New-York tribune., 1918-05-22
Work for Interned
Aliens Urged by
Big Business Men
National Association of
Manufacturers Wants
Congress to Act
Labor Shortage Acute
Lack of Mechanics Holding
Up Nations War Prep
arations.

The National Association of Manu-
dorf-Astoria, favors using intcrned
aliens for the cultivation of the soil Or
other useful war work. 1t passed a
resolution yesterday urging Congress
10 adopt legislation enabling the gov
ernment to put the aliens to work at
such tasks.
The association also passed other
resolutions embodying the sentiment of
its members on problems arising from
the war. One was shat the. members
do all possible to encourage the gov
ernment's shipbuilding programme. An
other was that the association lend its
moral influence TO public service cor
porations' legitimate efforts to main
tain their capital and credit unim-
paired.
A resolution also was passed urging
the government, through the President
and Director General of Railroads Nc
Adoo, to adopt the resolution passed
by the United States Chamber OF Com
merce to organize and operate che
existing equipment and construct new
equipment for use upon the inland and
cosstwise waterways. The resolution
also asks that trunk railways be com
pieted for heavy traffic where they can
be used to relieve railway congestion.
and for the adoption of a permanent
policy of assuring coordination of rail-
roads, water routes snd highways for
traffic service.
There was g lively discussion when
George l.. Martin, of Philadelphia.
brought up the labor shortage question.
Mr. Martin expressed surprise at
remarks he heard at the convention
last week regarding demands of labor
at the Academy of Social Science at
Philadelphia.
Chaos" he said, "will follow the
war unless the demands of labor for
shorter hours and higher wages are
curbed. Labor should be stabilized,
and the employers protected against
the bidding of one manufacturer
against another for labor
N. B. Williams, of Washington, said
he believed this matter would be
taken up by the newly organized
1.-THE trouble rests in the shortage
of mechanics in this country, due in
part, to the placing in the trenches of
men who might be doing more i'm
portant service for their country at
home,' said Henry M. Leland, of De-
trolt. When everything had been
assembled for the manufacturer of
Liberty motors the absolute need of
$4,000 competent mechanics was ap-
parent, and placed all at standstill
Why. for instance, had ZOO mechanics
mainly gathered in Detroit been sent to
France to make repairs on American
aeroplanes when there was not single
Americanmade aeroplane in France.
The skilled mechanics are gone"
said Mr.. Leland, land aliens are left,
who are getting high wages and often
trying to destroy our plants. How can
we get the help? Why in these cir
cumstances should the manufacturers
Of the Liberty motor be subjected to
!nsidious criticism for delays?
"A remedy would be for the govern
ment to draft all men from eighteen
to fifty to replace aliens in the fac
tories and to bring back from the
trenches the mechanics needed now at
home"
An important part of the programme
OF the convention is being devoted to
the consideration of the vital problem
OF restoring disabled fighting men to
industry. In order to present the most
authoritative views on this matter,
Major Harry f. Mock. of the Medical
corps, will point out in an address
Today the means of conserving and
retaining civilian and military forces.