New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-19
By Gordon Dorrance

forth they shall not only toll but SPIN
And backing up the word is a new
emergency compulsory work law" and
backing I'D the law : likewise new
and state appointed compulsory work
bureau. with George A. Malone Di'
rector of Employment for the United
States Department of Labor at balti-
more, as its head
Beginning, therefore, on that day. not
lunch dependents, devotees OF the open
road and those who pave way by
divine right of coupons forsake their
customary channels, leave pleasure or
idling and take on the garments OF a
man. In the trenchant phrasing OF
childhood, the idle fellow rich man.
poor man, beggar man, thief" no mat
ter whst-will shortly find himself out
of the gutter Of unproductive sloth'nI-
ness and the rut of human idieness' out
in the giant stream of men and women
who would be, not clogs, but cogs, IN
the war work of America. 1t ought to
make real red-blooded citizens Of men
of straw.
Quoting from Chapter SO, Acts OF
1917. Compulsory Work Law Of Mary
land:
IAN act providing for the assign
ment of able-bodied male persons,
between the ages of eighteen and
fftv wears. inclusive, not regularly
end continuously employed, to WorK
in occupations carried on by the
state. the counties or the city OF
baltimore. or BY private employers,
whenever. because OF state OF war,
the Governor determines SUCH as"
signments to be necessary Tor the
nrotection and welfare OF the state,
and finds such occupations essential
for the protection and welfare OF the
state and the United States, and that
the same cannot be carried on as tne
nrotection and welfare of the people
Of this state and of the United States
require without resort 70 this act, no
nerson TO be assigned to any work ne
is not physically able to do; and pro-.
vidine the procedure and the means
and for rules and regulations Tor
carving this act into effect, and Tor
COMPENSATION to persons so assigned
70 work. for the period of such as
signment, and penalties tor non-com-
pliance with the act.
From Section q
"And be il further enacted, mat
all persons able TO support them-
selves by reason of ownership OF
property or income and those sup.
ported by others shall be included
among those required 20 register
under this act. All students and all
persons fitting themselves TO engage
in trade or industrial pursuits snail
not be included within the provisions
OF this act" Section 5A: THAT the
provisions of this act shall not ap-
pIv TO persons temporarily unem-
pioyed by reason Of differences with
their employers" thereby safeguard
ing organized labor, with the right
10 strike. And 5B: THAT nothing IN
this act shall apply to any person en-
gagged or employed in any seasonal
business, trade or occupation carried
on in Baltimore City or Alleghany
County protecting part time ana
seasonal" industries.
By Governor Emerson VI. Harring-
toms proclamation Of July IS, 1917 the
law is declared operative on and after
August 20. BY proclamation Of August
the Governor does thereby find and
proclaim that the following occupa-
lions are of the character above men
toned:
81. Agricultural and Horticultural
work Of all kinds.
"2. Cannery work Of all kinds.
"3. State. county and Baltimore City
road and street work Of all kinds
The latter proclamation also states
that Registration cards will IN due
time be supplied 10 the clerks Of the
Circuit Courts of the counties and to
the clerk of the Superior Court OF Bal
timore city, as well as to the Sherfs
and local states attorneys, and may be
obtained from them" Also, "Ail per
sons who, on or at any time after the
goth day Of August. 1917, are not regu-
larly or continuously employed as pro
vided in said act of assembly must OBJ
tain such registration cards. and reg
ister thereon at the Office of the clerk
Of the Circuit Court of the county IN
which such persons may be. or at the
Office Of the clerk of the Superior
Court Of Baltimore city, if such per-
sons be in Baltimore city" Failure
10 observe or keep the full provisions
Of the law is cared for by a fine OF
$500. IMPRISONMENT not exceeding six
months, or both. But "If at such hear
ing the accused can show that his fail
ure or refusal to do the work assigned
to him was due to the fact that he had
since become regularly employed or
engaged in some business, occupation,
trade or profession of his own choos-
ing, this will constitute good defence
to the charge
The law is liberal. fair, broadgauge
in every way. "No person shall he re
ouired 10 work under this act any
greater number of hours per day than
lawfully constitutes a days work IN
the occupation in which such person is
required to engage And Persons
assigned to work under this act are
entitled 20 receive compensation not
less than the wac or salary paid to
others who are engaged in the same ma
tura of work Section Of the act. "
In the case of private employers, ain
order TO assure the payment of wage
by private employers chat is, farmers,
horticulturistS and canners). every
such private employer who accepts the
services OF the person or persons as
signed TO him must, under Section 4
Of the sct, execute a bond to the state,
guaranteeing the payment OF the wages
due the assigned person or persons"
This enactment should make useful
men Of workaday slackors, and the
labor stress on industry is bound to be
abated. Mr. Malone said 10 me tho
other dan:
The question has resolved itself
into 'Wher, can we find the men,
and this spplias 10 almost all trade