◆ SpookStack

bejigcpybsidized undirthe-*1936 act. They are the Oceanic Steam- ship Company, a subsidiary of the Matson Line, serving Australasia: the American Mail Line, # Dollar Company, operating between Seat- tle and the Orient, and the Pa- cific Argentine & Brazil Line, familiarly known as PAB, which connects your ports with the Fast Coast of South American. Awarded Contract The Oceanic company has just heen awarded a 12-year subsidy roniract, the first long term con-~ tiact to be granted by the Com- mission. The commission's determination lo provide adequate service for all Parts of the country is evidenced by the fact that representatives of the commission will shortly hoid hearings at various ports on the three coasts, A member of the commiicsiod, owhtlt several ns- fi.lants, will come to the West Coast, Hearings will open in San Diego on January 24 and will be held shortly thereafter at Los An- ectes, Stockton, San Francisco, Portland, Tacoma and Seattle. The San Francisco meeting, which will include Oakland, will be held ou February 2, Perhaps the most serious of all problems confronting West Coast shipping today is the situation vith regard to labor. I have been hoping that things would settle down out here and that there would be no repetition of the cost- ly disruptions of the past. Upon stepping off the train this morn- ing, however, I ciscovered that Seattle is again tied up by a strike, that you had some diffi- culty here yesterday, and that re- Jalions ali along the coast are none too good. Why Hl Feeling I do not know, of course, who is {9 blame for this situation: there ds probably some respon- stollity on both sides, I do know, however, that a stable labor policy will have to be achleved—and that very noon—tf the American mer- chant marine ts to survive. In foreign trade. ft is only a question oF time—if some of th® RBUst® of the past continue—-until worried travelers disgusted, Spee tut oreign vessels, Whit e no such troubles as those which besel. our ships. In the coastal and intercoestal services, patrons will turn to land transport. Coming @ut here on the train, T got to wondering why there is always so much 11] feeling between employer and employe. This re- Jationship should be one of the utmost cooperation, for the wel- farc of both parties is derendent absolutely upon the measure of teamwork they are-able to achieve. ¥el Lhey are constantly at sword's Pofnis. When T sell a man some goods, and tell him that I am forced to raise the price, he doesn’t im- mediately regard it as an act of war and have me thrown out of ihe place. He wili receive my de- mand for higher prices dispas- sionately, as a matter of business. Case of Laborer Suppose. however, that IT am a worker, selling the only thing 1 have to sell—my labor. I think that I should be getting more money, and perhaps working shoiter hours. I go to the boss, either alone or in a group, and siale my case. My case inay be good, or iL may be bad. Tt docsn't make much difference so far as the boss’ reaction is concerned. He probabiy will regard my ac- tion as an unfriendly act. The first thing I know we are at war. The ship (or perhaps it ts a plarft or store) jis idle, Wages are lost. Profits stop. Violence flares. Property is destroyed, Lives may be lost. Eventually I go back to work, bul regardless of who wis, my relationship with the boss has been seriously impaired. I have spoken from the stand- point of the worker because, it seems to me, his demands are more vital and should, therefore, be teceived with a sympathetic at- tiiitde even though the employer mo not feel able to grant them, It nist be admitted, of course, that the altitude of the worker is just as belligerent as that of the employer. It seems that we just cannot approach the employer- employe relationship with the same rationdlity that we employ ip_ meeting the other peretenrsof life.