A flATIOd DIVIDED
A nation divided against itself, *tis said,
cannot stand. This division is closer than per
haps most of us realize. Y.re here in Alaska
nay be the first to bear the brunt of this
division.
s \. fx 2 7 • 0 .‘x
On September; -3QV~ the SAilors union of the
pacific and the SIU^s contracts with ship owners
expire. It is a stated fact by the union offic
ials that they, the unions .will fight for what
they consider th$ rights of ftt'ee men#
1 In the rights of free mert they do not feel
that the Faft-Hartley bill is justified and are
willing to and are going to fight it, with, if,
possible, their complete membership and the me
mbership of all other unions willing to partici
pate. This of course means a prolonged and pog.i>*»
ible violent strike. -It will be put in the form
of a test case of the Taft-Hartley bill.
A strike is a paralizing thing, especially to
Alaskans. Our livelihood, our very existance is
endangered by it. A person must have food to live
and to Alaskans food must come, in most cases, by
ship.
Among other things the rights of free men
include the rights to be adequately fed, clothed
and sheltered. Free men-are-willing to fight for
these rights. Therefore, :you have the nation div
ided againstr itself: Laboring seamen and syiqpath
izers fighting for their rights of decent working'
conditions and a better than mere existance wage
against possibly hungry -and improperly clothed
Alaskans and others influenced by a paralizing
strike.
This condition must not come to pass for it
can too quickly grow out of hand and place brother
against brother. 7e as Alaskans must do all in
our cower to prevent this pending hazard to the
welfare of ourselves and our children. There
isn’t a great deal that vie as individuals can do
but if we all do a little bit the whole sum of our
efforts will be large. Vie must write onr able
delegate in 7ashington, we must solicit president
ial aid and above all vie must have faith irf our
fellow man and a hope for the future.
The letters sent must be forceful, however,
our requests must be just. The laws of our count-,
rv must be obeyed, but they must be tempered with
tolerance. It is true
that they must be Strong
enough so that a minority*
like the seamans or any
other union cannot affect
the welfare of a majority
of peoples t siicft ' as the
Alaskans. . kBut at the
a&ce time they must be
lenient enodghvtp insure
every man, union' or' other -• *
wise his just rights*
Our representatives
in Congress . are just and
wise, they are the elect
ed representatives of the
people, dedicated to a
government "of the people,
by the people and for the
people"* Our faith
in them is shown by the
fact we have elected them
or appointed them to off
ice, Let us each, one
and all write and petit
ion their assistance.
* )
"tfith liberty *nd
juabipe‘for all**.