The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-04-06
Lack of Comprehensive System
Responsible for Present
Bad Conditions.
WAR WORK INTERPRETED WITH
Special Bulletin Of American Associa-
ton for Labor Legislation Sets Forth
the Facts-UnIfied Federal Employ
ment Service, It Is Asserted, Would
Solve the Problem.

That the present chaos In the labor
market is due not to so-called labor
shortage, but to the lack of an ade-
quate system for distributing the
available labor supply to meet the
need of rapid and sustained production
OF war materials, is the declaration
made In the third special bulletin on
Labor Laws in War Time" issued by
the American Association for Labor
Legislation.
"In some industries there is dearth
of labor; in others an oversupply," the
bulletin asserts. "The war work of,
the government is being seriously ham,
pered because comprehensive system
Of labor distribution has been lacking
in this country"
President Wilson's reorganization of
all labor placing activities of the gov
eminent into single bureau under the
secretary Of labor is termed "far-reach-
ing emergency action which points the
way to the legislation that is neces-
sary to put such service on an ade-
Quate, permanent basis" Passage of
the demonstrating bill is urged to
extend and unity all labor exchange
work Of the government and provide
"the machinery and funds not only to
mobilize our labor population for war
,. strength but also to make possible the
re-absorption Of the fighting men back
into industry with intelligent vocation
al guidance and without confusion, as
well as insuring the continued stabili-
cation of the labor supply to meet the
| growing requirements of the future.
In such unified federal employ
ment service, according to the associa-
ton, lies also the necessary first step
in solving the overcoming problem
| of unemployment.
Maternity insurance, such as our al
lies have adopted for the protection Of
working mothers and their babies
against avoidable suffering and inn
paired strength, is declared to be a
need accentuated by the entrance Of a
large army of women into both heavy
and light occupations to replace men
| serving In the fighting forces.
MANY occupations hitherto regard
ed In this country as exclusively mems
work." the bulletin declares, "have
been thrown open to woman workers
by many employers In this emergen-
| cy. They are In railroad office, shop
and track work, In munitions fac
tories, in elevator and messenger serv-
ice, In farming, In street car opera
ton, In manufacturing establishments
filling government contracts. Thou
sands thus engaged will become moth
ers. All are potential mothers. The
prohibition of the employment of
women Immediately before or after
childbirth, now being urged by the
committee on women In industry Of
the council of national defense. to pro-
tect our human resources, will not
serve Its full purpose unless accom-
panied by maternity benefits to tide
over the loss Of earnings at the time
when most needed"
| The orders Of the chief Of ordnance
and the quartermaster general calling
for the observance Of protective stand
ards for labor In war industries are
commended In the bulletin as "among
the most enlightened official human
documents ever issued by any govern
ment either In war or In peace" and
the soldiers and sailors insurance act
as zone Of the most significant Of all
measures Of social insurance"