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Show LABOR TROUBLES. The labor unions at Seattle seem determined de-termined to tie up the shipyards and help the kaiser in his war upon democracy de-mocracy unless the shipbuilders cease using lumber manufactured by mills that have refused to grant the eight-hour eight-hour day, for which the union timber workers and shingle weavers have been on strike for the past two months. The wage adjustment board recently appointed ap-pointed by President AVilsou may be able to settle the trouble in all the Seattle shipyards. If not, the government govern-ment will probably be compelled' to take possession in order to carry out its building plans. While this matter is in abeyance the shipyard employees liable to the draft who go on strike after having been granted exemption on account of their occupation will be automatically certified cer-tified for service. Of course, if they wiil not work after having claimed exemption ex-emption there is no reason why tbey should not be compelled to enter the military service of the country along with other young men who responded to the call and did not try to sneak out of it on false pretenses. The strike in the Kansas City packing pack-ing houses has been settled and the men have returned to work, believing that they have achieved a victory. Unfortunately, Un-fortunately, they cannot restore to life the switchman who had his skull crushed by a brick when an assault was made upon the Armour plant. The federal mediator was instrumental in bringing the employers and employees tCLfether, most of the concessions being mado by the packing companies on account ac-count of the necessity of keeping the plants running in order that our fighting fight-ing men and general public may be supplied sup-plied with meat, for which there is a great demand in spite of the high prices. The strike situation at Springfield, 111., is very bad and the agents of the federal government are investigating a i charge made by Governor Frank 0. j I.owdcn that Ihe walkout of SHOO men i iu various trades, apparently in s ni-I ni-I pathy with the strike of the street car j men, is traceable in part to the activity j "f anti-A!rirric;:n influence. This is jtlie most serious iliarcc that can be made just at this moment and if it is susceptible of proof labor troubles in the vicinity of the Illinois state capital capi-tal will stop with a jerk and many of the candidates for the penitentiary will be elected by the votes of both grand and petit jurors. Tho strike of the street car men in San Francisco continues con-tinues and there are scenes of violence every day. The Butte mines have been reopened and the smelters at Anaconda and Great Falls will be in full operation within a day or two. There was no excuse for the last shut-down in the great copper camp and the respectable element of those who were drawn into it finally took matters into their own hands instead of allowing the agitators agita-tors to ride rough-shod over them "and bring suffering upon their families. Down in Arizona there is less trouble. The men who were in the refugee camp at Columbus, X. M., have been drifting away iu search of work since the government curtailed their rations. Somo of them went back to Bisbce, where they were given time to arrange their affairs before be-fore "hitting the road." Those who attempt to remain will be "ragged" and put to work on the roads and those who failed to register for the selective draft will get what is coming to them. We doubt if there will be many strikes while the American boys are shedding their blood in France once they get into the fight. |