The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1918-09-04

StrcSScd the Need OF EiLiciCncy in
Labor.
Labor can win the war and labor
has got to win the war, L. ID. Wool, or
Fountain Inn, field agent OF the Fed
eral deserve Service, told a fairly
laf2c audlCncc at the cour; house sat
uiday morning MIR. Wood explained
III Il Slmp!c uut most impressive mali
naf The VIA! necessity O. securing
man power tor American war indus.
trlcs III "u.ncicnt quantity to supper;
and supply our armies overseas and
the important new policies regarding
labor which have been decided upon
by the government.
Approximately 800 people from the
city and many sections OF the country
heard him. His message was consid-
cred OF such an important nature he
vas asked 10 come here again soon.
He was introduced by Dr.. d. j. Brimm,
OF clinton, member OF, the county
labor board ''@
Mr. Wood declared he was going to
speak in the simplest terms at his
command SO that no one could claim
he didn't understand what the govern
l!eht WAS going to require OF every
one. The very nature OF his sub
Ing some vcry close distinctions. For
instance he stated that employers
who did not pay their men reason
aNlo wage raced danger OF prosecution
lor proiltcer.ng and If they continually
raised their scale, in order to cntice
labor from other plants, they would he
prosecuted for that.
IN speaking of non-cSScntial indus
tries Mr. Wood told local merchants
that they had better make arrange
ments to employ women instead of
men as the man-power of the nation
was not going to be allowed to remain
In such work He excepted heads of
departments, however, and called on
tne women to offer their services for
all kinds Of work.
IF we sit down here and do NOT
support to the utmost our boys in the
trenches the world will be drenchcd
with blood without result" he said.
Mr.. Wood declared in the outset
that labor was on the honor roll, and
SAID he would point out the needs of
tne nation. The United States now
mas between three and four million
men IN the army, and between four
and flVe million in the army and navy
together, and must have twice that
number to win the victory, he said.
10 get them, the draft laws are being
changed. and it is necessary also TO
nave between three and four million
men engaged in war work, and this
IS Just as essential as to have men to
fight.
The efficiency of labor in the South
ern states. declared Mr. Wood, is be-
low 10 per cent. and it must be
brought ~ to greater efficiency, to
n,.l, tn,
and to eliminate idcness. In 1916.
said Mr.. Wood the labor turnover
in the United States, which meant
the number OF new laborers employ
ed, III relation to the total number
maintained, was 800 per cent. This
was caused by labor. moving from
one place TO another, and thus losing
time, and lowering efficiency by con
tnua!ly working under new condi-
tons. In 1917, he stated, the labor
turnover in the. United States in
creased to $50 por cent. The cause
was, he said, that employers had
gone over the country bidding for la
Dor, and thus had dcmoralized it. He
urged labor not to be deceived by al
Turing promises.
The situation became so bad, said
Mi. Wood, that the Government had
subject, under the terms OF which no
employer is permitted to solicit en-
pl0yed labor, without the consent O.
the field agent, who must in turn,
nave the approval OF the community
labor board in the community from
which he solicits. Under this rule,
labor is still permitted to change en-
ploymcnt voluntarily, and Is free to
make change, and other employers
arc Ircc to employ him when he de-
sircs to make a change, but the Gov
crnmcnt does not want him to change,
said Mr.. Wood.
MIR. Wood pointed out the high
authority for the new policy, and
said that it was supreme and could
not be overrued by any court in the
land, and that infractions would be
dealt with vigorously. He warned en-
ployers to be careful. The Govern
ment Is not playing in this matter,
he said nor Is it telling you
what 1t would like to nave YOU do.
In the matter OF securing labor
through the field agent. said Mr..
Wood, "No nOn-essental need apply.
We must have tho men they have al
ready got He suggested to various
manufacturing enterprises that they
might solve their labor problems by
going into war work, and pointed out
that they could get all the war work
they could handle However, 90 per
cent OF the employers are clean-it IL
tho one per cent that the Government