The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-12-18
CONsCRIPTING LABOR


A great deal of talk has been in
dulged in regarding the CONSUMPTION
of labor. In case of necessity this
should be done, but caution should
be observed both as to the manner
pursued and the purpose for which
it is adopted. should it prove neces-
sary TO take the step. With the vag-
rant. at times when work is plentiful
it is, indeed easy to deal. The money
less man who does not work can easily
be handled On the other hand, the
man with money enough to pay his
who earns enough during the sum
mer to keep him from the condition
usually designated by the term vag-
rancy, is a more difficult proposition
To take a man by law and compel
him to work for certain private in
dividual, differs in no essential way
from Mexican peonage. or from modi-
fled serfdom.
Yet the fact is that everyone should
produce during the war for the safety
Of all. This applies no more to the
poor man who loafs than to the rich
man who loafs. Under ordinary cir
the man, poor or rich. who
has money enough accumulated
through reward from abstinence from
spending has a right to sit around un-
til he catches up with his spending.
but this is not the case now when
the worlds supply of food is short.
So that the well-to-do, able bodied
man who sits around should be put
10 work, if the system of compelling
oilers to work should be adopted and
lnder the same conditions.
There are several phases Of the
question. The laborers oppose war
except in cases of extreme necessity
At present the great labor unions are
or the war heart and soul. but they
watch with jealous eyes anything
which might make a precedent for
system of labor coercion in
he future. The adoption of such pol
cy even in a small measure would
lave happening tendency on their
irdor. Whether this is right or not
is true, and everyone familiar with
he labor situation knows it, 1t is
therefore, Incumbent on those who
would enforce laws to coerce Iaborers
or not to see to it thatl
he principle is extended at once to
men who are wealthy but who are
lot producing at the present time.
)nly in this way can that harmony
etween the classes be retained which
S essential to the winning of the war.
The proposal made by Secretary
Wilson of the labor department that
hould it be deemed essential to con
script labor it would be wise to con
script the industry in which labor
S employed while under CONSUMPTION. |
o as to avoid the difficulties incident
o the letting out OF workmen to priv
tie employers and the precedent which |
you'd thereby be established is |
7orthy Of thought. He says:
1t is enough to say of them here |
hat in the view of this department |
ublic sentiment can not be expected |
D tolerate cOnscription of labor for |
rivate profit. Should industrial con |
criptiOn become really necessary in |
rder effectively to prosecute the war |
policy less likely to be considered |
ne-sided would be desirable It
'ould seem-that is. if workers were |
D be conscripted for industrial pur- |
oses- that the working opportunities |
D which they We're assigned ought to [
e Communicated, so as to make such /
.orkers not cOerced servants of en-
ioyers but employees of the govern !
lent itself The secretary does not |
elieve i'm labor conscription at pres |
nt