The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1918-11-01
BY JOE SMITH

BY JOE SMl III
The war in Europe is on its last lap. re-
Ii will be fought out now by men already III oiiee
and with the machinery already in motion: . 49,, =
The problem before the people OF Seattle, Oh
The votes we cast next Tuesday will have little or
no effect the conduct of the war BUT they VII! oe
termine the direction of our efforts mt
The supreme problem of reconstruction work Is the
task of maintaining advancing existing wage iaoor
and living standards during the coming period OF inuu
trial readjustment. Whether as people shall set
ourselves to the task of maintaining this standard de-
ponds on whom elect to office and the policies We by
our votes, promulgate x
II is essential that the people of Seattle vote to pur
chase the street car lines for two reasons: First VIII
be long step towards increasing industrial efficiency
in Seattle and the maintenance OF our present
supremacy. Second II Will be notice 10 All thc "oIu
that this progressive community has determined once
for ALL that public service shall no longer be exploited
for private profit
earnings expenses, percentages and amortization.
feel convinced that as going concern IN tne nas "
private owners the system is not worth twothrds OF
fifteen million dollars But as a great ser'ice-giVihe
utility in the hands of our own municipality ~ mas
value which cannot be definitely calculated In dollars
NV own observation convinces me that the time
will soon come, if it has not already come when fixed
steel tracks in the center of the public streets are an
obstruction traffic and an unmtgated nuisance no
longer to be endured
But what of that? When the time comes that we
decide that the street tracks must be torn up II
we do not own them ourselves will be stopped from
aboshng them by the judicial interference of fossil
lied courts responding to the selfish greed Of our cor
poration expoiters.
AS a fit punishment for its many crimes have
heretofore favored driving the street railway company
into bankruptcy and kicking it into oblivion. We are
now in position where, but for the immediate crying
need of service, could probably do this.
But the rising of day dawning over
war-weary world brings vision and new sense
of the peoples power. If the street car company Is
willing to give US its tangible wealth, which is real
property, i. for one am willing to give them their
fifteen millions in scraps of paper signed by the mayor
and bearing the seal Of the city.
fba limos in fYal moss ion
then proceed improve the service and increase the
efficiency of city, and the bonds at best will pass
into the hands of few idle parasites who will be
graciousy allowed by general government to sur
render third of the interest in taxes to help in paying
for the cost of the war.
Let the thieves of the past their paper titles
to the loot of the past but let u.s. the people Of the
present take possession of the tools of privilege and
draw the fangs of the wolves Of exploitation
In the problem of reconstruction the great
task is to maintain existing wage, labor and living
standards during the approaching period Of industrial
readjustment To do this we must retain acquire all
the public utilities, local and national heretofore noto-
ously operated for the sole purpose of corporate
ploitation. The general public must become vast
employer Of labor and thus maintain dominating posi-
ton in the labor market. It must set standards for
labor higher even than those now advocated by the
conventional union leaders, and conditions Of employ
ment under which the efficiency of labor and the
wealth Of production will make those standards pos
sble.
For immediate local solution of the industrial
problem must continue to build ships, ships and yet
more ships. But when the is ended our shipbuid-
ing industry automatically enters into competition with
that of every other shpbuilding community in the
world. Japan and Germany, well as San Francisco
and Hog Island, will be competing with us for eff
cheney and economy. Our steel must be TRANSPORTED
1000 miles by rail- The only offsettng natural advan-
tage in our favor is climate. All other handcaps
against us, and there many must be overcome by
superior industrial and social organization by the pot
ical development of conditions which will render our
workers the most efficient.
At present Seattle shipworker labors eight hours
in the yards and three hours to get home and back
eight hours inefficient production An efficient street
passenger transportation system would save two hors
hour day by 25 per cent.
Such street car service is probably not Immediately
possible. But it is the ideal which we must set for
Seattle, and we cannot struggle successfully to-
wards that ideal long the street cars are in the
hands OF owners whose selfish and greedy purpose
is private profit