The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1917-09-28
HARDLY PATRIOTIC.

One of the most vitality important
activities connected with preparedness
and carrying out the war to sue
cessful termination is ship building,
and especially that branch of ship
building that provides units for the
navy. The country is short Of vessels
required for the lighter work of the
naval arm of the service. Many of
these vessels are under construction,
in various stages Of completion, at the
numerous ship yards Of the country,
both on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
Men employed at ship building at this
time are filling just as important a
role in carrying on the war as the men
who have entered the army and navy,
without, however, being compelled to
face the dangers that confront the men
behind the guns. Under these circum
stances it would seem only the pa
triotic duty of those engaged in ship
building, and workers in other occu-
pations upon which the building of
ships depend, to apply all their ener-
gies toward speeding up construction
of ships so necessary for carrying on
the war, and refrain from any act that
might in the least degree retard COM
pletion of such needed additions to the
navy. But instead of exhibiting a de-
sire to help the government in this
hour of stress, showing spirit of pat
riotism and doing their utmost to con-
tribute toward the success of the
American army and navy, thousands
Of ship builders and iron workers on
the Pacific coast have gone on a strike
for large increase Of wages, thus
gripping an important industry at
this serious stage Of the war, and ad-
ding tremendous expense upon the
government.
There should be some way to reach
the root Of this evil. Almost a million
Of the best and brightest young men
of the land have voluntarily entered
the service of their country, willing to
face suffering, mutilation and death
that democracy may continue to exist,
and another million have been taken
from their homes through the medium
of the draft to face the same condi-
lions. The vast majority Of these men
have given up positions, some of them
lucrative, taking the chance of ever
securing them again. Others have left
a business or profession they were
just beginning to build up. and will
have to commence again at the very
beginning upon their return to civil
life, accepting in lieu thereof the mea-
gre pay allotted to those who enter
military or naval service. If the gov
eminent has the right and power to
call upon these men to risk their lives,
to give up their professions, 20 COMPEL
them to take the chances of war, is
there any defensible reason why that
government cannot, or should not,
conscript the workmen of the country
and place them at work where there
Is no personal risks Does 1t seem fair
that one class of men, and the best
class measured in years, vitality, ener-
gy, capability and intelligence, should
be called upon to stake their lives in
defense of common country, when
another class of men, enjoying free
dom from all personal risk and large
wages. can tie up the construction of
adjuncts to the service that are abso-
lutely needed for the protection and
safety of those young men who go
forth to war?
This is not question of providing
for the betterment of the condition of
workingmen. No one gainsays the right
of men to strike where only private
interests are involved. Differences be-
TWEEN employers and employees are to
be adjusted between the two contending
factions. The existence of a nation and