The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-03-22
STRIKES AND WAR WORK.

STRIKES AND WAR WORK.
A report on strikes in American industry IN
/ the first six months after this country's en-
trance into the war has just been issued by the
national Industrial conference. While Amerl-
can labor is loyal, and the leaders of labor Or
CARNATIONS have emphasized the Importance
of operating war industries at high speed, the
loss due of strikes is serious. There have been
indications of improvement in the last few
months, but the report says that war industries
are still heavily handicapped by labor dis
lputes.
! The industrial conference does not over
state when it says the magnitude of the produc-
ton lost in this incomplete list of strikes would
be serious at any time, while in war time,
I''when every day Of production OF essential
materials has definite influence on the war
situation, it is title short of appalling. In the
incomplete list Of establishments affected by
strikes are seventy five shpbuilding plants, In
which more than one million work days were
lost at time when responsible Engllshmen
were saying that every ship the United States
could build would be needed to win the war.
Other industries affected by strikes include
the metal trades, coal mining, and copper min
ing All are essential to the government s
prosecution of the war.
Some of the strikes were undertaken with
little or no excuse. According to the report,
l'' demands for recognition Of the union and
Iclosed shop conditions, alone or with other Is
sues, caused the most serious labor disturb
lances.' The issue named should not be
raised in a war-industry establishment. 70
raise it there is to put on the brakes when
what is needed is full speed ahead Most Of
the loss due to labor disputes could be pre-
vented by an agreement that should go on
10 for off n
ress Much waste was involved in ignoring
the obvious advantages Of this method of settle
ment when this country at peace, Some
thing worse than waste is involved when men
engaged in war industries vital to the national
safety quit work.
| a federal court in Oklahoma has perma-
nently enjoined the application of the two
icent-a-mile railroad rate of fare which the con-
Istitution of Oklahoma provides for common
carriers operating in that state. The litigation
has been pending since 1909, and 1t is rather
curious that a decision should be rendered now,
when all the railroads of the country are under
government operation and when the president
alone has the power to initiate new rates OF
fares and freights. The action which the presi-
dent will now take in the premises may afford
an inkling Of the attitude of the administra-
ton toward the railroads generally. Hereto
fore it has been the policy to bait the railroads
and forbid them to get money for upkeep and
Improvements from traffic receipts and which
has also made it more onerous for them to get
| such funds from the issue of new securities. Ii
Mr. Wilson now abandons this view, the TAX
| ing over of the railroads by the government
will have accomplished one great benefit, at
least, for railroad investors.
General Gorgas has the precedent set by all
Of to his