Milford chronicle., 1947-02-21
THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT CAM

tne war are not fully known to the American
people. The histOry-making events that are
taking place in Europe and the Far East
naturally reach the headlines-but many
another important job is being accomplished
in 6bscurity.
An example of this is found in the Paci-
ic islands. The Marshall group, which is
typical, belonged to Germany until 1914.
Then Japan, as one of our Allies in World
War |, seized the islands, and her authority
was legalZed by a League of Nations man.
date in 1922. Japan held the islands, using
many of them as naval and air bases, until
we freed them near the close of World War
H.
Thus, purely as a consequence of war,
the problems of thousands of natives living
on scores of islands became our problems.
And it is pleasant to report that the United
States Navy, which is the administrative
agency, is taking these problems very ser
iOusly.
The Navy is training officers in the
arts of military government. 1t is making
aggressive efforts to reeStabliSh system of
adequate education. 1t is paying particular
attention to health and sanitation. 1t is at
tempting to revitalize what little industry
and commerce the islands are capable of
maintaining. Its purpose, in sum, is to as
sist the inhabitants to stand on their own
feet
This is no simple task. An immense
amount of work is being done by the Navy.
Thus, the hand of America reaches out to
tiny islands whose very names are unknown
to all but few persons.
THE WAR BOOM is over on the rail
ways" says Golfers. "They are still carrying
tremendous numbers of passengers, but
freight haulage is getting back to normal.
There is no sign that planes or trucks will
ever supplant the rails as our great carriers
of heavy and essential freight The rails are
indispensable to us, in peacetime as well as ir
war"
There is nothing new in this idea Of the
indispensability of railroad service, but It
is a fact that should be reaffirmed at fire.
quent intervals. The development of other
carriers has actually emphasized the rail
roads Importance. These carriers have
grown swiftly, and have expanded their ser
vice in their special fields But it is the iron
horse which keeps on hauling practically all
of the basic freight of the countIy-and the
bulk of its passenger traffic as we'll
TO say that healthy railroads are vital to
healthy national economy, is to repeat the
obvious. They are the only carrier which
can handle heavy freight in large uuantity-
and heavy freight is what makes American
industry click. They reach every section of
the country no matter how remote or little
populated. They are the only carrier which,
IN time OF emergency, can handle volume
OF traffic unprecedented in size and variety
AND, OF very great moment tO'uS ALL they are
the only carrier which pays its own way,
without benefit of direct or indirect govern
ment subsidies
Transportation by air, road and water
mas us place-an important place. But
transportation by rail- measured in certainty
and scope of service, OverShadows all the
rest.
THE AMERICAN ECONOMIC Founda-
tlOn has made an effort to measure the cost
to workers, industry and the public at large,
OF i've OF the principal postwar strikes. The
conclusions CLEANED are necessarily incOm-
plete, due to the many intangibles involved
but it is evident that the cost is immeasur-
ably greater than most of us realize.
Between September l, 1915 and Septem-
Der ~, 1916, more than 124 ZOO, 900 MAN.
days were lost because of strikes according
to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Assigning
hours to each day, and assuming that the
lower figure of 81 per hour was the average
wage, this means that more than S998. .OOO.
700 was lost IN direct wages alone-to saw
Holnihg OF tne INFINITELY greater loss in pro-
ductlon of goods, related layoffs in other in
dustries, etc.
In the coal strike in the Spring of 1916.
wage loss to miners, according to the Bitumi-
nous Coal Institute, totaled $145, 100000.
But that was only the start of it, According
to the CPA Administrator, the secondary
cost. measured in lost production affecting
all americans, was $4,000, 900, 900.
SO 1t goes, down the long and dismal list
Inc worker loses-industry loses-and the
public loses most of all in unprocurable
goods, lost opportunities, diminished returns
on investments, fewer jobs. The total loss is
obviously incalculable. The only solution is
a system of arbitration which will keep in
dustrles producing while the pros and cons
OF labor disputes are thrashed out Then
the worker will get whatever benefits his case
entities him to-and the country will be
spared the shutdowns which have made nor
NAL production impossible