Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-08-07

7 n, ID. o.,
Wv member of the United States public
W service reserve? This organization is
newly created division of the department of labor
1t is preparing to solve the enormous problem OF
putting the nation on war basis industrally. 1t
wants every American to put his name on the OH
cial rolls with a statement of what he can do ana
the assurance that he is ready to do 1t.
1t makes no difference whether you are
plumber college president, truck driver or the
most expert of scientistS-here is the chance 10
satisfy that desire of yours, which has been grow
ing since April 2, to do your bit for your
country. With your name on the rolls or the puDnc
service reserve you go about your affairs with
an easy mind, secure in the knowledge that when
you are needed, you will be called for
Enrolment in the public service reserve does
not lessen any mans liability for military service
1t is intended to find places for those who are not
called for active service, both the ones who are
over the age limit, those who are far down on the
draft lists, and those who are exempted by the
boards. If a is serving his country more
effectively in his present capacity than he could
otherwise then the public service reserve will leave
him where he is. If he is fit for work more i'm
portant and essential, he will be offered chance
to get it.
Two things are worth noting about this new
system. First, 1T is sitting of volunteers. Inc
men enrolled will be the who come forward
and offer to serve where they do most good.
So many thousands of men have already done this
that some organization to take care OF their appI-
cations absolutely necessary. In the next rev
months the number of industrial volunteers Will
reach into the hundreds of thousands, If not into
millions The public service reserve hopes to be
able to put it's finger on any man, or any NUMBER
of men; needed in any department or any industry
necessary to the successful conduct of the war.
The second point to be noted is, that the filing
of YOUR application for membership in the public
service reserve will necessarily be followed by
the offer of a position the next day. For the
moment the government has more oHers 10 serVe
than II has positions. There has yet been only
a mere beginning of the expansion of the admins
trative offices that the war will surely bring inc
draft has not yet cut into the labor supply. Oners
Of service exceed the demand. And yet If anything
is certain it is certain that within the next few
months men will be needed by the tens of thou
sands There will be general shift in the indus
trial situation. Certain necessary industries VIII
expand and they will have to draw on other INDUS
tries for men. The way to bring about this reor-
ganizaton with minimum of waste efficiency is
to have on file at central headquarters the names
of hundreds of thousands Of workmen, along with
an exact statement of what they are doing ana
what they are able to do
Each man whose name is on file will be in effect
a volunteer He will have signifed his readiness
to serve where he can do the most good. he VIII
have described his present employment. So when
a need for of certain class arises anywhere,
in any necessary industry, by process or selec-
tive volunteering, the public service reserve Will
be able to take the least essential men from its
rolls and notify them the chance for service that
presents itself.
This applies not only to laborers, and to work.
men in all the skilled trades, but to engineers sci
entsts specialists, and all classes of professional
men as well. For every man, no matter what his
occupation there is some position where ne
can be of most to his country. 1t Is every
mans duty to find that position, in theory; but
practically the task is an impossible one for each
man to undertake for himself. The public service
reserve offers simple method to meet this
obligation 1t furnishes an application blank When
that blank has been filled out and returned 10
Washington the man who signs it knows that he
has done what he can. He has put his case in the
hands of experts who will let him know When
and where he is needed.
This is very critical period in the war from