The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1917-06-02
GOMPERS DEFINES LABOR'S
ATTITUDE TOWARD
CONSUMPTION

ington.-Presiden Gompers has
issued the following statement IN re-
gard TO the operation of the selective
conscription law:
The passage of the seective con-
scripton law makes it imperatively
necessary that we work out some plan
whereby we can prevent those men be-
ing drafted into military service who are
absolutely indispensable to the produc-
ton of munitions of war and things
necessary to maintain the civilian popu-
lation In connection with this prob
lem the experience of Great Britain is
of great Importance. AT the beginning
of the war their men were rushed to the
front regardless of whether they were
necessary in munitions production, and
when the army was in the trenches it
was found that there was needless loss
of life because the men who were not
sufficiently supplied with arms of defense
and offense. The needless loss of thous-
ands of men brought Great Britain to
the realization of the fact that the men
in munitions factories were Just as es-
sential as tie men on the firing line
Then began al intricate process of fill
tering out of the army the skilled me-
chanics to do the munitions work All
of this story was vividly and eloquently
told to the committee on labor by the
two representatives of the British labor
movement by Lloyd George.
"In 1915 Great Britain enacted NIL
tions law by which those engaged in
munitions production were exempt from
military service Certain trades were
selected as indispensable and the men
employed in these establishments were
| classified as in the industrial service
In order to distinguish those who were
engaged in this munitions work the min
lister of munitions was given authority
to issue war service badges to such per-
sons in accordance with rules. The
rules forbade the wearing of such badges
/ by any persons except those engaged on
munitions work or work for war pur-
poses. However, the British labor rep
resentatives told us that the wearing of
the industrial service badge had not
been made compulsory and had by Tin
fortunate circumstances often fallen in
to disrepute. They suggested that il
would be advisable to make the wearing
of the badge compulsory and to make il
always an honorable distinction.
when the question of the exception
due to the change in the working ar
rangements in the establishment, the las
person employed is the one to be re
leased for military service This sim
pie regulation has prevented what other
wise might work a great hardship upor
the labor organizations, for all work
ers are familiar with the ingenuity with
which employers can find reasons for
discharging those who are active in the
labor movement If there were no such
provision, all undesirable labor leaders
would be at once drafted into military
service.
another featur of exemptions in
Great Britain is important. All full
time labor officials have been exempt
This provision is based upon the recog-
milton which the British government
gives to the Importance of maintaining
the work of the organized labor move
ment, and thus enabling it to perform its
function as an essential element in or
ganization for production.
Practically all war agreements af-
fecting wage earners in Great Britain
have been the result of conferences be-
ions and the government There has
made it possible for them to work out
problems developing in war productions
In all matters affecting the interests and
welfare OF workers the workers have
their own representatives on the various
boards and councils. This result ir
Great Britain came through the initia-
tive of the government. In our owr
country there is full realization that
there must be this cooperation. Here
however, the initiative has come from
the trade unions. Those workers in
dispensabe to the production of muni
tions who are comprised in the unions
affiliated to the metal trades department
have offered the secretary of the navy
to enter into an agreement with him
based upon standards of justice, to fur
nish workers necessary for the produc-
ton of munitions and to arbtrate al
differences that may arise. Similar ac-
ton has been taken by the miners. The
carpenters and various other organiza-
tons have offered their services in any
way that they can best be used AS yet
however, the government has made nc
answer.
"The fundamental demand which Ia
Dor makes in connection with the con-