The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-15
D ]ARItR-AILlIOn MEN
ARE CALLED For To
AID IN SHIPYAROS
Chairman Hurley, of Shipping Board,
Wants Army OF Workers TO Hold
Themselves, i'm Readiness.
FOUR-MINUTE MEN TO
EXPLAIN COUNTRY'S NEEDS
NO More Patriotic Service Can BE
Rendered TO Nation and Its Allies
Than That of Speeding Production
of Ships.

Washington. Jan. 14.--Foilowing a
long conference with President Wilson
today, E. N. Hurley, chairman OF the
Shipping Board. issued a call for a
volunteer army of 2500Oo to be held
in readiness to meet the demands OF
the shipyards. Standard wages viii
be paid and the men will be considered
part OF the military forces of the
country.
They will be used TO Increase the
forces In the building yards as they
are expanded. and to help In adopting
the three-shift system which is con-
templated in all of the yards OF the
country. Mr.. Hurley expects to enroll
men in automobile factories piano fac
tories car plants and all other indus
tries where there are skilled mechan-
les. II Is expected that more than 80
per cent of the men will be past draft
age. but those of draft age will be
taken into the service as the emergency
requires. thus coming under the exempt
class.
Mr.. Hurley sent to the chairmen OF
the various state councils of defense
the following message. urging them
to start a campaign for the volunteer
army beginning January 20:
I'VE Ara asking the chairn1en of the
i'm m ediateiy 10 cali for volunteers for
this shipyard army from among the
skilled. intelligent and patriotic work
ers OF their communities.
We want q reserve army OF highly
skilled mechanics numbering not less
than $4,000 to hold itself in readiness
for any call. The reserve army estab-
iished will be drawn upon. from time
to time by federal agencies
~ Rtat 1u 10 Nrx
60 the four-miunte men will explain
to their audiences all over the country
what ship building means TO America
in this war. During that week IL Is
hoped that all the state councils will
be in complete readiness to list and
take the pledges of the ship-building
volunteers.
Millions of Americans have beer
waiting merely to be told what service
they can best enter, Trained riveters
boilermakers, punchers. nachinists
black smiths. carpenters. caulkers. mill
wrfghts and other trained men car
render no service more vitality needed
than the service OF the nation in the
yards A. guide for future needs
there were approximately $4,000 mer
employed In the ship yards of tbs
country six months ago, while nov
there are about $4,000 employed. A
volunteer army OF 100000 will give
assurance that ths requirements OF this
future win be met.
''workmen who are already engaged
In direct government work should re-
main at their posts. Those who are
engaged In work not contributing d.
rectly to the success of the war have
their opportunity now to volunteer .foI
national service. The volunteers wht
will constitute the great ship yards
"a ssrvc will receive standard wagei
ana be considered part Of the miiitar,
forces Of the United States.
Every rivet driven Is blow at the
Kaiser. Every ship turned out brings
nearer the day OF democracy'a triumph
A full days work in the yards Il
equivalent to the taking Of a German
trench