The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-19
Employers of Kansas Seem to
Have Won State ''VictOry.'
RumOr That Lima e. .Bresette
VIII Leave Job Soon.
INTERESTS" DIDN'T LIKE Her
She Was Too Active in the In
terests of the Employees.
Place May Be Taken by Miss
Mcfarland or Miss Adams.

Miss Lima E. Bresette director of
women's welfare work under the in
dustrial court, will leave the state
service at an early date. That is the
information from high state authority.
Retirement of Miss Bresette ends one
OF the hottest industrial rows in the
state in a number of years.
In the public prints and general
gossip of, the day the industrial battle
IN Kansas has been around Alexander
Howat. But, while the state admin
istration was directing. a fight on the
Howat rule in the coal camps, it was
against the attack of the employers
interests. The employers refused to
accept a compromise. Miss Bresette
and her job were the prices demanded
for her arbitrary rulings and legis-
latiys activities.
On at least two occasions, Miss Bre-
settles ability to organize and control
votes in the legislature saved the in
dustrial welfare act-and incidentally
her orders were opposed in the courts
counting was sure and certain. Last
winter Senator Charles H. Thompson.
OF Marion. one of the most successful
merchants in the Fourth district.
championed the fight on the welfare
act. When the Industrial court-puhIic
utilities commission divorce bill was
passed, the ways and means COM
mittees chopped off the salary pro-
vision which would pay.for Miss Bre-
settles services.
Court Held Her.
Last spring Miss Bresette was
slated to go. After an executive ses-
sioR the industrial court voted to re-
tain the welfare department head on
the month to month basis. There was
no direct appropriation for her salary.
Consequently, she has been paid from
the courts contingent fund.
Regulations imposed by Miss Bre-
settle affecting hours wages and work.
ing conditions for women won hos
tility for her administration among
the employers of the state. Some of
her orders were opposed in he courts
and last year the employers organiza-
ion won an important case against the
department in the Nemaha county
courts. Miss Bresette came right
back with proposals to amend the law
to give her more power. The answer
TO her challenge was a demand on the
state administration for her job.
She VIII Resign.
Miss Bresette is to resign. it is
stated In fact, there is a rumor that
her resignation has been in tina hands
of the court for sometime. In view
of her election in 1920 as secretary of
the national industrial welfare organ
ization, she was retained IN state serv-
ices and sent to the national convention
in New Orleans. At present Miss Bre-
settle is on her vacation. She is ex-
pected to leave state service in the
next few weeks.
The appointment of Miss Bresette
came in 1915 when the Democrat
legislature created the industrial well
fare commission. At the time of her
appointment Miss Bresette was a
teacher in the Oakland schools. She
is an ardent Democrat and in 1914
made numerous speeches for the re-
election of Governor Hodges.
p In spite of her Democrat alignment,
Miss Bresette was retained by the Cap
per administration during the period
from 1853. She has also held her
position since Governor Allen entered
office in 1919. Until the industrial