The Washington herald., 1918-06-28
WILSON REASON
FOROPPOSING
DRAFT CHANGE
Says Labor Shortage Ser
ious-Threatens Slow :
ing War In europe

President Wilson yesterday made
vigorous reply to tine critics of the Ad-
ministration who charged that his op-
position to changes in the draft age
was but another display Of indecision
over policies.''
He says that desperate shortage OF
skilled and unskilled Ebor for war in
dustries is at the present hour a
greater menace to effective war par
ticpation than any possible numerical
deficiency in fighting men.
The present draft limits of q to 81
will yield as many soldiers as can he
transported across The seas this year.
Il is intimated that, IL further inroads
are made upon the Industrial strength
OF the nation. at this time. It will be
impossible to equip and properly sup
ply the constantly growing field forces
OF the United States and the allies.
Half Million workers short.
It Is officially stated that a short
age Of approximately a half million
unskilled workers exists in this coun-
try at the present hour. Coai produc-
ton. owing to this, is greatly below
the reeds OF the war industries, with
out, considering the coming winter
| supply for private consumption.
In the Connecticut and Maryland
war plants alone there is a shortage
OF skilled labor sufficient to cause
serious concern. One plant turning
cut heavy calibre guns is under
manned by ZOO machinists.
President Wilson reviewed these
conditions at the secret conference
called at the White House on Tues
day night The Cabinet officers who
attended were Secretary Wilson, Of
the Labor Department; Secretary OF
Commerce Redfield: Secretary OF
Agriculture Houston, and Secretary
Baker.
The President is said at no time to
have approved the drafting OF men
below q. He does not consider that
the war emergency yet demands such
a drain on the youth of the country.
He reached a decision concerning the
higher ages only after a careful sur
vey of the labor statistics. gathered
by his most trusted advisers.
| Administration supporters are sat-
isfied the Chief Executives position.
as stated, is sufficient answer TO
the charge that politics have In any
way entered into the situation.
The facts concerning the labor
shortage as approved at the White
House and issued by the Committee
on Public Information are as follows:
war industries Of the United
States are at this moment short OF
between Sooco0 and 10000 common
laborers and the lack of workers In
the coal Industry is imperiling I'll
other war production.
serious situation.
80 serious is the situation con-
| sidered that the United States EN-
ployment Service, in which common
labor for war work has been CEN
tralized. is endeavoring to complete
its recruiting machinery. So that
wholesale relief may be given before
the ban against private tabor recruit
ing goes into effect on August l.
THE situation with respect TO skill
! ed labor is nearly as serious. One
Of the largest munition plants. turn
ing out heavy caliber guns. is short
ZOO machinists, while the war plants
OF Connecticut and Maryland alone
are undermined by 5000 skilled ma
| chinists.
THE solution lies in the recruit
| ing, by centralized government
agency. OF workers for war work from
tnoBessential industries, as quickly as
possible. This work has been as
signed TO the United States Employ =
ment Service by the President and
the production boards and depart
ments of the government.
The Employment Service estimates
lthat its offices must be increased at
the earliest possible moment to at
least 100. and its corps of local agents
and travelling examiners must be
greatly augmented, in order that
every community may be combed for
war workers."