The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-04-22
(By Judson C. Welliver.)

(By Judson c. Welliver)
Washington, D. c., April "a
study of the methods by which war-rid-
den countries of Europe are handling
their labor problems while many mil
lions of men are withdrawn from ordl-
nary employments, is planned by
three great departments of the Amerl-
can Government, in the hope that IL
will point the way to some betterments
in this country.
Europe has suddenly found itself
with a deficiency instead OF a surplus
of labor especially for agricultural
purposes. Vigorous measures nave
been organized in Germany and
France. and are now being considered
in Great Britain, to mobilize and util-
ize most effectively the labor forces
remaining available. The problem in
Europe is 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 do
given regular employment.
If has ben announced that the De-
partment of Labor has taken prellm-
inarv steps TO invite cooperation OF
the Department of Agriculture and the
Department of the Interior in working
out the employment problem and per
fecting the big project of a sort OF
national labor exchange. The Postof-
fee Department has for some months
been working with the officials of the
Labor Department with special refer
ence to handling conditions in the az
ricultural regions during harvest. II
is now proposed to extend this organ
ization to the other departments
named. and to expand the work as
fast as possible to include a general
grasp Of the labor markets problems
without restricting them to the agrl
cultural field alone.
May Call On Consul.
The State Department may be asked
to secure, through its agents in Flu
rope. details of the methods which the
countries there are using to meet theil
pressing labor problem. Germany is
understood to have handled this sit
uation with true German thorough
ness more promptly and effectively
than any other of the countries. But
France has not been far behind, ac
cording to recent advices. From Ger
many comes the astonishing claim that
this season will produce larger agri
cultural product than normal year
simply because of the extraordinary
effort that has been made, with the
backing of perfecter governmental
organization. to utilize every acre OF
land and every unit of labor that could
be employed outside the army and the
manifold occupations of providing wal
supplies for it.
France, it is more recently learned
has stripped it's cities and towns in
systematic way of every potential
worker not available for military ser
vice, and put them into the fields ano
factories. An idle man, woman OF
a. ahI 60 norfnrU a nSQfll
service has become anathema II
France. That thrifty country is moi
satisfied that idle hands should be
permitted merely because the owner
of the hands has wealth enough te
support him in idleness The country
needs the actual product of his labor
and is employing every measure to
see that there are no drones left in
the national hive.
LAS q result of the wonderfully effi
eient organization of industry and la
Dor, the industrial production OF some
of the European countries this yeai
will be a marvel, when we consider
the conditions that the war has i'm
posed" said Louis F. Post, Assistant
Secretary of Labor. today. I'VE have
been interested lately in learning al
we could about the methods by which
the countries are making this possible
1t is too early to say what plan may
be adopted to get detailed information
which may illuminate our problem In
this country Doubtless good dea
of light would be secured IL special in
vestigators could be sent to study the
systems; or the State Department
through its consular agents abroad
might be able to secure whatever in
formation is available. The expert