Evening star., 1955-07-18
Two Strikes on Us
OUTSIDE of freedom

TWO 9tFIkeS on Us
Outside of freedom Of
speech, freedom Of assembly
and the right to petition,
unionism and democracy are
as far apart as the two poles.
Unionism is not democracy in
actien.
Very early in our schooling
we are taught that democracy
is the form of government
which guarantees the greatest
good to the greatest number.
The Star (July IL, 1850 re-
ports the strike of AFL union
rodmen Numbering $50 in alb
which is shutting down con-
struction on most major prof.
etcs now being built with con-
crete in Washington. As q re-
suit of the strike, more than
a thousand other building
craftsmen are being laid of.
Countless others in allied
trades are being hurt.
Is that democracy at work?
Is that "the greatest good to
the greatest number?
The same is true Of the Cap
ital Transit strike. Less than
5000 workers are permitted to
Inconvenience, circumvent and
cause irreparable injury to
more than half a million peo-
pie in our Nations Capital.
II this is unionism at work
and If such unionism is recog-
nized as "the American way
of life." then we should imme-
diately junk the American
way Of life. '"The greatest good
to the greatest number"
doesn't exist any more.
Fundamental American.
The buses and streetcars are
still not running and will The
Star please give one good
reason why Capital Transit is
said to be a public utility and
so regulated.
All that a seriously incon-
venienced public has heard
during the strike is that the
transit union and transit man
agement have rights, both of
them. It's all Aigh finance and
big doings, indeed But how
much longer are we all sup
posed to sit around in prayer
full contemplation while Mr..
Wolfson, the D. c. Commis-
sioners, P. U. c. members.
congressman and everybody
else comes and goes, except
the general public?
Donna Marquis.
y " y II
II the Public Utilities Com
mission has authority to per-
init some company other than
Capital Transit to enter WASH
ington and operate buses and
streetcars, during the strike
or longer, then this should be
done. II consent Of Congress
is necessary. then the commits
sioners should request such
permission from Congress.
1t should be stipulated in
contract with such other COM
pany that no union labor shall
be employed and that wages
per day should not exceed 81
per hour. Under such stipula-
tions at least 5000 honest, rep
utable and qualified men could
be employed within "a hours
w. o. Anderson.
X y X il
II the great international
city of New Orleans, which is
also the Nations second great
est port, pays its traction
workers within a few cents Of
the same wages paid transit
men in Washington, how come
New Orleans Public Service,
Inc, can still make money at q
fare OF seven cents and give
almost universal transfers? /
am now nearing my 87th year
and have been in this city
nearly seven years. I have
spent hardly more than So car
and bus fare in all that time
and only 40 cents in the last
two years. I walkl I have
given the Library Of Congress
a good deal of historic and
photo m terial and have
walked the seven-mile round
trip many times rather than
pay 20 cents each way.
John N. TeunissOn.
Y y \ 4
In passing out compliments
to the police, parking lot op-
orators, and other groups who
have helped ease the difficult
ties created by the transit
strike, we have made q serious
omission. Washington's down.
town merchants have made q
significant contribution to the
comfort and welfare Of resi-
dents during the strike. The
merchants have been courte-