Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-07-27
Uncle Samuel;
Labor Provider
Ry Frederick j. Haskin

Bv the first Of the month, the long
familiar f'hclp wanted" advertisement
will have disappeared from the pages OF
daiIy ncwvpapers, 30 far az itp refntion 10
labor in war industries il concerned This
will he the result of President Wilson's
recent order centralizIng the recruiting
and distribution of workers in the United
States Employment Service. Hereafter
no employer. engaged in war contracts
may seek his own help. As much help ~
he NAV have, without handicappinp other
war manufacturers will he procured and
| supplied To him by the government
This action has been made imperative
by critical situation The war industries
of this country are now short about
tpn 600 un.k,led lahorers Amoet as
great n shortage exists in regard To skilled
workrncn. In ono plant alone plant
working ON the manufacture ~ heavy
caiber gums there s n need for more
than 600 ruarhinistH
There are three largo contributing
cauacs, fo this state of anairs The work
ing of the selcctive draft took large mum
bera of workers skilled and tInskilled, from
the labor market. and placed them IN the
| ranks ef the National Army The aimr~t
| complete ceasatiorrs Of immigration since
| tho outbreak ~ the European War in 1914
nlso added materially To the shortage, since
prrhntta n third of oIIr iinakilcd lalporerr
| have hcon recruited from tho foreign
| horn
LABOR PoAcufHG
Following these lossca and partly ~ a
/ result of them. came competitive bidding
! for labor or Tabor poaching' among The
| industries. resulting ~ tho constant shift
| ing of workme from plant 20 plant This
| alnftinp has robbed many Of tho most IS
ser,tial war industries If men and has
| produced in the workers. rcstlesaness
| greatly detrimental 10 their efficiency
The government believes, TINT. with
| tho adoption II the Capitalization policy,
! the dist ributnn If laf4ur can be controlled.
and confusion and unrest eliminated
fnr the tirue being the policy IN It's en-
tifcty will apply only 20 tho nnalilled or
common laborers, but sooner Or later
| II will he extended 10 embrace ail skilled
trades and crafts This will come prob
ahly. Immediately after the unskIlled
| labor problem has been satisfactorily
| adjusted Tgy tho end of tho year employ
mont departments and agencies under
| rrlvate control will have ecascd to exist
| for ~ long as The var Lasts, and perhaps
/ forever Already employers have bccn FOR
| l,ldtlon to compete openly for slllod labor
Tho undertaking is a dclicato well as
a stupendots ono md each ncw step by
| the government. viii bo taken vi'h the
| grcateat care Both employer and etnploye
/ will be allowed considerable latitude n
| first Ne employer vill be compelled -
accept Internationally the workmen cent
a. him by tho employment service nor
w,l he he restrained from hiring men who
! come ~ hlu of thclr own accord Tho
lal,orer. nn his side wil not be rgrd -
i areept work he dpce not desire IIo may
ak or leave the Jpb offered him hy he
government In fhc =fcnnd event The em-
| r.iayYnert service will endeavor ~ find
/ llm Job more suited t. his tastes No
blackista have been made. nor Eill labor
crz be sent To plants where strikes are
under say Na other restraint than 4
sense II duty will he ised - keep the
laborer IL his place
pusIsHNENT FoR vlsD0ERs
Buf prompt punishment a promised fol
| the employer who wiilfuIlv violates thf
cdict ~ government N regard - soiicltine
| labor All reported violations a7ll he care
fully investigated and Il the fncts 81 h'
case warrant the supply Of materials Z
the offending concern Will be stopped d
| curfaIcd and by arrangement with th'
Fne Administrator the allowance q
coal Will be held III Publicity II ~
/ most pitlless' sor4 wiil he gwen % IA
corporations or individuals convicted o
disobeying the order
Continued on mage l3