The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-05-20
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Just Strolling
Round the Town
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

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The editor of this Newspaper has
been called on the carpet, so to
speak. by two good friends during
the past week. We have been crit
icized for certain editorial policies
One was for publishing the letter
from young Ben Vaughn, who has
been and is still fighting in the hell
of Guadalcanal, and who wrote.
.You know, Dad, | could shoot a
man who strikes at a time like this
as easily as | could Jap The
other criticism was by good Eu-
reka friend for publishing another
letter, that one from soldier boy
who evidently had been through
terrible things in the south Pacific
and who is bitter against the Jap
anese.
We sincerely enjoy these differ
ences of opinion because they are
constant reminders that we still
have here in this blessed America
that priceless privilege of freedom
of speech and of the press. There
fore we always welcome and even
enjoy friendly and constructive
criticism.
In reply first let US say that both
letters that were condemned were
NEWS of the highest degree. In
asmuch as we are publishing a
Newspaper, the letters were legltl-
mate matter Furthermore, the two
letters were not only news, but
above all things-the people sure
ly ought to know what the soldiers
are thinking.
Secondly. Let us say that young
Ben Vaughn's explosion Of bitter
ness against the strikers is not an
isolated instance Numerous reports
have come 10 our notice wherein
our soldiers-going through the hell
of foreign war and facing disease,
torture and death--have voiced the
bitterest condemnation of those who
strike in an essential war industry
during war time A veteran Of the
first World War tells me. as | write
this, that the boys of that first
struggle felt the same way against
strikers and that many of them feel
the same way today
One criticism consisted of a gen.
tie Gliding by our good friend
the young editor of the Treasure
State Labor Journal, of Kalispell.
/ know he is sincere in his convic-
tons and | believe he comedies sin
cerity to me in mine. Both Of us
are doing what we can for what we
believe to be the best interests of
our nation. But it seems to us that
our young editor friend is missing
the point He refers us to an edi-
torial copied by him which argues
for labor's RIGHT TO STRIKE.
No one today with an ounce o
intelligence is denying labor thu
right to strike-as a matter Of per
manent principle. In fact, the RICH
of labor to strike is incorporated
into the laws of the nation and thu
supreme court has often upheld
that right But we do have a pro
found conviction that condition:
temper rights at least tempo
rarily.
In the editorial quoted by Mr.
Melton, the argument is that man,
large industrialists are in fac
striking against the Government il
their insistence on large profits
and therefore strike by labo
should not be any more condemned
than the big profits of the indus
trialists
Any man who seeks unholy prof
its in war time Tor at any othe
time) should be. just. as vigorousl
condemned as the striking labor
ing man But two wrongs neve
did and never will make a right
and because one man does wrong |
no justification for another 10 d
likewise.
What we should like to see or
gained labor do today is TO liv
up completely to that promise give
TO the nation that they would con
duct no strikes as long as wa
threatens our country. Is it askin
too much of them to hope that the.
will manifest as great love 0
country and as great willingness
to sacrifice--if need be-as di,
those patriotic forefathers OF our
who gave us this nation The,
pledged Our lives, our FORTUNES
and our sacred honor" to the win
ming of the Revolution, Today on
boys are giving their lives to pre-
serve this nation and our freedom
Is it too much to ask us who labo
in the peace and ease and comfort
of home to continue production in
cessantly even though our fortune
our wages-fnay be much to
small? Means have been provide
for adjustment of unjust wage!
Please let's keep up production al
the time-night and day-eve
though sometimes the waiting TO
wage adjustments may be grievous
lY long Labor has done a fine in
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