The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-07-01
LABOR CONDITIONS IN THE STATES

During this period of exodus of labor from Alaska to the States it might be we'll to look into the actual labor conditions of the coast and other parts of the country. Most people are going out to better themselves, and if that is impossible, surely they do not care to go.
 Statistically speaking there is no short age of labor in the United States. It is a fact that every important industry IS short of men, but there is just about as large list of unemployed as usual The best figures obtainable show that in peace times there were about six million men idle one-third of the time, that is, on the average there would be two million persons out of work in the United States It is true that there always have been about two million hoaters who cannot stick to any one job for more than a few days at time, but it is with them that the Alaskan has to compete.
 We do not want men idle at this tme nor do we want them an expense to the com munity, and that is what they are sooner or later if they become idle. You hear of this one and that one who has gone out and is earning big wages; also, you hear of the large number of unemployed at Seattle and other coast towns. You may wonder why the discrepancy. It may be briefly summed up. There is a great demand for skilled labor, and even though common ditch dig ger, you have got to be good at it. The de- mand for results is greater than ever before Actual figures show that to get one man who is reasonably competent it has been neces- sary to hire and fire twelve.
 Now the question is, where would the Alaskan come in? It would be we'll to give this very careful consideration before going out. It costs money to get a job and it costs more to be fired. Here you have spent years ill boomed country. You are very liable to stampede. Remember that this is no stam- pede, but steady work, day after day at the same old grind, with no excitement of rich deposits to break the monotony. You are not your own boss and, in fact, very much not so. Things that you could do here without question being asked would get you fired there. Most industrial plants will not allow you to smoke on the job or stop and talk with fellow workman. If you are skilled laborer who cannot find work here and who is used to steady work and sure that he can place is Outside helping the wartime pro
  he does not want to let his stampede spirit get away with him, also he wants to remeln- Der that years of drifting have in all proba- biity made a Aoater of him and that his trip Outside would simply mean untold hardship and worse than broke on his return. It may be that the demand for labor in here is limit ed just now, but there is work and there is always the possibility of something worth while. Even though it may be small, better take the sure thing than to gamble on the unknown. Until there is some definite ar engagement for putting the unemployed in con nection with the work for which they are best suited it would be we'll to wait.
 No man has the right to walk down good American street unless he is the posses sor of Liberty Bond and has purchased War Savings Stamps to the limit Most men say that they can cut the smokes any time they wish. We'll, now is the time to do it. We have no right to a luxury when there are Liberty Bonds to buy.
 When the war ends, we are going to have millions of men who have long been out of the productive industries Many of them will be practically broke. Will we sit back here and make money off their self-sacrifce ]? When the war ends, to be anywhere near on an even footing with the boy from the trench es, many of us should be broke from having given all of our time to war activities.
 AN exchange tells story of boy who took sack of rabbits town to sell and returned home at night with the contents of his bag intact Upon being asked why he did sell the rabbits he stated that he stood around all day and asked him what he had in the sack Many merchants like that boy they expect to sell goods by placing them upon their