The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-03-12
KANSAS SLAVE
court is DEAD
AS A DOOR NAIL
But Judges Still Draw
$4,000 a. Year
BY TOM TIPPETT.

PITTSBURGH, Kans., Mar. H.
The Kansas court of industrial rela-
lions as a novel experiment that did
not receive fair chance to operate,
according to a report of the National
Industrial Conference board, received
here. The board is the research or
ganization of a large number of en-
ployers' associations. 1t has been
studying the Kansas industrial court
for more than a year.
The report says the court idea was
the product of a special industrial sit
uation, partly national and partly
local in Kansas. It was designed to
meet the local aspect Of these prob
lens but it was also offered as con-
tribution to the general problem of
adjusting the group interests of pub
lie, employers, and workers.
The Especial industrial situation"
was the national unrest in labor cir
cles under the nationwide open shop
campaign after the war. The Local
Aspect in Kansas was Alexander Ho-
wat who for 20 years had led the coal
miners Of the state to victory after
victory via the strike route.
Howat Strike Killed Court.
The court is dead in Kansas. 1t
was completely wrecked by direct ac-
ton by Howat and his Kansas coal
diggers. When Howat called his first
strike in violation Of whar he called
the slave court he was put in Jail.
The moment he was locked up every
mine in the state was shut down by q
protest strike which ruined the court
that had been designed to prevent
strikes.
The industrial court was ali issue
in the 1922 election. Jonathan NJ.
Davis was elected by $1,000 major
ity over VIM. Morgan in the race for
governor. Davis ran as an anti-court
candidate while Morgan was backed
by all the forces in the state favoring
the court act.
The industrial court was created
four years ago by Henry T. Allen,
then governor of Kansas Aliens first
official anti-labor performance was in
1919 when he brought college stu
dents into the coal fields as strike
breakers during the coal strike.
One Carload Scab Coal.
Allen got his picture in the movie
with the irst--and only--carload Of
scab coal that his educated punks"
las the miners called thenl-were
able to load. That was at a strip
mine, not underground. That started
Allen in the direction of the presi-
dents chair at Washington. He could
not break the miners strike SO he
cooked up law to make strikes IL
legal and produced his industrial
court to keep workers on the Job.
The court was made up of three men
appointed by the governor. 1t was to
determine hours of labor. wages. con-
tracts and all other questions affect
ing industry.
With such tribunal a union could
not function. The miners steadfastly
refused to recognize the court. Ho-
wat was in prison 16 months for vio-
lating it but that is all the court ever
accomplished. Governor Davis first
official act was pardon for Howat.
When the court attempted to fix
wages in packing house, the Wolff
Packing Co. appealed to the u. s.
supreme court and that body refused
the Kansas industrial court the right
to. fix wages. The miners have a test
sc mp now as matter Of form to
permit the supreme court to pass on
the right to interfere in strikes.
Strikes Co On.
But strikes go on here as always.
No one in the state pays any attention
to the industrial court except the
three judges who still receive $4,000
each per year and practice law on the
SIDE. The governor recently asked
the industrial court to investigate the
prices charged for coal in Kansas. It
refused on the ground that it was no
business of the court, saying that was
not in the public's interest. Davis
then demonded the resignation of the
three judges, charging them with be-
ing a useless burden on the state
They did not resign.
The coming legislature is expected
to Gust them and repeal the Allen
court act. Meanwhile Henry T. AL
len is back in Topeka running his
newspaper. Calvin Coolidge beat him
to Washington on a strike-breaking
record.