The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-05-12

EOyatky W 1Sse''S
Against Nonunion Workers-To Mo-
bilize All Artisans.
For the first time in the history OF
nnion labor in this country, officers of
the internationals In Philadelphia say,
the barriers between union and nom
union labor have been torn down in an
effort to mobilize the skilled artisans
for work at the navy yards and federal
arsenals. While the union men have
charge of this work, directed from the
headquarters of the American Fedora
ton in Washington, the nonunion arti-
sans are obtained as speedily as posi-
BILE and sent to the federal plants.
Plans for the labor mobilization have
been worked out by Assistant Secre-
tary of the Navy Roosevelt, Secretary
of War Baker and Albert j, Berries,
secretary of the metal trades depart
ment of the American Federation Of
Labor at Washington.
Charles f. Scott, international deputy
organizer Of the Boilernakers, Iron
Shipbuilders and Helpers, and William
A. Kelton, business agent of the ma
chinists of the Philadelphia district, ex-
planned the mobilization.
"There is no union and nonunion
labor as far as our labors are concern
ed" Scott said, "and IL the newspapers
would only publish this mobilization
plan any nonunion man who wants
work would know where to come. We
have forty recruiting officers all over
the country getting boilermakers, ship
builders and men for navy yard work.
"And it is hard job. There are so
many private plants which pay higher
wages than the government. that while
the labor men are patriotic they also
have to take into consideration the
high cost Of living. But the govern
ment, through agreement with the
labor leaders, suspended the eight hour
law. So a man can work ten or fifteen
hours now If he wants to and gets
time and one-half for all overtime. In
that way he really makes more money,
If he only knew 1t, than under the con-
tract system.
"This mobilization was up to us, and
1t Is the first time we tore down the
laa rsaa against uonunion labor We
believe that working with union men
they will become unionized though,
and that this crisis only means
strengthening of our forces. We fought
the bill to permit the government to
commander labor, and when the teeth
were taken out of the bill it was up to
us to make good. And that Is what we
are doing. We keep a census OF the
men we feel that we can get, and
when Secretary Berries sent us word
we got to the front and got busy
bringing in the skilled men. We are
just as much recruiting officers as any
body getting men for the army and
navy
Under the mobilization plan all union
men are asked to submit their names.
addresses, classification of the service
and if they will accept federal employ
ment. These aye sent in duplicate to
international headquarters at Kansas
City, from where they are forwarded
to the army and navy departments.
When there is shortage of men the
bureau heads at Washington send word
to Berries. The civil service examiner
for the district in which the navy yard
or arsenal is situated is given list of
men, and he personally visits the can
didates at their homes. If they pass
they are given transportation to the
navy yards or arsenals.
Whenever the supply of labor is in
adequate the international officers go
about the country seeking nonunion
men willing to accept government EN-
ployment. They present their names
to the civil service examiner, and he
visits them and obtains their qualifica
lions.
Scott said he would not seek any,
war machinists,' as he termed the
munitions workers who had focked to
those plants and had had no training
as machinists in peace times.
Business Agent Kelton of the Ma
chinists' union said he had made even
easier arrangements to handle his end
at Philadelphia. He said all interna.
tional officers had made Arrangements
with the civil service examiners to
have them telephone whenever there
was an emergency force required.
Kelton has had all the machinists in
this section card indexed, together
with the number Of nonunion men who
might be available. AS soon as he re-
ceives the word Kelton will have the
local officers busy rounding up men,
union and nonunion, to be sent to the
Parkway building. where they will be !
first examined by Kelton and others
and If found efficient will be sent to .
the Federal building for civil service t
examination.
i have put hundred men In League
island alone" said Kelton, "and we
make no distinction. We figure that
these men will join the union anyway
after they have been working In the
navy yards for time. We get post
ers, too, from the Civil Service Board
the number of men required
at the various federal plants, and If
there are too many for government