The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-02-23
STRIKES AND TREASON.

STRIKES AND TREASON.
Duluth and Superior ship yard en-
ployes will "stick to the ships" They
will not strike. If they have any griey-
ances, and no doubt they nave many,
they will await adjustment by the
proper government officials. 1t is un-
fortunate indeed that local news
papers have put the loyal working
men in the Duluth and Superior
yards in false light. They have had
no idea of striking. Their only pur-
pose in calling meetings has been to
arouse interest in the union. Natural
ly at all union meetings the chief
topic of discussion is the welfare of
the membership.
Down east the situation was differ
ent. The men were either i'll advised,
or there we're enemies Of the United
States within their ranks. Labor has
every assurance from President Will
son that it will be given square deal
by the government. Secretary of
Labor William B. Wilson has charge
of labor adjustments, and he is with
out a peer in handling such matters.
Mr.. Gompers, too, has confidence in
the integrity of the officials at Wash
ington. and believes that all just
grievances will be given prompt at
tention.
In view of this situation no Amer
lean workingmen who have any re-
gard for their country and the great
principles of human liberty and
democracy which are at stake in this
war will do one act that will delay
for single moment the building of
a ship or the production of an arti-
Gle needed to feed, clothe or equip
our boys in France, or the men IN
training at home.
President Wilson and the govern
ment are determined that exact Jus
tice shall be done to ALL Employers
can not be intolerant and remain Oh
friendly terms with the government,
nor can workingmen harass and
worry the government every time the
machinery of adjustment seems slow
in operation, and retain at the same
time the good will and sympathy of
the American people,
The Labor World has consistently
opposed compulsory arbitration. We
are against it now. We prefer to fol-
low the traditional American custom
of permitting employers and en-
ployes to work out their internal
problems in their own way without
government force. Force is the Prus-
sian way. But war conditions change
all things, and when men can not see
the gravity of the present situation,
at time when our liberty-developed
civilization trembles in the balance,
and by their selfish acts 1mperil the
safety and freedom of countless mil
lions, we are prompted for the mo-
ment to forego our scruples and insist
that congress pass a war measure at
once that will provide for the crea-
ton of a board possessed with abso-
lutte powers, to be composed of rep
resentatives in equal numbers of en-
ployers, employees and the govern
ment, for the purpose of settling dis
putes of every character arising in in
dustries engaged in the manufacture
or transportation of war supplies and
equipment. This would include the
ship yards.
There are no minor liberties in this
country so sacred as the security OF
democracy, or as important as saving
the unnecessary slaughter of our fel-
lowmen at the front. We trust. such
course on the part of the govern
=. ment will not be necessary, but if any
more hasty strikes are called there is
y but this step remaining for the gov
eminent to take, step that would
. have the same force and effect as the
! CONSUMPTION of labor.
+ HOG1TEERS AND TRAITORS.