The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-02-03
DouBrER WRITES


Editor Tho star So much II said
on the side 81 tho striking Hhipbuiid'
ers that l would like 20 offer a few
remarks on tho other side. prefaeing
them by saying that am elderly,
have always been poor and exceed
ingly hard worked. 20 | cannot by
any stretch or the Imagination he
said to bc speaking from the capital
iatic side. But II seems 90 me that
the average worklnEman IL unable
60 look at moro than his own side
Of the question.
As we are talking OF ships. let me
use a metaphor 10 explain my ideas,
even II, like all metaphors. IL cannot
exactly apply In all detaile.
IL seems 10 me the great indus
trial activities Of this country. be.
steamlng along under fair headway.
in fairly smooth water For the
war. this progress had 10 be entirely
reversed. full speed put on. but Ia
the opposite direction from the
course In peace We got up tremen'
dnus headway. Then came the sud
den end OF the war Again II was
necessary 10 stop and reverse the
engines There IN every necessity
for us 10 get up full speed ahead
again, But as with any ship. there
Il bound TO be a dead point before
We gain Roadway again. after com
ing 10 a standstlll ON reversing
There IL every reason 10 gather
speed ahead as quickly as poSalble.
greatest danger Of our ship being
driven ON tho rocks OF anarchy be
fore speed can he gathered 20 carry
US safely away from them. II seems
a time. II there ever was one. when
every one should work together TO
aid In getting on Roadway. Yet tho
strikers are deliberately drawing the
fires from under tho boilers at the
most critical period. and allowing
the ship TO drift farther n'towards
danger.
II seems 10 me. with millions Of
men coming back and wanting
work. with federal. state and munic-
ipal governments M their wita' end
TO meet the problem Of unemploy.
mcnt. with more men than there are
jobs TIL peace industries set In fun
swing again. that those who were
already employed. not only assured
themselves against absolute want.
but helping by keeping all industries
moving. 10 furnish employment for
others who must set back 10 work.
are anything but Wise 10 lay down
the work they have and add them.
selves to tho mighty army % the un'
employed. By doing 80. they also
siow down tho general Industrial sit
untlon and prevent many othern
from obtaining employment they
might otherwise have
II appears "a II. until industry
gets In fun swing again. and while
80 many ar. unemployed. that there
will BE- a tendency for wages TO fol.
low the usual law governing supply
and demand. and fall. rather than
rise. that u IL one Of the cases
where u Ia wlse. during the prosen,
crisis. 20 consider half a loaf bet.
ter than no bread until times Inn
prove. 10 be thankful for work az
present wages.
VIC have been proud OF the I'm.
msnse growth Of the paeific coast In
population. industries. wealth. ship,
ping. etc, cannot but feel that the
strikers are deliberately killing the
goose that laid the golden egR. that
unless the strike ia very quickly set
tied. and with reason and Justice on
both sides. We shall have much less
reason 10 boast in future. that this
Coast viii be pretty thoroly killed.
in a business way. for many years
TO come The shipysrds. once clos
ed. may not be reopencd. II Ger
,ainiy must cost more 10 build ships
here than nearer the source OF sup.
ply Of much OF the material enter.
Ing Into them. and those concerned
may decide. II labor IL no more snx.
Ious to cooperate than present
showing indicates. there IL no vile.
dom In making further effort. here.
A DOTHTEH