The Washington times., 1915-04-15
u. S. Plans To Profit
BvWar-LabOrPrObLen1
Study of Conditions in Europe Proposed by Depart
ments of Labor, Agriculture, and the Interior
With View to Pointing Way to Betterments.
BY JUDSON C. WELLIVER.

A study of the methods by which
war-ridden countries of Europe are han
ding their labor problems while many
millions of men are withdrawn from
ordinary omployments, 10 planned by
three great departments of the Ameri-
can Government. In the hope that 1t will
point the way to some betterments in
this country.
Europe has suddenly found itself with
deficiency instead Of a surplus of
poses. Vigorous measures have been
organized in Germany and France, and
are now being considered in Great Brit
ain. to mobilize and utilize most ef-
fectiVely the labor forces remaining
available. The problem in Europe 10
closely akin to that which the United
states confronts at harvest time, when
the agricultural States are in pressing
need of great numbers of laborers who
at other seasons could not be given
regular employment.
1t has been announced that the De-
partment Of Labor has taken prelimi-
nary steps to invite the co-operation
Of the Department of Agriculture and
the Department of tho Interior In
working. out the employment problem
and perfecung the big project Of sort
of national labor exchange The Post
office Department has for some months
been working with the officials Of the
Labor Department with special refer
cultural regions during harvest, " is
now proposed to extend this organiZa-
ton to the other departments named,
ard to expand the work as fast as pos
sible to include general grasp OF the
labor markets problems without re-
stricting them to the agricultural field
alone.
May Call On Consul.
The state Department may be asked
to secure. through its agents In Europe.
dc tails of the methods which the coun-
tries there are using to meet their
pressing labor problem. Germany Is
understood to have handled this situa-
more promptly and effectively than any
| other OF the countries. But France has
| not been far behind, according to re;
cent advices. From Germany comes the
| astonishing claim that this season will
produce a larger agricultural product
than a normal year, simply because OF
| the extraordinary effort that has beer
made. with the backing Of a perfected
60, ernmental orga nization. to utilize
every acre Of land and every unit OF
the army and the manifold occupations
OF providing war supplies for 1t.
| France, II Is more recently learned
has stripped its cities and towns in 1
|
worker not available for military serv
ice, and put them into the fields an'
factories. An idle man. woman or chilt
| who IS able to perform useful serV
Ice has become anathema in France
| That thrifty country is not satisfied
that idle hands should be permitted
merely because the owner Of the hand
has wealth enough to support him il
idleness. The country needs the actua
product of his labor. and is employing
every measure 20 see that there are n
| drones left in the national hive.
| las a result of The wonderfully efri
| cient organization OF industry and la
| Dor. the industrial production OF som
| of the European countries this year will
| be a marvel. when we consider the cor
ditions that the war has imposed" sail
Louis f. Post. Assistant Secretary o
| Labor, today. We have been interest
ed lately in learning all we could sbou
the methods by which the countrie
are making this possible. 1t is too earl
to say what plan may be adopted to ge
detailed information which may illum'
nate our problem in this country
Doubtless a good deal Of light woul