recognize the
fact and stand together more solidly
than ever, if they hope to overcome
the strength against the labor move
ment in this country"
Should Have Newspapers.
Labor should have newspapers of
its own" he said, land when strikes
and lockouts occur the public will not
be mfsled as it has been for many
years by the corporation press, and as
it has been particularly misled since
the miners strike of 1919.
"Ofganized labor stands arrayed
against a government founded on the
greed of corporations" he said. "One
thing we want and one thing We Will
fight for is justice at the hands Of
employers"
Emphasizes Loyalty of Miners.
Howat emphasized the loyalty of
the miners during the war and their
support of the government at all
times. even during the big. national
coal strike when he said that mot one
of the 100000 miners striking had
done any act that would reflect on
the United Mine Workers of America" !"
1.-The miners respect all laws, when
they pass a law that is not law at
all-such as the industrial court law
there he was interrupted by a
wildly cheering audience)-we don't
respect manual that is not law.
The proper name for that law is a
iOke'' (MOre cheering
1.-The country had no coal until the
coal miners went after it," he said,
"altho Doctor Garfield said that any
one could go into the mines and dig
coal with the consent of the govern
ment. None of the freezing 10000
citizens offered to dig coal"
''They did in Kansas" voice from
high up in the gallery flung down at
Howat.
Answer Causes Confusion.
Throw him OUT yelled a Howat
enthusiast. Confusion and mingled
cries of derision for the man with te-
merity enough to contradict Howat
followed for several minutes.
'I'll tell you pretty soon about that
coal the five-cent dudes from Kansas
tried to mine-those fellows that new
er did a days work in their lives
But Howat did not jump into the
Kansss coal mine situation right then,
to the evident disappointment of his
supporters who urged him to 'go to
it, LAY 'em out" tell it to 'em," and
encouraged him to mince no words
whatever as they were anxious to
listen.
No Pleasure in Strike, He Says.
'It is not a pleasure to call a strike
or to be engaged in a strike, but the
HoWat said. But now we find that
it is a crime to fight for justice. Tc
me it is just as important to be fight
ing for our labor cause as 1t was tc
fight for world democracy"
Tell about Governor Allen,' ar
over ager listener cried.
Tell about Mr.. Aliens COAL" some
one else cried. But still Howat wa:
not ready to expose the Kansas Goa
mine strike breaking episode. Ht
continued to talk generally on the
labor principles. Finally he came II
the subject of the governor.
He Condemns Governors Actions.
governor Allen was so much con
cerned over the dear public, Howa
said with bitter sarcasm. Governor
Allen said that the rights OF the pub
lie must be respected Governor Al
| lens concern for the dear public l:
! for that Is per cent of the people wht
have not done a days work in theil
| lives.
DO you know that the workin.
classes compose eighty-five per cent o
labor" he almost roared at his audi
ence. "That fifteen per cent of tn
| people to which he belongs is his ide;
| of the public. Governor Allen cam
! to the coal mines with the plea tina
| 100000 people were freezing t.
death.
IF you miners would only go Il
work and scab for me- the governo
said. you will receive the everlasting
praise of all the people of the coun
try" Loud applause followed.
YES Governor Allen is a wonder
| full man." Howat said. Il understand
that he admits it himself He toured
/ the coal mines and pleaded with tn,
miners as he has never pleaded befor,
and only one man of the 1900 miner
(Continued ON Page Twol