New-York tribune., 1917-12-11
Labor Draft Not
Likely, Asserts
Secretary Wilson

WASHINGTON. Dec. TO- Couscrip-
tion Of labor, Secretary Wilson told
Congress in his annual report to-day,
is not. likely to be necessary for the
winning Of the war, but he suggests
that should il become necessary for
the government to conscript labor it
should at the same time couscript the
industries on which they are engaged.
Almost insuperable obstacles arise y
says the Secretary Of Labor, "when la
Dor disputes occur under circumstances
in which employers permit organization
by their worEmen only on pain Of dis
missal since in such cases the work
men have 10 responsible business rep
resentatives, only one party to contro-
yersies can be conveniently or salts
factorily heard.
"The department is. Of course. aware
of proposals, more popular earlier in
the war than now, TO settle labor dis
putos by coercing wage earners. But
these proposals are both unfair and
impracticable. They are also widely
regarded. and not without reason, as
unpatriotic. il is enough TO say Of
them here that in the view Of this de-
partment public sentiment cannot be
expected TO tolerate cOnscrlptlon Of
labor for private profit Should indus
trial conscription become really ncces-
ssry in order effectively TO prosecute
the war. policy less likely TO be
considered one-sided would be desira-
bic. Ii would scem-that is, if work
ers were 10 be conscripted for indus
trial purposes-that the working op-
portunities to which they were as
signed ought to be commandeered, so
as 10 make such workers not coerced
servants Of employers but employees Of
the government itself.
No Apprehension Felt
"There is, however. no reason for
apprehendinc a necessity for any kind
of labor conscription i'm order 20 settle
or prevent disputes between employ
ers and their employees which may in
terfere with a vigorous prosecution Of
the war.
"Our greatest need is the spirit Of
self-sacrifce for the common good-a
sacrifice Of our pride, sacrifice Of our
prejudiccs, sacrifice OF our suspicious
against each other, sacrifice Of our
material comforts, sacrifice of our
lives. if need be-to carry on unim-
paired the democratic institutions
handed down to rs by our fathers
The report makes an announcement on
the much discussed pay and privileges
being allowed to the interned German
civilians in the camps controlled by the
Department Of Labor.
at was agreed by the department TO
remunerate those of the interned
aliens who should perform labor of
any kind in connection with the con-
struction or management Of the intern
ment camp at the rate Of $50 month;
those who served In the capacity OF
foremen, etc, 30 receive S25 month.
Settling Wage Disputes
The departments work in mediatinE
in wage disputes, enormously increased
by war activities, have affected practl-
cally a million men and have been emf
nently successful.
"The success which has attended the
departments representatives IN the
great majority Of disputes has been
most gratifying. In many instances
strikes which would have involved
thousands Of workers engaged in great
operations were quietly averted and in
dustrial peace maintained. All this was
accomplished without publicity and the
consequent excitement which inyaria-
bly attends industrial disturbances
when heralded in the press. Great
plants thus secured uninterrupted pro-
duction for stated periods-some of the
agreements running for year and
others for the period of the war.
Labor has discovered that IL has a
standing in the government machinery
Of its country whenever its demands
arc based on its industrial and consti-
tutional rights. Employers, on the other
hand. have found in the department q
defender against unreasonable eXac-
ton"