Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-06
NAY COMPEL ALL
WORK OR FIGHT
resident Considering
plan to Solve Nations
Labor Problem
rsE DRAFT MACHINERY
Washington. April 6.

.vork or fight. DO useiui "otN VI
20 the trenches
g ~ ,s the alternative every man
srat, age in the United States will
w. ,,rder a plan being considered by
President Wilson.
Tho president has received a re-
:, submitted by officials Of the
arost marshal generals office and
nonartment of Labor which pro-
~ ~. drastic modification of the draft
ss.Iecatlon lists, which would affect
no u.av or another every one OF the
n 400 900 Of registered men.
while the primary purpose of the
,.w program is the publication OF the
soond third and fourth classes or
~,.,rants who are not engaged in any
.arot,ve industry, attention also VIII
= Siyen to lower sections of class one
"a the effect, its trainers believe
MD he to solve the nations labor
,.oh,om and largely increase the out
~, Of the necessities of life.
Tho proposal would utilize the draft
..anbinerv for putting industrial slack
~. N work. Every registered man
siS sSo has been granted deferred classi,
slO,ion would be given TO understand
,Sst such deferment is priVlLege
"a that if unfair advantage Is tdhSlI
oi that privilege 1t VIII oe SUMMARY
revoked. .,,,,l,, , most care.
,,rt,av of the lower sections OF
Iui . one and of other classes to iden-
IiSs .iS,, ,Sose men who are idlers or who
VI: VI! aaining their living through unde-
ale ain.tio or harmful" pursuits. Under
~ n'Ta,,er head, officials suggest might
W listed gamblers, bookmakerS tor
- W noolroom touts and others.
IsS[S gnr,1aI notification would be served
~ these men that unless within
sulpooiAed time they obtained employ
speo put IN some useful industry they
norId have their classified status
Uhonged TUu,S SO as to send them into mill
tsry service Immediately.
Augment Labor Supply
rho man Is not designed 10 interfere
with the so.callcd nonessentlal indus
irics, These may be aiiectcu 10 some
'iioht degree. but officials say such
thin
over by the resulting national good
10 be obtained from the augmented
labor supply.
narticipated in the preparation of the
Man declare that the next step would
h 10 obtain authority for the, indus
trial classification Of the man-power
q the country up to the age of fifty
years.
To make the program fully effective
h Is intended TO utilize the existing
local boards as employment agencies
for their districts. Reports would be
kept as to the vacancies in the neigh.
borhood, and when a man was in
formed that he must seek a useful
occupation he would be told where he
could find job.
Opposition is Expected
The status of men on the classified |
E lists both in class one and in the de- |
tferred classes, in the opinion of the |
kprovost marshal generals office, !
would be improved. Delinquents who |.
did not heed the warning would be in .
Quoted into the military service, re-
ducing the number of men to be called |
from class one This would operate |.
to delay still further the date when F.
The services of men in class two might
be needed. This fact is expected to
draw TO the aid of the Qualification"
relatives and friends Of boys who are
about TO be called.
That determined opposition to the
plan will develop in some quarters
mas been fOreseen. The effect upon
The labor market for the addition of
many thousands Of able-bodied work.
gs might be to reduce the present
wage scales. The economic balance
WIZ be <ept even, however, according
. the champions of the program. nv
lle reduction i'm the cost of lifc's no.
ISSUES through increased output and
y uhe improved situation of the dollar
n International exchange. No indico.
u9n mas been given of the attitude
Nlieh President Wilson will take.
IOugn army officials are confident he
VIII give his approval. '0