The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-08-29

Chairman Baruch Announces
Committee to Handle War
Labor Policies.
PRIORITY LIST SOON
Even in Non-essential Bust
nesses, Effort Will be Made
to Keep Organizations
Intact Through Men.

Washington. Aug 2S-The orEaniza-
ton Of a committee on military and
Industrial man-power was announced
today by Chairman Baruch. of the war
fnduSt rfeg board The COMMITTEES ts
to be composed of representatives. Of
the provost marshal generals office
the war labor policies board and the
war industries board.
Under its plan. II will operate in
the various draft districts through
local committees to act in an advisory
capacity TO the local draft boards
These local committees will be COM
posed of three members. one nominate
by the state director of the United
states government employment ser
vice. one nominated by the secretary
Of agriculture and one appointed by
the local draft board itself.
1t is the plan to determine care
fully a mans occupational essentially
and to arrange deferred classificAti ion
when necessary and possible. Mr. Ba-
ruch indicated that the new priorities
board of the war industries board
would be used as basis In determin-
ing If a man were engaged in an
essential war industry. The new SEIZED
ule will be announced shortly and will
contain a list of sixty-four industries
regarded as essential in the order Of
their priority.
But he pointed ont, ut will be
|, necessary to remember that all the
products OF an industry classed as eS-
senttal may not be essential and the
men engaged in producing these nom
essential products will not be essen
tlal. Also many men working on
sentials may not be essential to their
production"
At the war department the new plan
is looked on without much enthu-
sasm. 1t has not yet received Score
tary Bawer's approval and civilian,
Interference" in the operation of the
draft is not regarded with friendly
eyes in the provost marshal generals
office, The question of the use of the
priorfties boards classification OF es-
sential industries in determining de-
ferred classification has not been
considered by the provost marshal-gen-
eral, and what he may determine is uu-
known.
1t was indicated by Mr. Raruch's an
nouncemant that the key man" or
cornerstone of the organization of the
non-essential industries would be left
by the draft at his work, to maintain
"a skeleton organization. so that after
the war the business could be quickly
reorg nized and revived.
The war industries board has al
ready taken official action looking to
the revival of the non essentials after
the war shah be over.
1t has asked Governor Harding, of
the federal reserve board. to extend
credit to the on-essentials for the
period of the war. while their bust
ness is suspended SO that they may be
! in position Immediately to resume ope-
, rations at the wars conclusion.
I'VE don't want anyone to get PAN
icky and shut down their business just
because 1t Is not on the priority list of
essential industries" said Chairman
Baruch. The fact that n business does
not appear there does not mean II is a
non essential The list Is subject to
revision and labor and materials viii
be withdrawn from the non-essentials
gradually as the necessity arises"