American Armament Strikes
Freedom for trade union action is one of the salient features of the democratic countries in contrast with the dictatorships ; and it may well seem amazing that trade unionists, either in Great Britain or the United States, should risk crippling the effort of those countries and the cause of trade-unionism itself by organising armament strikes at this time. For workmen to do so is indeed like sawing off the bough on which they sit. Nevertheless, not too much surprise need be felt ; many of their laders are Communists and take orders from a Dictator State. It would be an absurdity if democracy re- mained patient, and allowed itself in this way to be wounded in the house of its friends at the behest of its enemies. The vigorous policies which President Roosevelt is now pursuing to stop the strike-interruptions at Los Angeles, Cleveland and elsewhere seem to be recognised as necessary by the American people. Granted that recognition, they will succeed. It is said that in Army contracts alone more than 2,250,000 man-days have been lost to production since January 1st of this year.
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