The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-01-26
CHECK WAGE COMPETITION.
MEASURE To PREVENT DISOR.
GANIZATION OF FARM
LABOR.
Enticcment of Workers from Farms
by Mobilization of Labor for War
Industries to BE Stopped.

check competition for labor between
the war industries and government
agencies have been taken by the de-
partment of labor. This was ANNOUNCE
ed today after. Il delegation of Vir-
ginia truck growers headed by Rep
resentative Holland had called on
Assistant Secretary Post with a pro-
test that the farmers would lose a
million bushels Of potatoes this year
If the enticement OF farm laborers by
Industrial concerns were permitted to
continue.
The delegation was told that the de-
pertinent already had directed the
cancellation OF extravagant advertise
ments for men, which are considered
detrimental to the governments war
program. Industrial plants are being
assured that all real labor needs will
be met by the United States employ
ment service. in whose hands the dis
tribution Of available labor has been
placed by Secretary Wilson
Mobilization of shipyard workers, n
department statement tonight said,
has been placed entirely in the hands
of the employment service by the ship
ping board. Independent recruiting
by the board and the individual plants
will be discontinued to permit a con-
centration of effort during a two
weeks campaign beginning next Mon
day. which will culminate in a nat
ional shipbuilders registration week,
February IL.
Confusion and suffering are said to
have resulted from careless state
hents as to shipyard needs.
published statements Of the num-
Der Of men who will be wanted have
been misinterpreted," said the state
ment. "as meaning that great numbers
are wanted now, whereas they are
wanted only in limited quantities and
Of particular types at any one time.
; Men should stick to their jobs until
the department tells them that there
is shipbuilding position waiting and
> what the wages and housing condi-
tions are
by registering in the public SER
vice reserve, men can be assured that
they will 90 told when they will be
wanted
employers Of labor. even in So
called unessential industries will be
helped by the success Of the registra-
ton which will make it possible for
the department to make a fair distri-
button of all calls for men and to
minimize and equalize any drain on
industry which results from unregulat-
ed competition for men between W.
industries and different branches of
the government"
II was estimated that from now nm
til next August 100000 men will be
needed for shipbuilding, this including
the labor turn over. Many times this
number Of voluntary workers Is ex-
p"'eS" W pc tHTOleu curing regis
tration week.
An appeal to President Wilson
sreed up governmental machinery in
aid OF production so as to relieve the
anxiety Of farmers as to labor sup
ply, credit facilities and seeds short
age was made today in memorial from
tho federal board OF farms orga MIA
ton in behalf Of more than 1000. .00o
organized farmers. The board asked
Tor n reply February 6 when repre-
sentatives Of the seven national farm
/ organizations comprising the board
together with n number Of state mas
ters or the grange and heads Of the
Society Of Equity and other bodies
will seek an audience with the presi.
dent to discuss constructive plans.
The memorial said:
IF food is to win the war. as we
are assured on every side, the farm
erS OF America must produce moro
rood in 1918 ;han they did i'm 1917.
BUT unless present conditions are radi-
cally changed, increased crops next
year are impossible. Under existing
conditions we can not equal the pre-
diction Of 1917 much less surpass il
and this is for reasons over which the
farmers have no control.
The chief causes which will in.
evitably bring about a smaller crop
next year unless promptly moved by |
national action. are six in number.
The shortage of farm labor; shorta pe
OF seed; prices often below the cost
or production; lack Of reasonable
credit. exclusion of Tho e,rr. g..