St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1917-10-12


In practically all strikes there
are but three parties directly
interested in its outcome-thC
strikers and their families. the
employers and the general pub.
lie. In the shipbuilding strike,
however, there is a vastly
wider circle of interest aroused.
Besides the three parties above
mentioned, the government IT,
self is highly interested, and
our allies are interested. the
neutral countries are interested,
and our enemies are just as in.
tensely interested. this latter
interest. however, being cen
tered in a prolongation of the
strike instead of its cessation.
Therefore, il may safely be as
sumed that the present strike
is the most important in his.
tory. OF all the parties inter.
ested in this struggle of labor
for changed conditions. the in.
terest Of our government seems
paramount. IL must have ships.
The strikers probably can. as
many of them are now doing,
find employment at some othen
vocation; the employers can let
their plants lie idle. and the
public can worry along as best
II can. but this government of
ours cannot afford to wait.
Ships are its vital need. IL is
spending millions of dollars
every day in prosecuting this
war 10 a decisive and early
conclusion, but without more
ships its hands are tied. much
OF this expense is wasted and
the lives of our countrymen are
impcriled. IL is undoubtedly
true that the government has
the power TO take over the ship
plants and operate them, but il
does not desire 10 do so. There
are so many other matters il is
busy In handling that it would
only with the greatest reluct
ance add further TO the burden.
But if il finds il absolutely
necessary, in order 10 break
the deadlock existing. to take.
over the plants. there would in.
all probably be little change in.
conditions over those existing
before the strike was inaugur.
ated. Probably the same
operators would oversee the
work, the same supervisors and
fOremen would have charge. the
same wages as prevailing at the
navy yards would prevail ana
the open shop or closed shop
problem would remain the same,
because the government could
not discriminate between its
workmen. IL might, however.
inauguratc a system of civil |
service.
The general public is vitally |
in the strike. be-
cause il affects the entire com |
The public, so far as
the workmen are concerned. are |
interested i'm seeing them Sc
cure a good and just wage.
short hours and reasonable con
diti0ns, which they are richly |
entitled 10. So far as a closed
or open shop is concerned. the
public, generally speaking. has
no particular interest, but judg-
ing from the sentiment as eX-
pressed on the street, a stand
for the closed shop under pre-.
sent conditions is not in popular
favor The general public also
has an interest in the employer.
IL is interested i'm seeing more
industries come, in having con-
ditions such as TO invite and
attract new industries, and
which will enable them to make
a fair profit on their invest.
ments. Naturally public senti-
ment i'm any community is
against conditions that are
such that industries may not be
operated except by the govern.
ment, If such were the case
capital would be slow to create
more employment. And such
will be the state of public senti-
nent until il is deemed advis-
able by the majority of citizens
for the government To take con.
.rol of all industries. ST. Johns
wants more industries. Ill,
wants more satisfied workmen.
L wants satisfied employers.
And il wants the strike settled
n a manner that will be fair to
he employe and employer as