Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-06-24
EVERY MAN MUST
WORK OR FIGHT
Edict Will Be Enforced by State
Labor Director Christopher
l.. Ward.

Christopher l.. Ward, the newly-ap-
pointed director of the Bureau of Labor,
State Council of Defence, assumed his
new duties today, temporary quarters
being established in the encouragement 5
office in the Public building
Ii will be the duty of Mir Ward to en-
force the law providing for the full en-
ployment of the man-power of the State
during the war The law provides that
every male resident of the State between
the ages of Is and - wears mot soldier
or public officer shall be employed in u
useful or lawful occupation during the
period of the war. All such persons not SO
employed may be assigned Ia such en-
pioymcnt aS may from time to time be
designated. at such compensation as may
bC fixed by agreement with the employer.
Refusal or neglect To undertake. and 10
perform the assigned labor Is punishable
hv fine up To $500 or Imprisonment up to
three months or both
The meaning of this is that every
such man must fight or work or suler
the penalties prescribed.
Ii should be understood that this
law applies 10 all men alike. Ii Is no
defence 10 an application of ITS pro-
visions that man may have private
means which enable him 10 live with
out working. This is not vagrancy
act intended to put 10 work those
without visible means of support.
The purpose of the Law is TO ensure
the putting forth of our man-power
TO its utmost limit Rich and poor
alike are subject TO il.
II should also be understood that the
law means not only that al men shalt
work. but that they shall work regularly
and continuously There are two classes
oi men 10 whom il applies ldierS,
who do no work at all, and "slackers,
who though employed, work irregularly
and interInittently. ANY man who tails
IN either class is liable 10 have assigned
to him certain work at fixed coinpcnsa-
ton and to be fined or imprisoned, II he
refuses To perform IL
I'm the administration Of this law the
Bureau al Labor must have. hrSt the
support oi 4 strong and undivided pubhc
opinion. 1t must bc realized hy all that
this is war measure. not merck desirable
but necessary for the successful carrying
on Of the war 1t has been tried in several
other States, notably IN Maryland, with
the entire approval and support OF good
citizens Ii was passed hN our own
legislature and approved by the governor
and the President OF thC | nitcd states
has expressed publicly his approval OF
such laws and recommended their adop-
ton generally Every patriotic citizen
VIII recognize the justice oi the law and
lis necessity in this great emergency and
Will give it, enforcement hle active and
undivided support
Second, the bureau asks that All citizens
assist in the impartial and general en-
forcement OF the law by furnishing the
bureau with the names and addresses Of
men known not to he employed Or whose
work is notably irregular and intermittent.
with full particulars in each case All
such communications will be held ahSo-
lutely confidential Zach case VIII be
independently investigated and acted
upon by the bureau.
Third the bureau seeks the cooperation
oi employers IN response to its specific
requests for assistance and in the employ
mcnt Of assigned men from time to time.
Every effort Will be made by the bureau
u yet TO work rs soon as possible but an
organization covering the whole State
has to be created ana many details work
ed cat before Il can efficiently operate