Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-08-22

The L. S. Employment Service ana
the L. S. Public Service reserve
! Department of Labor.
. Editor kennebec Journal:
4 Will YOU kindly supplement the
helpful service you are giving ever!
| cay, by calling the attention of the
people of this State TO the work OF
tie L. s. Employment Service and
one of its divisions. the L. S. Public
, Service Reserve.
Nothing counts save the winning
cf the war. Social conditions, IN
,iustrial relations. financial values
none OF these, as we know them.
count for anything unless we win.
And in the final ANALYSIS. our sue
cess-the fate Of civilization itself
depends upon the brain and Drawn OF
american Labor We must raise
food for our armies, we must clothe
end equip them. we must mine the
coal and the iron, we must build the
Ships and the airplanes-all the ten
thousand things that are necessary to
the carrying on Of this great cam
paign.
1t takes five men at home working
every hour of every day to properly
maintain one man at the front. We
have the men, but we lack complete
organization.
And SO the Government. through
the Department of Labor, has taken
over the entire labor problem of the
country. Since August 1st all en-
!ployers doing war work. and employ
irg a maximum of one hundred
hands, must go to the Employment
Service for its common labor In the
near future this will apply to skilled
labor, also At the present time we
are faced with a tremendous shortage
0e common labor. Our war indus
tries are being held back because of
it. We need. and need now. the
services of every able bodied man in
this country.
The Public Service Reserve division
If the Service endeavors to enroll
every man who can AMI Will wO:k,
with hands or head the Employment
Service undertakes to distribute this
labor as, and when. and where it
srall b needed.
We have enrolment agents in
very town and city in Maine. for
enrolling men in the Reserve, and
Employment Service Offices, in the
cities of Augusta, Bath. Bangor,
Portland and Lewiston, with one
travelling representative in the in
terest Of the Employment Service
and three in the work of the Re
serve.
In he immediate future we shall
establish what are known as Com
rrunity Labor Boards, which boards
viii have charge, under the State
Director. of the mobilization of men
! in their districts and OF transferring
men from less essential to more es
sential industries.
1t ID desire to disturb local indus
! Try as little as possible, but we must
have the men for the war needs, and
1t is not doubted that those engaged
On non-essentials will be ready to
take up the more important work
when the Government calls them.
Tor this purpose We ask every man
} to go to his local Enrolment Agent
+ and enroll.
We have been at work in this en-
1ollment for eight months, and have
enrolled and classified thousands of
: men; but there are other thousands
r no must enroll. Many have hest
tated to sign because they think they
I. ard mourning some obliga ton whose
: nature they do not understand. This
I is unwarranted. The Government
wants to know who and where and
J that they are. so that IT Will be IN
| rositioh to notify them when they
eve needed for work. They incur no
new obligation: but this is not boys
play. and we hope and have a right
; " expect, that every man vii, prove
, ! imself a loyal American and cheer
fully respond if the Government
reeds him.
This is not CONSUMPTION: it is
, service in the interest of humanity.
! 1t is MT merely an opportunity, it is
I n blessed privilege. These men are
: to eng2go not alone in the very
laudab'e enterprise Of protecting
: their own fresides, but in the more
significant and far nob1er service OF
-" saving others.
SECRETARY Wilson says THE United
: States Employment Service has been
gwen burden comparable only to
:, tfat borne by the War Department
+ when the Selective Service Law was
! nut into operation. But this policy
must be enforced without military
authority. We must RELY upon the
i understanding. cooperation, and good
' will of the American people,
\ am asking YOU, therefore. to give
/! rnlblicitv to this work and 70 permit
e ne. through Your columns, to appeal
: H. all our people to give it patriotic
2 support.
: We want to enroll every man in
S this State.
C. s. HICHBORN.
Federal Director L. s. Employment
Service. state Director I, 5. Pub
lie Service Reserve.