New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-13
Executives of Pacific Coast
and Northwest Plan
Repression
Will Have Aid
Of Federal Army
Stern Measures Decided
Upon at Conference in
Portland
Bv THEODORE NJ. KNAPPEN

night, the WnOle dCiHS
Northwestern section Of the Uniten
States stands in solid league against
the |. w. W, disloyal pacifists, sullen
aliens, slackers, disorderly strikers ana
draft resisters. Washington, Oregon
Idaho. Montana, Utah and Nevada were
represented by their Governors IN per-
son and the Governor Of California
sent proxy.
While refusing to concede that the
l. W. W. trouble was their chief PROB"
lem, the Governors were unanimously
of the opinion that the time had come
TO deal sternly with its menace. When
thew return to their respective states
vigorous measures will be taken by
the authorities to repress and punish
every I. w. W. outbreak. At the same
time the Governors said they wished
IL understood that they clearly distin-
guished between lawful labor organi-
cations and agitations and the |. W. W.
and anarchy.
me NONtlINlo WIZ ~ NN''@
with Colonel Dentler, commandant OF
the Northern District of the Pacific
Division of the United States, and ar
ranesments were made to simplify and
expedite the process of calling in the
army. II is understood that in an
emergency a Governor can apply di-
rectly TO the military without going
through the form of appealing to
Washington.
Will Not Weaken Army
At the same time it was stated by the
Governors that they fully understood
that it was the patriotic duty of the
states to assume the full burden OF
maintaining domestic order, so that
the forces destined for Europe need
not be weakened.
This means that, with the exception Of
a few hundred soldiers who are per-
forming indispensable duty at certain
critical points, the whole of the armed
troops of this immense region soon will
be transferred to Palo Alto, CAL, for
further training. 1t was the unsni- |
nous opinion Of the Governors that
state constabularies must be created
TO take the place Of the soldiers. In
some instances special sessions Of leg !
islatures may be called for that pur-
pose. Nevada already has a constabu-
larry.
The Governors also decided to insu-
curate speaking campaigns in all their
states to educate the public to the
rightfulness and gravity of the war,
and Systematically TO urge the enlist
ment Of friendly aliens and promote
the education of aliens in Americanism
with a view TO converting them into
loyal citizens.
II was further decided to use ex-
traordinary efforts to make the states
organizations for the administration OF
Justice supplement the Federal work in
everything that relates to the war.
Chaos Menaces Lumber State
With divided councils among those in
authority and with Samuel Gompers,
member of the National Council of De-
fence. wiring encouragement TO strikers
who have tied up the lumber industry
in the greatest lumber state, Washing
ton, chaos seems TO be ahead Of the
Northwest
All the National Guard is in the Fed
eral service and tue country is full of
|. !. W. ". agitators, who have little re-
N spect for local authorities.
III Al in lrc tied IN
war time over a question that is of no
present interest to most of the workers.
Scores Of wooden ships on the Columbia
and in Puget Sound ports are delayed
in construction because the strike pre-
vents the mills and camps from getting
the material out Of the woods. A great
source OF supply for cantonment lumber
is cut of, and the building of airplanes
is held up because il is only in this
Northwestern district that suitable
spruce for the planes can be obtained
A commission of American and Allied
aviators is here % speed up produc-
tion. An officer Of me National Council
Of Defence orders it held up. The !.
w. w. is happy
With most Of the Washington mills
shut down or crippled, it is now pro-
posed 10 make a big drive for the clos
ripe for new /. w. w. outrages, and yet
few hundred soldiers, distributed over
vast region, probably could put an
end TO the whole mess in few days.
A National Emergency
This is a national emergency. A.
question Of an eight-hour or a ten
hour day in the Washington and Ore
gon lumber mills is of no national i'm
portance.
The mills are shut down; a large ma
jority of the employees want 70 work,
but dare not. Just now they don't care
a map about an eight-hour day. They
want work and pay. An eight-hour
day may be ethically right, but there is
now no crying need for II. Just now
that is Of no account as against the
national emergency. There is no doubt
labor leaders have deliberately taken
advantage Of the crisis 20 advance their
cause.
The simple fact is that IL the men
were assured protection most Of them
would 20 back 20 work and leave their
leaders 20 continue the debate. A few
soldiers az every mill are all that Is
necessary. Their mere presence is
enough. That has been demonstrated
in the Yakima and Wenatchee valleys,
Where the War Department has de-
eared the crops a national utility.
Those districts we're completely par
slyzed By terrorism till the troops were
cent in. Not shot was fred, but the
Industries quickly resumed activity.
IL IL openly charged by the lumber
men that IN the present dispute the