Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-07-25
State Has 30 Per Cent of
Normal Production at the
Present Time and Is Lead
ing Way for Settlement
BY HENRY j. ALLEN
Governor of the State of KaI


TOPEKA, Kan, July 22.-In Kan
sas the Industrial Court act pro-
vides for the protection Of the pub
lie against the cessation of an es-
sential industry. Coal mining is an
essential industry.
The industrial act provides an i'm
perial tribunal Of three men whose
business it is to adjudicate contro-
versies between operators and min
ers when the two parties can no
longer agree. The law also pro-
vides as a last resort that the state
may take over the coal mines and
operate them in the public interest
for the purpose of protecting the
people against famine in fuel. The
court has power to fix minimum
wage scales, to protect those who
are at work against interference in
any form either by violence, threats,
intimidation Of so-called peaceful
picketing.
In Kansas Immediately prior to
the cessation of mining on April 1
the court Of industrial relations
made a temporary order permitting
the continuance of the old wage
scale and working conditions for a
period of 80 days to enable the op-
orators and miners to begin and if
possible conclude negotiations for a
new contract. The operators did
not object to such order and Of
fered to commence negotiations i'm
mediately. The mine leaders de-
clined the benefits of such order.
The industrial court then directed
the operators to resume mining for
the purpose Of meeting the Kansas
demand as it arose, guaranteeing
protection to the mines and to the
workers. The operations were re-
sumed at once with the understand
ing that the mine owners should
keep a sufficient number of proper.
ties operating to produce all the
coal needed for Kansas domestic and
industrial uses. If the operators
themselves failed in this, then the
state would take over the mines.
so Per Cent Production
The operators have been very sue
cessful for many weeks and are now
producing over half OF the normal
annual output at the mines. The
state guarantees that the men who
are working in the mines shall have
full protection from those who are
out and that an invasion of the
rights Of any man who is at work
by striker will be promptly pun
ished. 1t has been necessary to make
only few arrests. Troops have not
been needed to protect the rights of
the men who are at work. Some
thing like 80 per cent of the normal
force is now producing over SO per
cent Of the normal output. AS the
demand for coal increases, more
mines are opened and the number
of men willing to work grows every
day.
There has been In these opera
lions no controversy as to wages.
| The operators and men now at work
have agreed to a rate of compen-
sation which seems to be entirely
satisfactory to both sides. 1t has
| been understood from the beginning
| that if any complaint were made as
| to compensation the industrial court
would take the situation in hand
and determine the minimum wage.
The mere presence of this protec-
ton to both sides has been all that
is necessary. When the operators
realized that the men would be
protected against an unfair wage
and the men realized that they could
| depend upon the state for a just
adjudication, they have settled the
question for themselves without
coming to the court just as men in
| other controversies settle their liti-
cation out of court upon a basis Of
what they know their legal rights
| to be.
In my Judgment every cpnl min
ing state could solve its prC---lss by
the adoption of an industrial law
which would guarantee the public
against the cessation of the indus
try, guarantee the miners a fair and
just wage and the operators protec-
ton against unjust demands. We
have reached a point where two
things are perfectly apparent. First,
the strike is not a remedy and its
! application to the situation is al
ways more ruinous to the public,
the laborers and the operators than