Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-09-29
SEPTEMBER %, 1916.
30 SURRENDER TO VIOLENCE AND
COERCION.

.0Iranized" labor in Honolulu made the first
mistake when ii engineered what amounts TO a
strike on the waterfront before placing single de-
mand before its employers.
The mistake was continued when Irresponsible.
reckless clustering and brutal men who aligned
Themselves with the cause of the strikers began
use violence;
II is true that not all perhaps even half Of the
acts of violence have been traced directly to srik-
ing l0ngshoremen identified with the union. But
Il would beiw0rse than splitting hairs to attempt
70 deny that violence was the direct outgrowth of
the union movement
When any organization, either of labor or CAPT
lo attempts to take control of given situation and
dominate wages or industry acts of violence result
ing from its dominance its activities may prop
(Ily be laidat its doors
The strikebreakeP who "toted gun, down to
the waterfront and Dragged drunkenly about il was
very properly given Jail sentence.
The striker who assaults non-union man be-
<anse the latter exercises his legitimate right Of en-
1aging in employment deserves jailsentence also.
II the present strike had not been engineered and
encouraged by paid agtators and irresponsible
lemagogues, the employers would feel more like
meeting the men in discussion on the wage ques-
ton. 1t is quite true that most of the waterfront
ers approached the situation in ignorance as to how
% proceed but they placed their case in the hands
q men who now declare the right to represent them
and these men woefnily botched their job. Natur
ally employers do not want to enter into discus
EIon with men who in no sense are truly represen
i1tiye Of the waterfront workers.
The wateffronters had their organizations long
before an outsider talked them into joining the
'oneshoremen's union They had their representa-
ives They could with perfect propriety have ap-
preached their employers with request for an open
IIir. cleancut discussion of wage increase In the
eIIt Of what has been done for labor here IN many
other lines ithin the past year, st is not 10 be
doubted thei case would have received considera-
ton.
What Honolulu rersnts, and rightly resents is the
attempt to pnionize the port and allow unions to,
.'<iate terms of employment. Who can doubt that:
this dictation is Submitted t. before long the
''ciRtion will conc from mainland labor organiza
Ions,
When Honolulu employers surrender their right,
~ give employinent, and when laloringmen here
0se their right to take employment it will be time
not only for the closed SHOP and the sclosed port
.nt for the closed city also It will be time to quit
business
Men who have been delnded into joining the
|nion will be widely advised II they withdraw their
1nles quit the paid agitators 60 back to work and
approach their employees not as the branch of a
.IiDIand organization, bound by mainland rules
nd run By mainland unionists but as citizens of I,
IDpOIulu who wish to discuss with their employers
Affair which concerns themselves and their firms
The arbitration committee of the Chamber of
oiDmerce may help to bring this about
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