The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-03
SLAP ON WRIST
FOR INDUSTRIAL
COURT TOFKANSAS
Neither Unions Nor Packers
Recognize Jurisdiction.
Packers Send Attorneys to Make
Statements Only.
PLANTS WILL NOT Be HALTED
All Kansas City Strikers Places
Are To Be Filled.
Of SeVenty-Five SubpOenas Is
sued None Appeared.
PLANTS WILL NOT Be HALTED
OF Seventy-Five SubpOenas Is
sued None Appeared.

| Kansas City, Kan. Dec. 3-The in
dustrial court of Kansas was given
| figurative slap on the wrist today
when it attempted to step into the
controversy between the packers and
packing house employees who have
served notice they will go on strike
Monday morning at O'Clock.
Seventy-five subpoenas had been
sent out for plant representatives and
officials of the various packing house
unions to appear at the industrial
court hearing here. Not a witness ap-
peared.
big F1ve'' Absent, Too.
Representatives of union packing
house workers in Kansas City, Kan,
today carried out their decision to
ignore Summonses issued by the Kan
sas court of industrial relations which
was convened in Kansas City, Kan,
this morning to take up the threat
ened packing house workers strike,
called for Monday.
None of the officials of the five
locals of the Amalgamated Associa-
ton of Meat Cutters and Butcher
Workmen of America cited to appear
answered when w. L. Higgins, presid-
ing judge, called their names.
Besides Judge Higgins, the two
other members of the Industrial court,
Judge J. E. McDermott and Judge
John H. Crawford, sat at the hearing.
Attorney General Hopkins, who filed
application for the hearing in behalf
of the state, was not present. Bax-
ter McClain, attorney for the court,
attended.
A L. Berger, attorney, represented
Armour & Company and Cudahy; c.
w. Trickett appeared for Morris &
Company; Henry Smith for Wilson
& Company, and Russell Field repre-
sented Swift. No attorneys responded
for the union.
Won't Admit Jurisdiction.
All of the big five packers were
representated by attorneys. Answer
ing the citation read by the court, the
packers attorneys said they were will
ing to give any information they had
without admitting the Jurisdiction of
the court in the matter.
Subpoenas for the officials of the
five Kansas City, Kan, locals of the
Amalgamated Association of Meat
America were issued by the Kansas
court of industrial relations, sitting
in Kansas City, Kan, today, follow
ing failure of the union representa-
tives to appear before the court in re-
sponse to summonses for hearing on
the packer workers strike set for
Monday.
The sheriff of wyandotte county
and his deputies were sent out to
serve the subpoenas. The court ex-
panied that the summonses, which the
union officials refused to obey, were
requests for the presence at a pre-
liminary hearing of those named.
The subpoenas carry a demand for
the appearance of the union repre-
sentatives.
Strike Won't Halt Plants.
Baxter. McCIain, attorney for the
industrial court, said that the pro-
posed strike violated the public peace
and threatened the welfare of the peo-
pie of Kansas, who are entirely de-
pendent upon these industries for their
meat supply; that it creates an
emergency.
c. W. Trickett attorney for Morris |
& Co, said that in his judgment the
strike would not cause cessation of
operations. He said about half of the |
Morris employees are union men. How |
tion, he continued, would depend on
their ability to hire new men and how
much police protection they received. |
He said he thought the city admin !
istration would give all possible police |
protection and that, in his judgment, !
this would be adequate.
Mr.. Berger. speaking for Cudahy |
and Armour & Co, told the court a |
strike would "endanger public peace, |
curtaiI food production and induce in
dustrial strife, disorder and danger" |
He entered objection to the manner in |
which subpoenas were issued for the |
hearing on the ground that not enough |
time had been permitted for preparing |
statements.
Public Peace Endangered.
Then three superintendents of pack |
ing plants spoke James NJ Trimbie, !
of Morris & Co, said he knew nothing |
about the strike except what he had |
ever. he expected wa1kout for -he !
reason that following the termination |
last September of the Alschuler wage |
agreement, union officials applied to |
Morris & Co. for recognition of he |
union. which was refused because that |
basis. 1t was his belief. he said, that a i
strike would limit production.
In answer to a question by Mr.. Ber- |
ger. Mr.. T'rimble said a strike would |
endanger public peace. All the pack |
ing companies in Kansas City, Kan. |
and the Wyandotte county sheriff for |
protection, he testified, adding that a !
conference had been called on that /
subject for today. /
Hundreds of employees expressed to |
him the desire to come to work Mon |
feared violence if they attempted to |
enter the plant. The court then re-
cessed.
Must Get Chicago orders.
Spokesman for the union men said |
today the only condition upon which |
they would appear before the court |
was If they were directed to do so E-E
their officia Is at Chicago. Some 80
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