Evening star., 1922-07-23

continued, declaring the right to a
free utterance of honest opinions is
fundamental right"
Governor Sees Violation.
But Gov. Allen. his friend, publicly
and personally, for many years and
the companion of the editor on a
Euro. can trip during the world war,
differed in his Interpretation of the
industrial court act He held that the
display Of the sympathy card in the
Gazette window was a violation Of the
picketing clause of the industrial
court law, and declared Mr.. White
mad the wrong slant" in the matter.
The governor said he did not believe
forbidding display of such cards was
an attack on free speech. as his au-
thor friend contended. He declared
no exception could be made. that Mr..
White must be arrested for violation
of the law.
A conference held at Emporia last
night between the Seconds" of Mr..
White and Mr.. Allen resulted in
deadlock. Mr.. White through his rep
resentatives informed the governors
emissary that he would not back
down. When informed of this. the
governor said he would cause Mr..
Whites arrest If the placard was
Stlil up To-Day. 1t was.
Throughout it all the governor and
editor have reiterated that there was
no personal feeling between them,
declaring that their personal friend
snip has not been affected by their
difference of opinion over interpreta-
tion of the law.
Excuses Governors Position,
kansas must realize the situation
In which the governor is placed"
said Mr.. White. He feels that the
strike imperils life and property. But
1t was not without a stress of heart
and soul that he has called out the
troops. He knows that might mean
bioodshed. and to a man of his fine
sensibilities the prospect is a heavy
burden. In administering the law as
he sees 1t he has been brave and pa
trlotic. l do not agree with him in
this action. but the difference in
opinion about the wisdom of sup
pressing the fundamental right of
American citizenship while the courts
are trying to get at the truth and the
right should not prevent me or all
good citizens from upholding his
hands and giving him the earnest
support which loyalty requires
The idea Of adjudicating industrial
disputes is right. The laboring man
in the end will lose If he resorts to
force. The living wage for the un-
skilltd worker Is the basis upon which
wage @ adjudication must rest. The
principle. If the national Labor
Board had adhered to the basis of a
living wage in the controversy with
the shopmen, this strike would never
have occurred.
But that water has gone under
oh
a just cause. but in an ill-timed
strike. The cause of labor can win
only with public sentiment behind 1t,
and to resort to brute force now
would be disastrous mistake"
"Direct Violation Of Law"
In part. the governor said: IT am
sorry that my friend Mr.. White re-
fuses to distinguish the difference
between free speech and a direct
willing for William Allen white to
hang in his Office any expression he
wished to hang there, touching any
subject@ut when he enters delib-
erately into a concert with the strike
leaders to carry on In Emporia a
tried to establish in all shop centers
for the purpose Of discouraging and
menacing the men who are now try
ing to keep the transportation Of this
state moving, 1t is an altogether differ
ent matter.
'Mr. White declares that he is not
fighting the Industrial court act. I
believe this. Mr.. White helped to
frame this law and his attitude
toward it in the past has been help
full. I believe he has taken a slant
in this particular situation without
giving due consideration to the Sc
rious results Of his example in the
matter.
The arrest Of William Allen White,
which is the only arrest made thus
far for this offense, will provide a
friendly test Of this feature Of the
industrial act After the courts have
interpreted 1t in the light Of this
case we will then know just what
the phrase of the law prohibiting
conspiracy against the public well
fare embraces.
I'm the meanwhile 1t Is the duty
Of every law-abiding citizen to obey
the Interpretation which the law
officer of the state has given to this
provision of the Industrial act. The
strikers cards will have to come
down from every window In Kansas"