The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-08
Defends Seniority Issue in Set
tIement of Railroad Strike.
Would Compromise Honor OF
Government, He Says.
SPEAKS AT OSKALOOSA PICNIC
Kansas Executive ChampiOned
Course of Rail Executives.
Public Does Not Favor Unfair
Method, He Declares.

Waving of the seniority issue in
settling the railroad shop strike would
result in throwing away the dignity
of the labor board and would COM
promise the honor of the government
That was the assertion OF Governor
Allen this afternoon in a speech at an
Old Settlers picnic at Oskaloosa. Cow
error Allen flatly declared that funda-
mental principles underlying the
strike should not be ignored in an
effort to win a settlement.
Takes Issue With Harding Plan.
In his Oskaloosa speech today the
Kansas executive took issue with the
program advanced by President Hard
ing. He championed the course OF
the railroad executives and declared
that the broad principle of American
fair dealing would be thrown away IL
strikers were returned with seniority
privileges restored. He asserted that
responsibility to men who worked and
kept the transportation lines open was
paramount. Any other course, he de-
clared, would mean advocacy OF bad
faith.
No Unfair Compromise.
Much as the public wants the strike
settled. Governor Allen said, il will
not countenance unfair compromise.
The governor said that the only ef-
fective course now remaining is thru
board act permitting final decisions
by the board in all transportation con-
troversies.
Governor Aliens Oskaloosa speech
was flat. firm and final declaration
that the rail strike must not be conn
promised on the basis of unfairness
to the men who have been loyal DUR
ing the crisis. His OskalOosa declara-
tion was in direct conflict with the
course recently outlined by President
The Governors Address.
Discussing the seniority Issue, the
governor said in part:
There are certain fundamental
principles involved in this strike and
these principles should not be ignored
for the purpose of forcing a settle
ment. The men who refused to accept
the decision of the federal labor board
followed this refusal by a deliberate
effort to paralyze the transportation
facilities of the country. They showed
respect neither for the law which Gre
ated the labor tribunai nor for the
public whose welfare was dependent
upon the continuance OF transporta-
ton. They deliberately set their
Judgment againstthe two two-thirds
decision of the government tribunal.
They sacrificed their seniority right s.
with full knowledge thar their refusal
to abide by the labor boards decision
would terminate those rights with
InelT companies.
Square Deal for Workers.
ION the other hand, the companies
guaranteed a square deal to the men
who remained at work and 10 those
who came in to help meet the emer-
genCy. To require the companies TO
break this pledge TO these men would
be to advocate bad faith. 1t would he
to set aside the broad principle in thus
country that the right to work Is just
as sacred as the right to quit. While
the public is deeply concerned for the
settlement of the strike and is dis
posed to stand behino the president,
the people feel that the nonor of the
government should not ne compro-
missed. the dignified effort OF the la
Dor board entirely thrown away nor
the rights of the men who are now Ct
work to a square deal deliberately ig-
nored. I am satisfied that the people
of Kansas feel that the only effective
course left for the president IS to urge
such amendment to the railroad labor
board act as would make the decisions
of that board final in a controversy
which affected transportation"
Another sympathy Warrant Out.
Wellington, Kan. AuA S.-A war
rant was issued today for the arrest OF
A L. Crosswhite. a Santa Fe switch
man, on a charge of violating the anti
pick citing provision of the industrial
court act by displaying in his resi-
dence window a card expressing 100
per cent sympathy for the striking
shopmen.