Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-02-16
The Shipyard Strikes

me 0hlPydro StrikeS
Boston newspapers note that less
than one half of the quota of 5000
shipbuilders' asked from that city had
been secured for the United States
Public Service Reserve when the head
quarters of the committee on enroll
lncnt closed Thursday night.
This is disappointing in the extreme,
and betok"nS a serious condition of af-
fairc, reaching farther into the nation S
chances Of an early winning Of the war
than We care to estimate. In Connec-
ton Herewith, it is unfortunate that
in the same week in which the govern
army of 10000 shipbuilders. because
tho nation is confronted with the dire
reed of shipping, and because our al
lies arc 50 largely dependent upon our
hccompit; hmcntS in the shipping line
that they uiay hold out against the en-
cmy until our armed forces can reach
the battle llne--it is distressingly uu-
fortunate that in this week when the
American people as the hackers of our
boys in France who are doing their ut
most to recruit this reserve. that there
should be strike outbreaks of ship
carpenters at several American yards
for a very large increase in wages.
However just the claims of the car
penters may be. the impression must
so out to the country that this oppor-
tune moment of the nations necessity
CARNATIONS to drive a hard bargain,
and is gratifying to the rest of the
public that at such time Chairman
. Hurley of the Shipping Board has seen
fit to issue sharp warning to labor
agitators, Urging the ending of ship
yard strikes. He says:
DO you realize that you are adding
to the fearful danger our soldiers al
ready face, the danger of starvation
and the danger of slaughter, if food
and ammunition are not sent over in
ships, and in many ships, at once?
DO you think the fathers and mothers
whose sons are making this sacrifice
will sit patiently by and permit this
paralyzing Of the lifeline between US
and the western front to go on?"
When one group of Americans will
not permit other Americans to work,
ard when American workers, on their
wage is raised, the excuse that capital
is also profiteering. only irritates the
great mass OF common people who are
caught between the two mill stones Of
greed. y ration's life is at stake, and
vet a few selfish American citizens,
organized as a union, forget that their
own little selfish personal affairs
should not be permitted to interfere
with tho welfare of all the people Of
this great nation; and they also for
set that their own little petty union
organization is not big enough to
eclipse the magnitude OF the great
American Union of which they are a
part
Chairman Hurley has we'll expressed
the situation in a few words, and We
believe that the people of this country,
whether organized into unions or not,
will back him to the limit in forcing
these strikers to give the government
fair DAYS work for a fair days pay.
and do it periodically as our boys are
doing their duty. or stand the conSc-
uuences. If it is necessary to con-
script labor, in order to win this war,
rs it has been deemed necessary to
Consrript fighters. then VIC say let it
come. and let it como with the force
u an avalanche to annihiiate in a
single blow this devilish performance
on the part of labor enacted through
the f1insy excuse that capital also is
bleeding the people. 1t may be nee
e5sGry for the American people to rise
up III their Indignation and soundly
Knock together the heads Of both Ia
Dor profitetrs and capital protiteers
unit! those hrainless shells shall have
ratified some of the greed out of them.
------------>->p>.->-------