Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-02-18
NOVEL PLAN PROPOSED BY SEN.
AToR JOHNSON HAS DOUBLE
OBJECT IN VIEW.
WOULD EMPLOY JosLEss
MEN ON PUBLIC WORKS
Bill Introduced to Org anize Loyal La
borers Into Industrial Army, to Be
Given a Military Training and
Equipped to Defend the Nation in
Case Of Attack.
Especial Correspondence

Washington, FEB. is. - The Indus
trial Army of the Unemployed" with
the president as commander-in-ch chief
and the secretary of labor as chief OF
staff will be organized if bill is
passed which has been introduced III
the senate by Senator Johnson, of
South Dakota.
The bill provides that the secretary
of labor shall organize an Industrial
army of the, unemployed and shaH re-
cruit it, 'prorating the number OF en-
listments among the several states &C
cording to population as nearly as may
be practicable. . Any able-bodied per-
son Of 16 or over may become men,
Der of the army on application and by
subscribing to the prescribed oath. The
oath is as follows:
Il do solemnly swear that I am
citizen of the United States, or have
declared my intention to become such;
that my age is - years, and that
have no sufficient means of support
except that derived from manual Ia
bor: that l am without regular en-
ployment and wish to enlist in the In
dustrial army of the unemployed for
term of one year; that I will, If ao-
cepted as a member of said army, obey
all orders of my superiors in said army
in the line of my duty, and that will
render honest and true service by la
boring in all pursuits wherever or
dered to go by my superiors. 1 will
be loyal to the government of the
United States; l will obey its laws,
honor its flag, and participate In no
lawlessness or violence against citi-
zens of the United States or their
property" t..t
The government of the United States
is required by the bill to furnish trans
portation for the members of the army
to such places as they may be assigned
to work. The cost thereof is to be adj
vanced by the government and to be
deducted from the first wages Of the
recruit. ~
For Defense Too.
Generally, the duty of a member OF
the army, shall be to follow peaceful
pursuits in time of peace and to de-
fend the United States in case of in.
vasion by a foreign foe, If required to
do so by the president Of the United
States" The ordinary labors Of mems
bers of the army are to be on har-:
bors, forts, government buildings and
grounds canals, reclamation works,
roads and any and all public works OF
the government. states. counties, cities,
districts, as may he designated by con-
gress, the president or the secretary of
labor.
One of the express provisions of the
bill is that each member of the army
shall receive ten hours of military
training each week by competent Of
ficers named by the secretary Of war
or designated from the ranks of the in
dustrial army by the secretary of war.
For the purpose Of such training, each
member of the army is to wear the
army uniform and use the regulation
arms of the regular army.
Graduated Pay.
The bill provides each member Of the
Industrial army is to receive from $3.50
to so cents per day Of eight hours.
Each member who has been a resident
of the United States five years or moro
will get $50 per day and board and
lodging to be paid weekly. From this,
the pay Is graded down So that an
alien residing here Tess than three
years viii receive 80 cents per day.
board and lodging.
The bill provides for -enlistments.
for discipline for medical treatment by
the government, for organization by
states, by the industrial coloner' Of
each state, and for periodical reports.
Another feature Of the bill is pro-
vision for the enlistment Of women
for industries suitable for women.