The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1917-12-06
u. S. Public Service Reserve.

In answer to the numerous questions
asked, relative to the Federal appoint
ment, lately accepted by Hon. c. 5.
Hichborn of Augusta, Director for Maine,
we copy the following from the kenne-
bee:
Hon. Charles S. Hichborn has just re-
turned from Washington, where he has
been in conference with the department
concerning the Public Service Reserve OF
which he has been appointed director for
this State. Asked to explain the nature
of this fundamentally important work,
MI Hichborn said:
81 find that the government at Wash
ington is taking comprehensive steps to
meet problem which it is anticipated
will become, if it is not already, one OF
the most serious of the war. In order to
supply our soldiers with arms and equip
ment. and to furnish transportation for
men and supplies all the way to the front
line of lighting, vast amount OF LABOR
will be necessary. The services of all
types of men, from the most highly
trained and skilled to the common labor
er. will have to be devoted to this work.
The time has come when the needs for
labor cannot be filled from the ranks of
the unemployed Men will have to be
induced to shift from less essential indus
tries into those which are necessary to
conduct the war If no concerted steps
are taken to meet this situation, employ
ers engaged in war industry will have to
secure labor through calls upon neighbor
ing industries with such constantly in
creasing inducements, as to result in the
dislocation of our entire industrial sys-
TEN. To secure the men needed with the
least possible drain on existing industries
is the problem with which the govern
ment is confronted.
"The machinery being organized is
war emergency extension of the labor
supply section conducted by the U. S. De-
partment of Labor, known as the United
States Employment Service. In each
State it is expected to work with the 10
cal committees of Public Safety and to
have all activities coordinate under the
direction of the State director of U. S.
Public Reserve.
Offices will be opened in every large
community and in many smaller ones.
Through a carefully worked out clearing
system men not employed in one locality
or State, can be put promptly IN touch
with demands for labor in other places.
The local offices will be under the charge
of carefully selected men able to size up
the applicant for work so as to direct
him to Job which he can perform.
"While it is intended to supply the gov
ernment's need for men to work on war
industries, first, from the unemployed so
as not to take men away from their pres
ent pursuits, it is realized that this supply
will not by any means meet the need
But men will shift from less essential in
dustries from patriotic motives, working
on ships or munitions is Just as necessary
and just as patriotic as working in the
army. The government is, therefore, or
ganizing into this reserve all men who
are willing to respond to the country
need. Anyone who is willing to transfer
himself from his present position, and
for the sake of his country 60 where he
is most needed in the emergency is asked
to become a member of the U. S. Public
Service Reserve. He gives description
of his training and of the work which he
has done. His registration card will show
his qualifications and he is indexed &C
cording to the war service which he
might best perform. Whenever man of
his type is needed he will be notified of
the need. He is not under any agreement
to accept, but is thus given an opportuni-
ty to fit himself into the great war ma
chine which we are developing and of
course it is hoped he will cheerfully re-
spond. The reserve is enrolling all classes
of men and has thousands of highly edu-
Gated engineers and professional men in
it's ranks, as well as all grades of skilled
and unskilled labor. 1t has the approval
of organized labor and expects to enroll a
very large corp of men who are willing
to 60 where the country needs them
most.
From the point of view of the employ
er the Public Service Reserve will fulfill
very necessary function. A great
drain on existing industries. in order to
meet the needs of war is inevitable. The
theory of the Reserve is that this bur
den should be apportioned and made as
nearly fair and equal as possible. The
officers of the Reserve will not call on
any considerable number of the employees
of any employer who co-operates with il
without first consulting him as to what
men he can spare, in view of the emer-
gency, and using every effort to see that
he does not have to bear more than his
fair share of the burden. Each State Di.
rector will use the advice of a carefully
chosen representative advisory board il