Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1918-12-31
START PUBLIC WORK.
GIVE SOLDIERS JOBS
WR|.TESSEC. WILSON

Urging the ACCESSIBILITY of promptly
resuming all contemplated public i'm
provements which have been held In
allegiance during the war, Secretary of
Labor Wilson in a communication to
the local chamber of commerce, ex-
presses his solution for the reconstruc-
ton era, now dawning. In the letter.
Mr.. Wilson, advocates the creation of
a reserve supply of labor which will
meet a possible shortage later, and
warns business men that the present is
the time to employ full staffs. even
though they may not be needed i'm
mediately
Secretary Wilson says, in part:
4 am of the opinion that from the
time we restore ourselves to our normal
postwar activities, the demand for
peace time production will be so great
that there will not be the remotest pos
sibility of securing any reduction in the
wage rates from their present basis. |
feel further, that the manufacturer who
fails TO take into consideration the
prospects of the future and who, in a
hope # securing cheaper labor or
! cheaper raw material, does not build up
| the possibly brief period of readjust-
ment. will be handicapped in securing
| his share of the business afterwards;
because he will be handicapped through
| lack of working forces in his factory.
With the attitude of mind that |
! have expressed as existing on the part
| of some manufacturers relative to
waiting for a lowering in the price of
raw material and the price of labor. it
/ may be that the restoration of indus
try will not take place as rapidly as the
rehabilitation takes place. We are
not sure of that. There ought to be pro-
I vision made for a reservoir that would
absorb the demobilized workers and the
! demobilized soldiers, not in doing the
things which there is no need to have
done, but in doing the things that ought
| to be done-that are valuable for
peace time purposes-a reservoir thar
/ will take care of them for the brief
| period between their dismissal from the
army or the dismissal from the war in
dustries until they can be reabsorbed
into the natural postwar industrial
| activities
The department of agriculture is
taking steps TO accomplish part of that
purpose in the matter of road improve
ment highway improvements, on the
llItOIV COle IeSS has dCltu OH III lHe
past, that for military purposes and for
postal routes. roads are necessary all
over the country. Where men are en-
ployed in road building, they do not
have to be taken from their own home
communities to engage in the work.
The department of agriculture, there
fore, has asked or is about TO ask
for an increased appropriation which
will enable it, in cooperation with the
respective states, to engage in ma
ton wide project Of road building that
will absorb, if need be, some of these
workers temporarily, until industry re-
sumes its natural course.
During the period of the war, by viz
tue of the shortage of Workmen. there
has been little or no municipal activity
in building operations. in park extern
sions, in sewage extension, waterworks,
or any other of the public utilities. We
are suggesting, through the department
of labor, the advisability of their re-
suming these activities at as early 4
date as possible
Whenever it is possible to utilize
public means wherever it is possible tt
undertake public work, or things that
are valuable for peace-time purposes
it should be undertaken as promptly as
possible 1t may not be needed. but il
ought to be provided SO that it can be
utilized if it is needed.
Il am not one of those who take the
ground that a country or government
owes every 80 a living. But all gov
ernments. all organized societv is man.
created, and consequently. more or less
artificial because of the restrictions
that must of necessity be imposed fol
the purpose of enabling US to live il
harmony with each other. And because