Denver labor bulletin., 1917-10-06
SOME MACHINIST LODGES
IN WEST WIPED OUT
BY CONSCRIPTION.
Question of Providing Houses for
Thousands of Workers at Mu-
milton Plants and Canton
ments Taken Up BY
American Fedora
ton of Labor.
BY LAURENCE TODD
Especial Representative The Denver Labor
Bulletin.)

BuIletin.)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1.-One day
last week there walked into the office
OF Secretary Treasurer Dawson of the
International Association of Machin-
lists an officer of the engineer CORPS of
the army. He said that he wanted
some skilled men for an engineer regi-
ment which was to serve in France.
Dawson pulled out a sheaf of re-
ports from lodge secretaries, and
showed the army officer that there had
been drafted into the service. or vol
UNFAIRLY enlisted, many thousands of
the best skilled mechanics in the trade.
The problem was not one of withdraw
ing more men from war industries in
this country, but of taking from ordi-
nary field service, in the training
camps all over the United States,
enough men of each special class of
skill to fill up the engineering organi-
Zation.
The army officer was surprised and
pleased 1t appeared that he had no
very clear idea as to how the men he
wanted could be found, and even when
found. how. they could be brought to
enlist.
Where Skill Counts Most.
The Machinists' official turned over
to him, two days later, list of some
sixty men now in the army who are
experts on the repairing of locomo-
tlves. Another lot were skilled in the
making and repair of certain instru-
ments. Another lot were accustomed
to handling still another branch of
metal work which this particular reg
iment will have to keep in order. The
war department will send for these
men at their camps, and place them in
t., IL.
Will not be sent to the trenches. but
will be placed in the machine shops
behind the lines, there to give their
service where it will count the most.
Dawson stated to the army officer
that some of the Machinists lodges in
Middle Western towns had been ac-
tually wiped out by enlistment and
conscription, and that it was probable
that any further calls for skilled men
inside the army could be met as easily
as was this one.
Arrangements are now being made
for the granting of something more
than the ordinary soldiers pay to the
best of the skilled mechanics in the
army engineer corps, by creating a
large number of non-commissioned Off
GERS.
Investigate Arizona Trouble.
Secretary of Labor Wilson is leav-
ing for the Southwest, with Felix
secretary of his special
to investigate the indus
trial war in the copper, lumber and
other big industries in the Rocky
Mountain. Inter Mountain and Pacific
coast regions. The two labor mem
bers and the two members of the COM
mission who will represent the en-
ployers, will join them on the way.
John Murray-the man who knows
more about labor problems along the
Mexican border. and who has done
more to help the Mexican wage work
ers in the Border States and in Mexico,
than any other American, may not be
able to take part in getting the facts
before the commission. He was again
stricken ill. just as he had triumphed
in his long fight to get such a COM
mission sent to Arizona, and hurried
West to dry climate. If he re-
gains strength in the desert he will
still help the Arizona State Federation
of Labor to present its case. If he re-
will be shouldered by labor officials
on the spot.
Risks Life to Help Labor
Murray came East some months ago
at the risk of his life, to try to save
the Arizona labor movement from be-
ing utterly crushed out by the copper
barons, aided by the big politicians of
the state. He fought thru every sort
of Indifference and encouragement
and change of mind on the part of the
men to whom he appealed, and it is
due chiefly to his determination that
the chance for new lease of life for
the union men in the copper camps is
now assured.
There is occasionally union man of
whom word of appreciation ought to
be said while he is alive. John Murray
was one of the three or four Ameri-
cans who contributed the most. and
who risked life lightly and often, for
the coming and the final success of
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