The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-11-12

that an international labor conference
of representatives of the trade union
movements of all countries be held at
the same time and place as the World
Peace Congress that Labor may be in
touch with plans under consideration
and may have the benefit of informa-
ton and counsel of those participating
in the Congress-"
Reconstruction after the war will
raise new issues, the report holds, and
the nation cannot discard lightly the
idea of service engendered by cooper
alton of all classes against common
enemy. Pointing to the experience of
Great Britain, the council says:
There has been a recognition of
the principle that those associated in
the work of production ought to have
a voice in management of those things
concerning their interest and welfare.
There has been recognition for the
thought that Industrial disfranchise-
ment is as unjust as political disfran-
chisement. y
I'm our own country there is evil
dent in every kind of war work the
necessity for some national agencies
for better adjusting the supply of
workers. We are entering period
where there must be greater economy
in the use of the man power OF our
country. A central, efficient employ
ment agency with its branches are
plainly necessary in performing the
gigantic task that is now before the
Emergency Fleet, Corporation and in
the necessary work Of production of
war supplies.
with the withdrawal of hundreds
of thousands of men for military pur-
poses there is necessity for readjust-
ment in the Industrial field. Effec-
tive employment agencies, under the
control of the Department of Labor,
cooperating with local agencies and
associations, would be an invaluable
adjunct to our war machinery. Such
agencies will also be keenly needed in
the transition period that will follow
the declaration of peace and the work
of rehabilitation.
1--WE urge the immediate necessity
of providing for some adequate form
of employment agencies in this coun-
try, under federal control, and CO.
ordinating all local efforts along this
line.
1--WE further recommend that some
action be taken by this convention in
sisting upon our government to make
such plans for rehabilitation SO that
men will remain in the employment
of the government until they can be
provided with remunerative employ
ment through government employment
agencies, unless they have not employ
ment opportunities already open to
them"
Since the war began, the report says
the American labor movement has Sc
cured the "best agreements with the
government that have been secured in
any other warning countries"
d 1.-THE agreements established new
period in the industrial wor1d,'' says
the report, "a period in which the
Government has sanctioned standards
based upon principles of human well
fare and has substituted these stand
ards for the old system under which
profits were paramount
Foremost among these agreements
are cited the understanding entered in
to between the Secretary of War and
Samuel Gompers, president of the
Federation, which provided that local
standards should govern wages, hours
and conditions in the building of can
comments. The report points out thai
the gigantic construction task was
| carried through without interruption
This understanding subsequently wa.
approved by the Secretary of the Nav,
for all work on land undertaken BY
his department.
Other agreements mentioned in.
cluded memorandum for the adjust.
ment by Joint board of wages, hour.
and conditions in shipbuilding plants
an agreement to govern conditions O,
labor in loading and unloading vessels
and the creation of commission tt
settle disputes in the harness and sad
dlery industry.
| Considerable space is devoted to the
attitude of the council toward prob
lens raised by the war which hay.
been engrossing pubic attention. Chic
among these is the much discussed
situation for the CONSUMPTION of labor
concerning which the report says:
Immediately after the declaration
OF war by the United States Govern
ment, an agitation was commenced
Tor the purpose of organizing VIVA
was to be known as an Industry Re
serve. 1t was proposed that men IL
i industry should become part of semi
g
mll1tary organization to be directed
and controlled by our military estab
| ishement, to the end that those EN-
/ ployed in industry could be SHIFTED
from one location to another. Be
cause of its military feature, the pro
position was opposed by the officer
/ Of the American Federation of Labor
In the light of the experience g1eane,
IN foreign countries now engaged II
war, 1t appears that the shifting o
workers has not only been necessar,
but vital to the carrying on of tn
great conflict. Several plans have bee,
proposed. but none thus far has bee
accepted as proper solution of tn
problem. If the war continues for an
considerable period, this question vii
have to be met. The primary agenc
4 necessary for dealing with proper ad
fFJustment of workers is national EN-
pioynent bureau, equipped to Civ
workers information of employment
4 opportunities and employers informa
ton of available and suitable workers
1t is one of the necessary and essentia
activities of the war that certain in
! dustries on occasions are called upol
to materially increase production, and
i IN this event, some plan must be in