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

The Star-Bullctin said Yesterday that the pub
lie does not believe a strike or Il walk-out at this
time is necessary to establish justice for the cap
tains or affirm the stand Of the company in the
lnterIsland 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 sentiment for strike or a wak-out
This paper also said that it does not believe
all the aids to harmony have been exhausted
And again it is suggested that the injustice, the
Injury, the evils Of tieup by strike or walk
out should not be visited upon the pui'lic of this
territory until every such aid is exhausted.
The public does not believe that the time for
conferences between the InterIsland and the
Masters Association has passed. 1t does feel
that there should bea dozen conferences rather
than one definite move toward walkout. The
Inter-Island, in its letter of January % to Homo
lulu Harbor No. 81, said:
IF, after learning the attitude of our COM
pany as set forth herein, YOU should desire a CON
ference, our board will gladly appoint a commit
TED to meet committee of. your Harbor."
Not while there is any possibility of a confer
ence 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
sfippers to say there can be no further moves to-
Ward harmony And in this case, the attitude of
the InterIsland impls the public to Believe fur
ther conferences are possible and might be eff
fectiye F. -...,s2$ - $500 %
III sach is the case, the strong body of public
opinion does not indorse. a strike nov or next
Monday CT week from Monday. III
So far as the attitude of the Inter Island di,
rectorate in declining to- go into details as to the
Thompson case, for instance, is concerned, that
Il point on which the public has wished to be
further Informed. The Star Bulletin is author
itatiyely informed that the reason the Inter-Isl-
and has not gone into these details of handling
its business either with the masters association
81 in 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
Ia the judgment of the directors seems to be in
the interests of the public and the company.
This attitude is difficult to criticise And yet
the public interest in this controversy is so vital
that We believe thepublic is more entitled to all
the facts than in any ordinary business eontrO-
versy, more entitled to be taken into the conf
denee 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 for it's action in his case
have been given to him. On December p the
company, through it's secretary, wrote Honolulu
Harbor in part as follows:
Shaving already given fair consideration to
the facts involved in connection with Captain
Thompsons case and Captain Thompson having
in fact been given substantial instances of de-
fault on his part, the directors feel that further
colnment is unnecessary
These points are mentioned that those con-
eerned in the controversy may see why the pub
lie even though it's svmpathicS are, as always,
enlisted for all who sincerely belcv" they are
fighting for their rights does not ind"rSr TIL"
sidea of a ktrike or walkout under the present
conditions The right of the public in tn" last
analysis is the overwhelming factor in this or
or any6thcr dispute involving the public service.