Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-09-19
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1918.
S1ackers in Shipyards.

Tho Philadelphia North American OF
Yesterday printed an interesting story OF
the evil that is threatened by 'slackers in
shipvards ds"-that is, men who kill time
as much as possible, instead of giving to
their employers fair and honest day S
work The story dealt particularly with
conditions prevailing at Hog Island, and
o sorry spectacle was presented; but IT is
a fact that conditions largely similar have
been noted in the shipyards of Whining
ton and other places.
For awhile after the tremendous inn
retus given to all lines of war industry
throughout the country, the results were
most encouraging. 4 great work has been
done. but il is apparent that now. when
so much depends upon the best possible
product, dav after day, of our shipbuldlng
and other industrial establishments, too
many uorkmen arc disposed TO take
things easy" and get through each day
with as little physical exertion as possible
The natural result is decreased efficiency
Instances are given in the North
American story which go to show not
only the actual existence of the evil, but
It's damaging extent On Enday. Septem-
Der I3. General Pershing : birthday ami
versarv, the riveters at Hog Island drove
Io5.242 rivets. But ON Monday Septem-
Der Is. the first full week day following,
the rivv<ors drove only 50 932 rivets.
Here is most surprising falling off.
Other specific evidences are gwen:
AT the shipwav where the Sacandaga
is building, one secs small bulletin board
erected bv the officials of the ward And
the information it contains Is that the
Sacandaga must be launched October e;
that in order TO launch the Sacandaga,
1O.4m rivets must be driven daily. Tues
dav only 7.405 rivets were driven on this
ship And the proof that the men are
capable OF dong far more than the
schedule of lO.400 lies in the fact that the
bulletin board shows that on one day
l5,4S5 rivets were driven into this ship.
Another shipway, that of hull 513, tells
this story The ship should be launched
on November 5, 1918. A total of 1900
rivets day should be driven on the ship.
Tuesday 4,l99 rivets actually were
driven.
The bulletin board on hull 4 SOP shows
that $500 rivets should be driven TO com
plete this ship on scheduled time. Tues
day, ,s22 rivets were driven on this ship.
On the Quistconck, the first ship
launched at Hog Island, with the Presi-
dent and Mrs Wilson present, scheduled
September %, completed, the scenes were
typical of the Stacking Groups of man,
three and four men apiece. with their
tools slung over their shoulders or lying
st their feet, stood talking and gesticu-
lating with perfect composure
As TO why the foremen cannot enforce
3 higher degree OF industry, the explana-
ton ls that many OF the slackers' are
very independent On being remon-
sIated with they reply that they can
easily get better-paving Jobs AT other
places This should not be possible and
il is encouraging to know that the Federal
authorities are looking into the situation,
with a view 10 inaugurating a complete
reform
There is need of workmen, as well as of
soldiers and sailors to fight the wal And
when workers show disposition to be
come ''slackers, it ought 10 be possible,
through draft operations, TO put them TO
fighting. And this should be done. There
is no reason why every workman should
not do fair days work.