Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1918-02-27

supply about industries solely engaged IN
the manufacture of instruments of de-
struction. and with the inevitable conse-
quence of paucty of labor in our normal
peace-time industries, including agrlcul-
ture. The industrial, economic, and labor
balance was in this manner upset. And
it becomes instantly apparent that, with
any considerable reduction in man power
for the uses of the Army, some, if not all,
industries will find this already overtaxed
labor supply seriously curtailed.
Inevitable Consequence of War
Such a condition is the inevitable con-
sequence of modern war. Under per-
feet economic system the productive en-
terprise of q nation affords a field for
an emergent condition, even under such
a perfect system, the instant necessity is
profound adjustment to meet the para
mount demand of the Army. But the adj
ces&tty for armed men, inc increased
manufacture Of the instruments of war
requires as great or even greater drafts
of men, from normal peace times indus
tries. This second requirement had al
ready been made upon our normal indus
tries by our efforts to supply the needs
of the allied powers Upon q declaration
of war these already abnormal demands
Warlille necessities. 1t was this condition
that was to be addressed by the first regu
lations which were potential of so pro-
found and effort upon our national supply
of man power.
Direct Draft Of Labor.
But there was much more than this
circumstance striking as it is, to be
considered. The draft itself is an nstru-
ment of compelling force in controlling and
distributing labor supply throughout the
United States. 1t is conceivable that our
national necessities may require a direct
draft of labor Repugnant as this may
seem to some of our ingrafned peace-time
ideas, there can be little doubt Of the
authority of the Government to adopt
such a measure. But there are measures
short Of this suggested in the draft regu-
latiOnS as they now stand which give a
powerful lever of control of labor supply
that should be tried before we pass TIC
the extreme of a direct industrial draft
Since this TO SO, the responsibilities OF
this office do not end with the prompt
supply of levies for the Army.
Survey of Entire Labor Field
The entire industrial field must be eX-
plored, provision of facile and effective
methods must be performed cn1fwypcmi
methods must be perfected, and the selec-
tive-service system must stand as a per
vasive and supple control which shall
serve its purpose, so far as it's powers
make possible, in coordinating the man
power of the Nation and so fostering its
industries in a nice and impartial balance
which shall carry forward all varied en-
deavors, not singly or irregularIy, but
march.
With these ideas uppermost it was nee
essary to amend the original regula-
lions.
Our Resources Barely Touched.
| 1t must be emphasized that the desired
result cannot be made by the administra-
! ton of the draft alone, and before en-
tering discussion of the thing which is
| to be achieved, the thing that has already
| been accomplished by other belligerentS
must be mentioned. 1t is impossible tC
/ say what armed strength of the centra
! powers has been put into the field, but
| with only 60,000000 people in Germany
and less than $4,000, 600 in Austria-Hun.
| gary 1t is perfectly apparent that the
| military burden imposed upon those two
| countries alone has been many times as
| heavy as anything We have been called
upon to face, and that with conspicuou.
| success they have met it, as have ENGLAND
| and france. To what precise extent it i.
! not feasible now to say, but one thing a
| least is certain-the nations with which
and against which we are arrayed hav,
| made such sacrifices of man power, sucE
adjustments of agricultural and industrial
| relations to meet these sacrifices that i
| little becomes us to emphasize above &
! whisper, as a substantial national prob
lem, anything that we have yet beer
! called upon to face. Relatively the sur
race OF our resources of men has not beer
scratched, Unless we are to confess
national ineniciency, shameful before tn,
nations OF the world, we shall solve thes
| problems without great controversy.
I That these nations have made thes
| economic adjustments at sacrifice is no
to be questioned. That our people hav,
not as yet shown too great disposition