The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-12-05
DR.. Sheldon Opposes Amy Move
to Destroy Labor Act.
Declares KanSanS Do Not Want
1t Repealed or Amended.
is CLOSE STUDENT OF PLAN
Spent Much Time in Coal Fields
When Act Was Framed.
Asks Legislature to Unite Court
With Utilities Commission.

DR.. Charles NJ. Sheldon, author OF
I'm His steps" and for many years
widely known Topeka pastor. declares
that Kansans do not want the indus
trial court law repealed or amended
| beyond a reconciliation with the pub
lie utilities commission. Doctor Smell
don. who is at present editor-in-ch
| of the Christian Herald, has been a
| close student of the labor court law
plan and is strongly opposing any leg
islative move which may destroy or
seriously cripple the enactment.
At the time the Industrial court act
was framed Doctor Sheldon was in
/ close touch with the mine situation in
southeastern Kansas. He visited Alex
ander Howat and spent a number of
/ days among the mine workers in the
Crawford county field. He talked with
Protestant ministers and welfare
, workers in the coal fields and held
conference with Father Pompenyr
prominent Catholic priest in the dis
trict.
Urges Preservation of Court.
In a lengthy statement regarding
conditions which resulted in creation
of the labor court law. Doctor Sheldon
urges its preservation during the
coming session of the legislature. Full
credit for conception and construction
of the law is given Judge w. L. Hug
gins of Emporia, the presiding judge
of the labor tribunal. In his statement,
Doctor Sheldon said in part:
81 believe in the principles and pur-
pose of the court of indUe rial rela-
tions so thoroly that believe it would
be a disaster to the welfare of the
people, not only here in our own s te
of Kansas but in all the states, if the
act should be repealed or even amended.
1t is not an act to be 'tinkered, as
if it were a defective instrument that
needed to be mended by being amend
ed. 1t should be allowed to stand as
it is. a work of splendid achievement
that in the working-has proved to be
practical and a solution for industrial
disturbance. And if I may be allowed
to suggest a way TO economiZe the ad-
ministration of the court it could
easily be effected by reuniting the
court of industrial relations with the
public utilities commission. Both or
SANITATION dovetail into each other
They deal substantially with the same
probIemsy and there is no reason why
the two organizations should ever have
been separated
Asks Legislature to Unite Then.
'I hope very decidedly that the
coming legislature will unite the two,
and that the only divorce mentioned
when the wedding takes places will
be the divorce that the legislature will
decree against politics ever again be-
ing allowed to enter in the relations of
the united courts.
Il am only one out of the 1,700,0
inhabitants of Kansas. But 1 believe
the ONeTWHeIIllIB IIldJOTlly want lIAS
court of Industrial relations to con-
tinue as a part of our states contribu-
ton to an honest attempt to solve in
dustrial problems And 1 believe with
out any doubt that if the court is freed
from all political hindrance, il it is
Joined again to the public utilities
commission, if it is understood . by |
what it has already accomplished and
by the friends it has made among the |
thoughtful men of other states and |
among all parties. it will be counted |
as one of the greatest steps any state |
has yet taken for the general welfare |
of labor, capital and the people as d |
whole.
Purpose of the Court
Summed up: The court of indus |
trial relations has for its purpose the 4
of industrial conditions for
the general welfare.
''It should be 1ntirely divorced from
politics.
'It should be reunited to the public
utilities commission.
1T should not be amended or