Smyrna times., 1918-07-10


rector of the Compulsory Work Bureau
of the State Council of Defense, has
begun his work. He is charged with
the enforcement of the law requiring
that all male residents of this State
between the ages of 18 and 55 yeras,
not in the National Army or a public
officer, shall be employed in a useful
or lawful occupation during the period
of the war. We fully endorse the
opinion of the Wilmington Evening
Journel when it says: He should
have the support of every Delaware
newspaper and of every loyal and in
dustrious Delawarean in the reason
able and proper enforcement of that
law against loafers and slackers. We
think that all intelligent persons
realize that it is highly essential that
the bureau of which Mr.. Ward is the
head shall have behind it the force
of strong and undivided public opinion.
Unless it have that it cannot operate
successfully. 1t will be the policy
of the bureau under Mr.. Wards di-
rection to try to effect the desired
results with no more frequent re-
course to the penal features of the Law
than is absolutely necessary. 1t is
felt by him and by the members of
the State Council that the great thing
to do is to get everybody to work.
That will be effected in most cases
by the mere knowledge on the part of
the idler and Stacker that there is
such law and it is being enforced.
In some recalcitrant cases, of course,
it will be necessary TO invoke the
penalties of the Law, but it is believed
that the full effect of the law will be
measured in no way by the number
of actual prosecutions under it.
''It is worth bearing in mind that
in Maryland. after trial lasting al
most a year, such law has been q
great success. President Wilson has
urged that all the States force their
slackers and loafers to work or fight.
Delaware must do her duty in this
behalf, and the law should be made
a living thing and not dead letter.
Mr.. Ward has issued poster which
tells the story to all good citizens as
well as to the idlers and slackers.
1t is headed, "Work or Fight -
After reciting the fact that the Law
of Delaware requires all men be-
tween 18 snd 55 years of age. no
soldiers or public officers, to be a
work in some useful or lawful occupa
tion during the war, it adds:
''This means regularly and contin
uously at work. Working three o
four days a week is not obeying thi
law.
GA man who does not work at al
is an idler. A man who does les
than a solid, honest weeks work ever
week is a Stacker.
"Idlers and slackers are liable unde
the law to be assigned to certain EN-
ployment at a certain fixed rate d
wages and compelled to work at il
under penalty of fine and imprisor
ment. Idlers will be put to wor
where they will do the most gooC
Slackers may be taken from the
present jobs and given others, whic
they may not like so well.
elders and slackers are both aliL
helping the enemy. They cut dow
the manpower of the country, viii,
must back up our army in this gre
conflict.
''All good citizens will approve
this law, obey it and help to enfor
it.
''The names of idlers and slacke
should be reported to this bureau. I"
In view of this activity by t
bureau and its determination to G
force the law at all hazards, conclud
the Evening Journal, it will be W
for the idlers and slackers to get
work without further delay. No N
who values. even slightly, bis p
-