The Daily Alaska Empire

JUNIOR CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE PASS STRIKE RESOLUTION

Four Junior Chambers of Commerce have agreed on a resolution regarding the Pacific Coast Maritime strike and have forwarded it to J. Parnell Thomas, representative from Allendale, New Jersey.

The resolution, self-explanatory, is as follows:

"As an organization of young men concerned with their future in the Territory of Alaska and with the future of the United States of America, the Alaska Junior Chamber of Commerce wishes to call to your attention Alaska's serious problems arising from the Pacific Coast maritime strike.

"The Territory of Alaska, an outpost of unparalleled strategic importance to the national defense of the United States, is primarily dependent upon water transportation for its supplies of food, clothing, building materials and other normal needs. Beyond considerations of national defense and immediate welfare, if Alaska is to grow and prosper, it must have a stable and continuous shipping service uninterrupted by frequent strikes and work stoppages, regardless of cause. Due to the maritime strike there is already evident the imminent failure of numerous new businesses undertaken largely by young veterans seeking to establish themselves in the Territory. Unless settled immediately this strike will seriously impede the development of Alaska and severely handicap national defense activities in the Territory.

"As reported in the public press the important issue preventing immediate settlement of the present maritime strike is alleged communist dominated leadership within the Maritime Unions fostering a pattern of strikes, slowdowns and work stoppages.

"The Alaska Junior Chamber of Commerce is concerned only with the public welfare of the citizens of Alaska and of the United States and does not desire to advocate the economic interests of either employers or employees in their dispute. We believe however, that the government of the United States has the obligation and we therefore request that the House of Representatives Committee for the Investigation of Un-American Activities immediately undertake an investigation to determine whether or not Mr. Harry Bridges, President of the International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union is a communist in order that this charge may be confirmed or eliminated as a factor in preventing immediate settlement of the present strike of the Pacific Coast Maritime Unions. If Bridges is a communist we believe he should be exposed as such. If he is not a communist we believe the employers should withdraw this issue from the negotiations.

"We feel that the urgency of this matter should compel your attention at the earliest possible moment and we respectfully urge your immediate response to this request."

The Junior Chambers of Commerce passing the resolution are those in Juneau, Anchorage, Fairbanks and Nenana.

The resolution is signed: Alaska Junior Chamber of Commerce, by Jim McMullen, Secretary.