The Topeka state journal., 1922-11-27
ALLEN MAY STAY
Governor May Spend Rest of
the Winter in Topeka.
In This Way He Could Watch
Fight on Court Law.
Every Angle OF Eliminating
Court Creates Problem.
Compromise in Combination
With p. L. c. May Be Result.

Most of the big circus acts in the
next session of the legislature will
likely be built around Governor-elect
Davis plan to wipe out the industrial
court law. Persons who believe that
the new governors success is depen-
dent entirely on his ability to induce
the legislators to repeal the law might
as well do some more guessing. Nor is
it necessary for the Bourbon governor
to try his veto on appropriation bills
in order to win his point.
There is "A very slim chance that
the legislature will repeal the labor
court act There is about an equally
strong chance that the law will not be
disturbed. The Davis crowd really
wants cold Knockout. Allen forces
in the legislature will try to leave the
law as 1t now eXists-with possible
compromise to let the supreme court
may happen without either side act
ually gaining the advantage they viii
seek.
1t is pretty certain that Governor
Davis inaugural speech and message
to the legisla ture will contain appeals
10 wipe the present law off the statute
books There may be a substitute pro-
pOsal for some form of arbitration body
probably attached to one of the
present boards or commissions.
New Members OF Court
Should the Allen crowd win even
SO much advantage as to permit the
supreme court to appoint labor tri-
bunal judges it would be a big victory.
1t would take control from the Demo-
crat governor. But Davis would likely
veto such a measure and there is no
matter of certainty that the measure
could. be slipped thru over a veto 50
far as tanning either the court in its
present form or the court personnel.
there isn't chance. Judge McDer-
mott is the only member with an ap-
pointment and confirmation beyond
February I. And it is a rather safe
bet that he will be lost in the shuttle
The labor crowd Graves blood. 1t
wants to hold a pa5ama parade on
Kansas avenue in celebration OF the
passing out of the court act. They
will give the new governor every
ounce of strength and every possible
vote in his fight But unless the
house organization slips, they haven't
a voting majority.
Push Over Appropriation.
TO be sure. Governor Davis might
veto an appropriation for the court.
But with 3S of the 40 members of the
senate Republican. and 96 of the 12o
house members also Republican, an
appropriation bill might easily be
jammed thru over the governors
There is the possibility that the
labor court and public utilities com
mission may be reunited 1t might
come as a reconciliation with the
utilities commission or wiping out OF
both of the present bodies and crea-
ton OF an entirely new one. This
method might appeal to both the Re-
publicans and Democrats as a. step to-
ward carrying out of their program
for abolition of unnecessary jobs.
Always the new governor has a big
card in the hoe. If the legislature
tries to play horse, he can carry out
his purpose of destroying the present
Industrial court without talking with
the lawmakers about it. BY virtue of
the fact that he VIII have control OF
at least a majority of the appoint
ments. he can name judges who are
entirely out of sympathy with the tri-
bunal.
He Has Trump Card
A threat TO appoint Alexander
Howat or August Dorchy or w. L.
Freeman. president of the State Fed
Grafton OF Labor, to places on the
court might have a decided effect IN
bringing about some acceptable COM
promise legislation. Thatfs the little
ace which the Democrat governor has
tucked away in his sleeve in event he
needs it Many OF the friends OF the
court law would prefer direct repeal
of the enactment rather than appoint
nent OF radical labor leaders who
have fought its creation and opera
ton. Placed in the hands OF the labor
leaders the court might easily create
a merry disturbance in Kansas during
the next two years.
That there is aNbit of fear regarding
the course which Davis might take
is apparent among members of Gov
ernor Aliens offlIial .amily. Nor is il
entirely certain that Governor Allen
himself hasn't suffered a few of the
qualms.
Governor May Stay Here.
Recently Governor Allen has indi-
Gated that he might decide to spend
the remainder of the winter in To-
pekR. In that case he probably will re-
port legislative proceedings for his
Wichita Beacon and will take a place
governor won't devote all of his en-
ergies to a daily report of legislative
proceedings. Most OF his time would
be spent creating effective propaganda
tended to save the pet measures of the
four years he has been in the gov
ernor's office
always, tho, the possibilities for ac-
tion in the approaching legislative ses- |
sion are built around what may hap
pen to the industrial court. Given |
assurance that the court act would be
wiped out, the labor union crowd
would be glad to abandon its third
house organiza ton for a season. With |
e guarantee that the session would I
adjourn without wiping its feet on his I
prize creation, Governor Allen would
be pleased to go back to Wichita in /
January and devote his time to the !
business end of the newspaper game. Z
The 1898 session has all manner of I
II is all a tangled mess
and out of the muddle may come al /
most any legislative creation. Neither /
the retiring governor. the governor
elect. the legislators moi, the political /
dopesters are wise enough to make \
even a reasonable guess as to results .
OF the hoseilities