Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-01-31
TIE PUBLIC DOES NOT ENDORSE A STRIKE

I'LL IUULtU NUI 0InlhL
The Star Bulletin said yesterday that the pub
lie does not believe strike or a wak-out at this
time Is necessary to establish Justice for the cap
tains or affirm the stand of the company in the
lntcr-lsland controversy. We repeat it today
IN fact, this paper, in an informal canvass OF
many citizens of all kinds and classes, has found
little public sentimCn mt for strike or walkOut
This paper also said that it does not believe
Ill the aids to harmony have been exhausted
And again it is suggested that the injustice, til"
injury, the evils of a tir-up by strike or walk,
out should not be visited upon the public Of this
territory until every such aid is exhausted
The public does not beIietefllat the time for
eonferences between the IntercIsiand and the
Masters Association has passed. 1t does feel
that there should be dozen conferences rather
han one definite move toward a walkout. The
Inter Island in its letter of January % to Homo
lulu Harbor No. 81, said: ,.. r.~.,. ~.
IF, after learning the attitude Of our COM
pany as set forth herein, you should desire a con-
ference, our board~wilI gladly appoint commit.
tee to meet a committee of your Harbor."
Not while there is any possibility of a confer
cnce. are the aids to harmony exhausted. Not
until every reasonable power Of argument is rem
dered futile is it for either the company or the
Shippers to say there can be no further to-
ward harmony And in this case, the attitude of
the Inter-Island inipelsthe public to believe fur
Tier conferences are possible and might be eff
lcrtiyc e>@@- .-z....>. H..
If such is the case, the strong body of public
opinien does not indorse a strike now or next
~. A.
So far as the attitude of the Inter Island di-
rectorate in declining to go into details to the
Thompson case, for instance, is concerned, that
Is point on which the public has wished to be
further informed. The Star-Bulletin is author
itatively Informed that the reason the 1nter-lsl-
and has not gone into these details of handling
its business, either with the masters association
OF I'M public discussion, is that the directors feel
that to enter into such discussion would be to
yield the very point upon which the company
logically stands, namely, that of definitely re
serving the full right to select its own employees.
In other Words to throw open the question of
handling this particular case, or that particular
man, would be to waive the right of the company
to handle such details of it's business entirely as
IN the Judgment of the directors seems to be in
the interests of the public and the company
This attitude is difficult TO criticsc And yet
the public interest i'm this controversy is vital
that we believe the public is more entitled to all
the facts than in any ordinary business contro-
FersY, more entitled to be taken into the conf
dence of all parties.
Capt Thompson, it has been brought out in
statements was not discharged from the employ
of the Inter-Island. He was removed from the
Niihau. The company is on record in saying
that substantial reasons for its action in his case
have been given to him. On December - the
company, through its secretary, wrote Honolulu
Harbor in part follows:
"Haring already given fair consideration t"
the facts involved in connection with Captain
ThompsOn's case and Captain Thompson having
in fact been given substantial instances of de-
fault Oh his part, the directors feel that further
comment is Unnecessary
These points are mentioned that those con-
eerned i'm the controversy may sec why the pub
lie, even though its Sympathes are, as always,
enlisted for all who sincerely believe they ar"
fighting for their rights, does not lnd"rS" til"
idea of a strike or wak-Out under the present
conditions The right of the public III the last
analysis is the overwhelming factor i'll tins or
or any other dispute involving the public service"