The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-05-31
THE SHIPPING EMERGENCY.

THE SHIPPING EMERGENCY.
 Yesterdays grist of anent the Pacific CoaSV longshoremens strike is most disheartening to AL aska. The situation casts pail of gloom over the entire Territory. In word, the striking unions dregarding all considerations of humanity with the spacious plea that the operators have caused the disaste. that confronts Alaska, have blockaded Alaska cut it off from its base of food' coenihs' medicines supplies equipment and materials TOT us industries just as absolutely as if foreign enemy had laid sege to us and held us confined with US ships and guns That is exactly the effect of the strikers vote not to permit any more shipping of any kind from Puget Sound ports to territorial waters.
 The delegates proclaim there is no emergency because Southeast Alaska is served by two Canadian steamship lres In that pronouncement they are joined by J. H. Ryan, President of the International Longshoremen's Association. Even if that were true and it is not, the emergency would still exist Since last September four ports in Southeast AlasKa -Ketchikan, WrangeI Juneau and Skagway have had meager service from one Canadian company. Tn Canadian Pacific all during the winter operated a small vessel on 10-day schedule. Its cargo and passenger carrying accommodations are insufficient to either Ketchikan or Juneau with all other means of transport cut off. Not until the middle  tional-enter this field and then only to cater to tourist trade The Canadian Pacific does transport mail but the Canadian National does not. Eoch of them will operate butF single vessel weekly and this is far from sufficient tonnage to keep the towns on the route supplied with supplies even if all barriers removed.
 The greatest barrier is credit accommodations for commerce. Alaska's incoming commerce is based upon credit arrangements built up over the past 50 years between Alaskan merchants and those of Puget Sound cities It is a thing that cannot be arranged overnight Without it, commerce can be carried on only limited scale. The whole idea that Southeast Alaska get along on service from Canadian lines and obtain its supplies from Canad- ian sources is so fantastic and impracticabe it would be Imaginable if it were not such life and death matter.
 Nor is Southeast Alaska the only section of the Territory affected by the blockade. West and north of the Panhandle lies most of Alaska. Every inhabi- tant in it is dependent for most of the food. all of the clothing and medicine they use upon the operations of the vessels that the strikers have tied up. There is possible way in which they utilize Canadian shipping. Their plight is toe desperate to contemplate with equanimity
 Despite the lightly-made assertions of the strik- ing unions that no emergency exists in Alaska, one does exist grave in nature as to endanger Aaskas existence if it's cause is not removed and the situation remedied. It has two phases. The first of is lack of supplies necessary for main- taining healthfu human life. There isn't town or settlement in the entire Territory that does not face a shortage of food. From all sections appeals have to Gov Troy to do something" And in to his appeal behalf of the people of Alaska the strikers enthusiastically respond, tell is to the operators, they caused it."
 The second phase of the emergency is equally as serious and far-reaching than the first For time most of us live off the resources oi the country although the youngest must inevitably suffer from malnutrton. But if industries are forced to close down. is unavoidable if there is no relief furnished. cannot longer continue an org anized society We shall be deprived of oul sources of revenue individuals and as a govern. mental unit. Without income, our businesses anc our government must cease to function
 Ina IS the picture Gov. Troy has painted tt operator and strikers alike. It is not exaggerated It is impossible exaggerate it.
 The operators, at least those connected witl Alaskan shipping have informed the Governor the. willing to accept the demands. But the union wont deal with them. They will deal only witl all of the coastal shipping unit, witt none at all
 The strikers, arguing that the conditions do no exist, retort even if they do they are caused b the operators In the words of Cain they seek t shift the responsibility to another and deny the are their brothers keeper
 We think the issue has been drawn finel enough now for the Government to intervene the operators of vessels normally plying betwee Puget Sound and Alaska willing to accede t the strikers demands. and they have said they ar then they should be permitted to operate eve though the interests centered in Los Angeles. Sa francisco and other ports not Seattle shippin men cannot be held responsible for the actions an