The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-10-19
LABOR UNIONS
SEE NO GOOD IN
KANSAS COURT
fContinued from First Page0

dents, which took the form of holo-
causts, through bad sanitation and
bad housing, and through long and
unnecessary periods of enforced
idleness.
1.-THE miner has no capital except
his capacity to labor. His situa-
ton was such that he was obliged
to accept whatever terms and
working conditions were offered
him. His liberty to quit work and
go elsewhere if not satisfied with
his employers terms was pure
myth and mockery. He could not
even get in touch with the superin-
tendent to talk over his grievances.
If by some fortuity he did SO and
contended too long or too strenu-
ously he was discharged and If an
American citizen, it was likely his
place was taken by foreign immi-
grant. AS an individual he was
helpless, but he had to live. His
only remedy appeared to be to fed
crate with others, and take such
drastic action as would extort' from
his employer some measure of re-
lief from conditions which could
not be endured
Seeks Complete Justice.
The Kansas court OF industrial
relations is an attempt to get JUS
tice for the workman in his rela-
lions with the employer and the
law is powerful enough to make
the employer obey, too. Then why
is labor hostile? Mostly because
the leaders have implanted a be-
lief that the Kansas court will not
do what it says it will.
1t is true that 80 per cent Of the
cases before the Kansas court OF
industrial relations have been
brought by employees and that out
of As cases 43 have been accepted
without further argument though
there are no court costs for en-
ployer or employe in appealing the
cases to the supreme court of the
state.
The rank and file of labor is in a
receptive mood. Champions of the
Industrial court have found atten-
| tive audiences of working men
ready to hear the true detectives of
the new laws. The labor leaders
have a natural fear that if the
Kansas court can represent the
, cause of the workingmen equit-
ably there will be no further need
for them. This is also faliacy
for the Kansas court doesn't take
/, cognizance of disputes in most
non-esential industries and there
always has been and always will be
need for spokesman to argue the
case of organized labor and con-
duct negotiations for large groups
of workers.
Must Protect Public.
| The new. law simply says that
inasmuch. as public utilities had to
4 be regulated by commissions and
boards in order that the public
might not be gouged on such ne
cessities as heat, light and, power.
so also must the public be protect
ed by state industrial boards or
commissions for the Kansas court
is really an administrative COM
mission and judicial tribunal COM
bined in order that there may be
continuous production of the ne
cessities of life.
Public utilities commissions have
been created by practically all
the states of the union. Industrial
boards have been provided by sew
eral states. The Kansas pattern
is being studied from coast to
coast.
collective bargaining" says the
Kansas supreme court, "is bar
gaining by an organization or
group of workmen on behalf Of its
members with the employer. That
privilege is not only protected but
may be exercised and is expected
to be exercised even to the extent
Of altering orders of the court OF
industrial relations. What the de-
PENDANTS 1.-THE labor leaders, con-
tend for is license to conspire to
injure the public"
Whole Point of Argument.
In that last sentence may be read
the whole point Of the controversy
Labor contends it has no intention
Of injuring the public any more
to be sure, than the employe
whose attitude may bring on a
deadlock in negotiations. The in.
tent Of both is to drive a bargain
favorable to them. They each ad.
NIT that as an incident to thei,
bargain the public may be harmed
Labor considers its vast army OF
workers part of the public and
feels that toilers must protect
themselves from starvation.
i Again the Kansas court wouli
step in and say there is no inten.
ton Of permitting labor to starve
In fact, the state law provides tina,
labor must be paid fair and jus,
wage.
/ In a recent case the Kansa:
court ruled that this did not NEAR
NEARLY "a living wage, but a wag,
plus enough to enable a man Il
give to himself and his family tn,
benefits of modern civilization b,
the practice Of reasonable frugal
ity."
I LabOr's Best Bet.
! II labor you'd learn to trust tn,
Kansas court, and It may in tim,
as the decisions multiply and tn,
law is better understood, there viii
be no reason for hostility. Labor,
attitude Is merely one Of distrus
Il h0f| NJ &C.