Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-06
Fairness to All

IN the letter OF Petersburg correspondent
l printed in another column OF this page,
appears the familiar naive combination of
ignorance and prejudice, that, pitted against
capftaiistic prejudice and intolerance, makes
the adjustment Of labor problems in this
country increasingly difficult. even in this
hour Of stress.
1t goes without saying that The Times
Dispatch. in reference to the Newport News
strike. took no position as TO the adequacy
or inadequacy of the pay the men were re-
ceiving. Indeed. in an earlier discussion of
the subject. this newspaper insisted that mat
ters of pay should be investigated by i'm
partial authority, and that il the men we're
in the right, they deserved TO be. and should
be, upheld.
The point made in the editorial directly
attacked was that when 500 experts in vari-
Gus branches Of the shipbuilding industry
walked out several days ago, they struck as
shrewd a blow against this country as even
Germany could have devised" That is a
statement OF fact. which sane men will not
question. Had the company, for any rea-
son of its own, seen fit to shut down it's
plant and cease to supply the ships the ma
ton so urgently requires. an even shrewder
blow would have been struck for Germany
and our friend from Petersburg may rest
assured that the comments of The Times
Dispatch would have been far more caustic
anu uenuHCldloT!. mere may be 1uStlhca-
ton for strikes and lockouts in time Of war
even though. as in this case, they affect the
nations ability to carry on war successfully
but the justification must be clear If the
great masses OF the people are expected to
accept IL
Government work at the Newport News
and other shipyards is now being done on
the basis of cost plus 10 per cent There is
no opportunity for extravagant profits for
r'- t,11
comes OF its shareholders. will be taxed
heavily by both national and State govern
ments.
The nation has adopted the principle of
CONSUMPTION of wealth. as we'll as conscrip-
ton OF life. The war revenue bill. in its
present form, takes substantial! 40 per cent
of large incomes and makes heavy demands
smaller incomes At the same time it
wholly exempts the incomes OF married men
up 10 $4,000. II cannot be said, with fair
ness or truth. that capital will escape max
ing its just contribution TO the expenses of
this conflict
AS for correspondents various in
nuendoes suggestions and open averments
that The Tmes-Dispatch is unfriendly TO
labor. he has his own imagination 10 thank
for them. They are not based on nor justi-
fed by anything in the record. the sentiments
or the words Of this newspaper. At the
time of the controversy between the railroads
and their trainmen. The Times Dispatch did
insist that the matters at issue should be
submitted to arbitration. but when 1t be-
came clear that arbitration was impossible,
the Presidents offered compromise and,
later. the Adamson law. which carried that
compromise into effect. were supported
vigorously.
Just at this time there is but one desire
which should control the thought and the
action of loyal Americans: that is to win
the war. To attain that great ambition,
essential to the preservation Of democratic
principles In this country and throughout
the world we must all be willing to make
sacrifices. Neither capital nor labor, 80 far
as either is truly patriotic will hesitate, and
SO far as The Times Dispatch is concerned,
it will not fail to rebuke hesitation in either
camp.