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Show THE CITIZEN 7 THE KANSAS PLAN perils inherent in a strike such while the mines were idle and the pubthe outlaw railway unions be- lic freezing. The owners and miners had supplied themselves with sufgan a few weeks ago have fixed public attention upon the problem of preficient fuel for their own uses and looked forward with composure to a venting strikes that threaten revolution or deny to masses of the people long wrangle while the public should the necessaries of life. Many have be left to shift for itself. They regretted that the measure proposed seemed indifferent to the tragedy they were about to cause. The state had by Senator Cummins was not incorno power to compel the men to' go porated in the act returning the railways to the owners. His provision back to work, but it did have the made it unlawful for two or more power to take over and operate the mines. Governor Henry J. Allen gave persons ot enter into any combination or agreement to hinder, restrain or the necessary order and volunteers prevent the movement of commodities possessed themselves of the mines Q'or persons in Interstate Commerce or and produced the necessary fuel. Seeing that their strike had failed and to enter into any combination or agreement to hinder such movement, and that they were in danger of losing their jobs permanently the strikers imposing a fine of $500 or six months begged to be allowed to resume work. imprisonment as a penalty. of that particular That the nation was saved from a That was the end but so vividly were the dangers paralysis of transportation which strike, of similar industrial upheavals rewould have given full sway to revoluto the people that a state-wid- e tion was due to fortunate circum- pealed stances rather than to any regulative demand was created for a law which would do away with strikes. It was, or punitive power in our national government. We would have had red of course, impossible for the legislato pass any law forbidding men revolution in all its terror had not ture was most of the people been satisfied with to quit work as individuals, but it possible to devise legislation which the government and had not the mawould prevent the ces- jority of the railway employes been practically of work in any essential opposed to revolution as a means of sation gaining their ends. The strike was a Industry in the state. The character of the legislation was quite different minority movement, as was the Bolshevik movement in Russia, but like from that which had marked previous that movement it might easily have efforts at conciliation and arbitration, become a majority movement through The Kansas court of industrial rela- sheer force and terrorism. tions has for its basis the principle The Lever act the food control that government has the same act helped the government to deal power to protect society against with the situation. It makes any industrial strife that it always has had to protect society against disorder and concerted action by two or more persons to interfere with the distribution crime. Kansas, therefore, established of food a violation of law. Had the a tribunal with authority to deal with strike gone to greater extremes it is industrial discontent at the very moment of its origin and to make adjustquite likely that President Clevelands ments before the unrest should crysplan would' have been resorted- to. Then we should have seen United tallize. This purpose is to be accomStates troops guarding every mail plished by a careful oversight and regtrain in an effort to keep traffic open. ulation of the conditions of labor beIt is doubtful, however, whether this fore injustices grow acute. The law of colexpedient would be adequate in case does not deny labor the right lective bargaining, but establishes vaof a genuine revolutionary movement, colfor, in that case, the reds scattered rious media of adjustment when over .the railway lines from coast to lective bargaining has failed. The legislators saw that arbitration coast would devote themselves to the destruction of tracks and bridges at entered into such disputes too late to deal with strategic points. Something of this and that it was necessary kind was planned by German agents industrial disagreements nearer the realized that during the war and it was necessary point of origin. They arbitration had nearly always ended to keep large bodies of troops at railthe way bridges and at points where they in a compromise which neglected could be used promptly to ward off interests of the public. Moreover, their deliberations disclosed the fact raids on the roadbeds. Preventive measures would seem to that the public is menaced only when disputes take on the semblance of a be more desirable than punitive measclass war. Their theory, founded on ures, but both may become necessary. their observations, was that the pub...The public has displayed no little in- terest in the experiment which lic had a right to declare that neither emKansas is making to prevent strikes associations of employers or of by means of an industrial court. ployes should conspire to limit production and distribution to a point imof Kansas, in the dead of winter, faced periling the safety and a strike which threatened to withhold society. fuel. from a large part of. the popula- The Kansas law begins by setting tion. The operators and employes sethold a to debate forth this view. It declares that the tled down TIIE . By F. P. Gallagher great industries that have to do with the production of food, clothing, fuel and transportation are affected with a public interest and subject to reasonable regulation by the state. ' The doctrine that certain industries are affected with a public interest and therefore subject to .governmental regulation and control has developed in our country with the development of the railroads and other public utilities and is familiar to every lawyer. The Kansas lawmakers, therefore, were announcing no new doctrine. They simply were extending the application of a doctrine which had its inception in , English law. The law contains further provisions which Governor Allen, in recent articles and statements, has outlined. The new court was established under legislation of life. Providing that in case of controversy arising between employers and employes or between different groups or crafts of workers which may threaten the continuity of efficiency of such industries and thus the production, or transportation of the nec- ( Continued on Page 18.) I j j j j j j j j Clothes j j j j j j When you. think about Spring Clothes, this season, you ought to think strongly about Quality. i Its mighty important, especially this season, when so many shoddy and manipulated fabrics are being foisted upon the unsuspecting public. Were more particular about Quality than ever before. - Only Virgin Wool, Chemically Tested Fabrics are used in our CHESTERFIELD CLOTHES. Youll find our quality idea the most substantial one from an economy standpoint. Dont figure the cost of your suit by. dollars spent but by months of service thats the keynote of economy. 4 : Creating a strong, dignified tribunal, vested with power, authority and jurisdiction to hear and determine all controversies which may arise and which threaten to hinder, delay or suspend the operation of the industries affected with a public interest. Declaring it to be the duty of al persons, firms, corporations and associations of persons engaged in such industries to operate the same with reasonable continuity, in order that the people of the state may be supplied at all times with the necessaries Whatever price you pay, if you buy your clothes here, you are guaranteed 100 Service and Satisfaction. If you want a $40 suit, weve the best one money can buy. If you pay more youll get the same relative value. Were glad to show you any time and our salesmen are instructed not to urge you to buy. well-bein- g . v.. W6waniytiobeMK HESWBKt . ' I i , |