The Daily Alaska empire., 1948-10-25
Skinner Says Most AIaskans
 Backing WEA
Strikes Costly 10 territory, Company-ResponsibIe
 Settlement Imperative

Not as a threat but as a simple declaration of fact. Gilbert w. skim, her, president of the Alaska Steam , ship Company said in Juneau to- day. If we can't get satisfactory settlement between the Waterfront Employers Association and the strik- ing unions, we will be in position where the Alaska Steamship Com pany will be forced to liquidate. "The strike has been very costly to us. and. know it is costly to the peorle of Alaska. It is as important to the people of the Territory as it /, is to us to settle on rasis that will assure continued and uninterrupted service. No company can contipue to operate under contracts such as we have had with the particular striking unions during the last two 1 years
 l, MT Skinner here on his way to Seattle after trip to Anchorage, Fairbanks and the recent Alaska Railroad observation of Alaska Day at Mt Mckinley Park, said that he was gratified to find people i'll Alas ka this year willing and anxious to hack the Waterfront Employers in Itheir efforts to arrive at perma- nent settlement of the maritime strike
 Two years ago Skinner was i'll Anchorage and Fairbanks during Ithe strike and found at that time Alaskans were demanding immedi- ate settlement regardless of terms.
 This year, after talking to most iof the l50 people from Anchorage iand Fairbanks at Mckinley Park, interviewing shippers in Fairbanks and Anchorage for several days found, without exception. that AL laskans were ready to stay with us until this strike is settled on a permanent--not temporary-basi MT. Skinner said.
 After the Alaska Steamship presi- dent had called attention to the number of days lost during the last IA years by work-stoppages and lcoastwise waterfront tieups, a total of 1888 days, he said in answer to Ia question as to why the company had stayed in business during years Of difficult operation:
 There are just two reasons: We
 like the steamship business and We like Alaska. We are going to stick
 lit out if we can. But settlement with the striking unions must te on "a permanent and responsible basis. 2 While there is some suffering at the westward and the interior as
 result of the strike. people general fly were better prepared for trans lportation stoppage this year than in i946, MT. skinner said. They learned their lesson two years ago
 and were letter prepared for 1t this
 year. The Alaska Railroad has been Icperating .barges to the Westward trucks up the Alaska Highway and
 airplanes have been carrying freight
 The truck and air cargo operations
 fare costly. but they are filling need. People seem to be wiling ana anxious to stand by the Waterfront
 Empioyers Association until strike
 settlement is reached that IS satis- . factory to the operators.
 Tt has reached a stage where lit must be determined whether we
 operate our own businesses or are to Le controlled by the unions" Then Skinner concluded, the cnly alternative then will be for you
 to have government operation ,.
 your Alaska transportation com-
 panies. That ls what MT. Bridges wants.
 MT. and Mrs. Skinner are i'll Ju-
 neau with tfeir guests, MT. and
 Mrs. Ralph P. Jenkins, of Seattle.
 They recently drove over the high
 way from Whitshorse to Anchorage where they joined Col. John P. Johnson, Alaska Railroad president, for the trip to Mt. Mckinley Park and the Alaska Day celebration on October IS.
 Guests of the Skinners south bound from Juneau will be MT. and Mrs Leslie Rudy, wEo arrived to- day hy Pacific Northern Airways
 plane from Anchorage, where they also were guests of Col. Johnson on the Alaska Day trip. The Skinners expect to lave for Seattle Wednes-
 day.