South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-03
.LOAFERS HERE
To FEEL STERN
HAND OF j. s.
L w. w. AgitatOrS and Vag-
rants Are 0biectiveS in
Combined Drive by Police
and Federal Agent.

That no small part OF Souta
Bends labor difficulties are due TO
the efforts Of certain I. w. W. mem
bers in the city is the belief Of John
G. Osborne. who is here organizing
a federal free employment office.
Plain clothes policemen have been
detailed TO watch some OF the cen
ters in which disturbances are said
TO be taking place, as a result Of
Osbornes request 10 Mayor Carson.
"The labor situation in South
Bend is deplOrable" said Mr. Os-
horne Friday morning. There is a
crying need for men in nearly ever7
factory i'm town. and every man who
applies for work is almost grabbed
bodily. for fear that he'll get away
] talked TO the employment man
ager OF the South Bend Plow Co.
Yesterday. and he tells me that oe-
murrage charges amounting TO hun
Greds OF dollars a day must be paid
by his company because they cam
not get the men 70 load and unload
the cars.
LOafers should Work.
There are plenty OF positions
open. I know that 1 can place TO-
600 men within less than 20 miles
Of here There is a shortage Of men,
~ is true. but there are great
many loafers and idlers who should
be put TO work. I have seen any
rumber OF them about the streets OF
South Bend
we must win this war, but we
can't do IL If we haven't the labor
here at home 20 furnish supplies to
our armies. Studebakers. who have
war contracts. cannot get labor 70
aH them. and other factories work
ing for the government are uD
against the same proposition.
Every manor woman either,
for that matter-whO is able TO
work should work II they won't do
it voluntarily. Wen have to find
some means 20 force them TO work.
Conscription OF labor has been in
operation i'm other states for some
time. and I think it will be used in
the rest very soon"
Campaign ON Migrants.
As e result OF "a conference held
i'm Mayor Carsons office Friday
morning. renewed vigilance against
vagrancy viii be used by the police
force. GIVE them "a chance TO work,
but If they won't. then send them
up and let them work for the coun-
=. for a while. for nothing ' advised
Ar. Osborne.
An office is to he esta blished in
room No. OF the court house.
where the needs 81 employers and
EMPLOYEES Will he cared for, free OF
charge. The office viii be under the
direct supervision of tie department
of labor OF the United States gov
crument Surplus OF labor I'm one
county or one community viii be
transferred to other parts of the
state where there is shortage.
Offices are 90 be established in Fort
WAYNE. Muncie and other industrial
eenters OF the state. One is already
ia operation at Indianapolis
To Get Federal Trial.
T.oafers viii not be tolerated in
south Bend. according TO Chief OF
Police Kline. We have been trying
"a, put an idlers 10 work ever since
We went into office he declared
But we've had trouble i'm getting
convictions for vagrants. and with
cut convictiors. we can't do any
thing"
Tpon advice of Mayor Carson and
chief Kline. all cases where men alb
scIutely refuse 90 work will be trans
fered 20 the federal employment Of
fee. Thus m federal hands. the
cases will be tried before the United
states commissioner here.
Men who won't work i'm these
times are the worst sort OF slack
crs~ declared Mr.. Osborne. "aud
. after we set a few Of them and give
them what they deserve 7 think
theren be fewer Ioafers and idler.