Evening journal., 1918-06-24
NOW FOR ROUNDUP
Of State SLACKERS
Council of Defense Names
c. L. Ward TO Direct
the Work
EVERY MAN MUST
ORK OR FIGHT

The State Council of Defence has Gre
sted a Bureau Of Labor, in charge OF
Christopher l.. Ward director, whose
duty II is to enforce the law provid-
ing for the full employment OF the
man-power Of the state during the war
The law provides that every male resi-
dent OF the State between the ages OF
IS and 50 years mot a soldier or a puD-
lie ofilcerl shall be employed in a use
ful or lawful occupation during the
period Of the war. All such persons
not so employed. may be assigned TO
such employment as may from time to
time be designated, at such cOmpensa-
tion as may be fixed by agreement with
the employer Refusal or neglect 10 un-
dertake and to perform the assigned
labor is punishable by fine up to 5000
or Imprisonment up 10 three months o.
both.
The meaning Of this IS that every
such man must fight or work or suffer
the penalties prescribed.
Il should be understood that this law
applies 10 all men alike. It IS no de-
fence TO an application OF its provisions
that a man may have private means,
which enable him TO live without work
ing This is not a vagrancy act in
tended to put 70 work those without
visible means Of support. The purpose
OF the law is 10 ensure the putting
forth Of our msn-power 20 its utmost
limit. Rich and poor alike are sub
iect 10 IL.
II should also be understood that the
law means not anly that all men shall
work but that they shall work regu-
lsrly and continuously. There are two
classes Of men 10 whom It applies
"Idlers." who do no work at all, and
"slackers," who, though employed
work irr egularly and iniermittently.
Any man who fails In either class Is
liable TO nave assigned TO him certain
work at a fixed. compensation and to be
fined or imprisoned, If he refuses 10
perform II.
In the administration OF this law
the Bureau OF Labor must have ilPst,
the support OF a strong and undivided
public opinion. 70 must be realized by
all that this is a war measure, not
merely desirable but necessary for the
successful carrying on Of the war. u
has been tried in several otker states,
notably IN Maryland, with the entire
approval and support OF good citizens.
II was passed by our own Legislature
and approved by our Governor and the
President Of the United States has ex-
pressed publicly his approval OF such
laws and recommended their adoption
generally. Every patriotic citizen VIII
recognize the justice Of the law and It's
necessity in this great emergency AMI
win give its enforcement his active
and undivided support.
Second. the Bureau asks that all citi-
zens assist IN the impartial and gen
eral enforcement OF the law by fur
nlshing the Bureau with the names and
addresses OF men known not 10 be en-
ployed or whose work Is notably ir-
regular and intermittent, with full par
ticulsrs In each case. All such COM
munlcatlons viii be held absolutely
confidential. Each case will be indc-
pendently Investigated and acted upon
by the Bureau
Third. the Bureau seeks the co-opera-
tion Of employers In response 70 Ifs
specific requests for assistance and in
Unemployment Of assigned men from
time to time.
Every effort will be made by the BIZ
reau 10 get 10 work as soon as possi- I
bic but an organization covering the 1
whole state has 10 be created and many I
details worked out before 10 can ell |
GENTLY operate.
Temporary Offices Of the Bureau will
be established IN the Attorney-Gen- |
erals rooms, County Court House.