Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-08-09
FAIR PLAY FOR THE PUBLIC

AS this is written, negotiations are under way
between the Inter Island Steam Navigation COM
pany and the striking mates and captains which
point in the direction of a compromise
The situation HAS changed 50 rapidly within
the past few hours and is still changing so rap
idly that progress toward an actual settlement
of the controversy is hard to forecast For a
time it has looked as if compromise would not
be reached at any early date, but it is to be
hoped that such a deplorable condition will not
result no matter what bitterness is engendered.
Whatever be the grievances of the steamship
officers who resigned and thereby tied up the
Inter-Island company, the point has now been
reached when they will gain nothing in public
goodwill by further refusal to compromise or
to arbitrate. The StarsBuletin does not mis-
state the case we believe in saying that from the
first there has been considerable sympathy with
the captains and mates. In spite of the incon.
yenienee suffered by the public, the delay in the
mails, tlepractical cessation of intereisland bus
mess tue public has been willing to believe that
the men who resigned had much of reason for
their act and the public has also wished to see
the captains and mates win everything within
Justice and moral right.
In refusing to arbitrate, the strikers-fOr
their designations and demands constitute moth
ing less than strike within the common accept
ance of that terln,-in refusing to arbitrate, the
strikers have not helped their cause. They have
hurt it. They have, willingly or not, given the
impression that they do not wish to submit their
grievances to neutral Judgment. They have been,
westhink, il-adyised. They may win on such a
program, but they have taken one step toward
losing their greatest moral asset in this fight,
and that asset is the sympathy of the public.
From a practical standpoint, the strikers can
gain nothing more in the end by their present
attitude, if as much, as they could by meeting
the eonlpany's offer of arbitration halfway. 1T
is not true that striking employees have inYari-
ably lost by arbitration and that employers have
invariably won. The history of labor disputes
for ten Years past will show that arbitration has
won for labor uniOnism what no strength of pick
citing, no completeness of boycOtting, no dura-
ton of a walk-out and no amount of blOOdshed
could possibly do. And surely, where a dispute
is between men of such intelligence and level
headedness as the Inter Island directorate and
the skilled, veteran captains and mates who OPP
pose the Inter-Island now, arbitration would be
fairly carried on and fairly settle the differences
One more day has been added to the serious
tie-up of traffic One more day of injustice has
been done the public 1t is sincerely to bel
hoped, worked for. sought for, that spirit of
fairness to the public, of consideration for thel
public, will impel both sides to accept the open
ing negotiations for a compromise The great
est card the strikers can now p1ay-the card
that will win their case in the ends tVagrec tot
the idea of compromise and of temporary relief,
and to get the steamers out.