Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-09-30
RAILROAD MEN ASKED
TO CLAIM EXEMPTION
Director General McAdoo Says They
Are Necessary 10 Run Roads and
That Force Is Depleted.
INSTRUCTIONS ARE RECEIVED
Regional Director Bush Sends Orders
10 Employees Here; Reasons Given
For Making Request

Local railroad men are in receipt
OF Instructions that they make claim
for deferred classification. The In
structions have been issued by
Director General William O. McAdoo
and all rail employees who come
within the classes mentIhned by Mr..
McAdoo aro asked to claim deferred
class on the ground Of their being
essential employees. Railroads must
be run TO keep the business Of the
country moving, and IA serious In
roads have already been made on the
force Of necessary operatives, II Is
desired to see that experienced men
he left to insure the safe and con-
tlnucd running OF the railroads.
The statement OF the director gen
eral points out that the government
has taken over the operation OF the
railroads IA war measure. and that
| their operation Is necessary to the
successful conduct OF the war.
Bush Issues Orders
The local Instructions have been
| Issued by Regional Director Il. f.
| Bush. In giving to the men the or
ders OF the director general he
| quotes the statement Of Mr.. McAdoo
| to show that the services of employees
are required. for the force of rail-
road operatives IL not easily re-
plenished and has already been re-
duced TO a minimum.
The statement says in part:
The scarcity OF skilled railroad
employees IL in part due to the fact
that up to the present time the rail-
roads OF the country in addition to
meeting their full share OF the de-
mands OF men for general military
service have been subjected to the
peculiar disability that they alone,
out Of all industries OF the country,
have had to furnish large numbers
Of men for special military service.
Hundreds OF miles OF military rail-
roads in France are being operated
| for the military forces of the United
States who have been drawn from
the ranks OF the skilled officers and
! employees of the railroads in this
| country.
Drain Greater On Rail Men.
In this way the drain upon skilled
| railroad labor has already been pro-
| portionately greater than the drain
! upon skilled labor of other indus
| tries and this, in part. accounts for
the exceptional shortage Of skilled
railroad labor which confronts the
| United States railroad administra-
tion.
1t must also be clear that en-
| ployes in these classes cannot be
supplied by the employment and
training OF new employees.
Practically without exception these
employments are not suited to wO-
men but able bodied and vigorous
men are needed for the discharge OF
the duties.
These men are not available In
adequate numbers and will become
| less and less available as the war
| progresses.
Besides unframed men cannot per-
| form the functions and IL skilled
railroad employees are taken for mil
itary service the substitution of un-
trained employees even IL available
would prove destructive to efficient
railroad operation.
1t Is desired that the understand
ing and sympathetic cooperation OF
the district boards shall be sought In
| all instances.
we are all striving for the same
end2a that is to win the war.
To the extent that railroad men
can be spared from railroad service
| for military service the district
boards should not attempt to take
them for military service.
The United States railroad admin.
istration intends TO ask for deferred
| classification only when the men or
whose behalf the request Is made
| are needed in the public interest
| for the continued performance OF
their duties when experienced sub.
stitutes cannot be found. and the dis.
trict boards. upon whom rests the
responsibility for preserving the
necessary labor supply for essentia
occupations. should be urged tC
grant, in the interest of the national
! needs and with u nation wide view
of the controlling factors the appli.
cations for deferred classification
which are supported by the United
States railroad administration.