Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-06-26
Circulation Every 1OC71
Evening Yesterday 1LOI 1
WEDNESDAY. JUNE 26. 1oi
Compelling Idlers 10 Work.

competing 10 " oiA-
In Every Evening Of Yesterday very
interesting letter was printed, showing
the move made by the authorities Of Cecil
county, Md. acting under the law enacted
bv the Legislature AT this vear s session to
compel idlcrs TO engage IN the various
lines of useful work now so essential IN
aiding the government 10 successfully
prosecute the war Under this law All
ahle-bodied men between the ages OF -
and 30 years must engage IN some usctui
occupation AT least six days tn each week
Bv public advertisement III tho local
napcrs. the authorities secured, from
persons in various parts Of tho county,
the names Of those who were not working
such persons viii be notified 70 appear
for hearings. Wednesdays and Saturdays
81 each week and if they cannot prove
they arc engaged in work. will he notit1cd
to get a job At once At thcir usual occupa-
tion II i bc in an essential industry
II not. In one that is essential 10 the
prosecution of the war Their employers
must notify tho authorities Of the work
done each week bv such persons, and those
who have neglected or refused to procure
work will bc sent 10 the House Of Corrcc-
tlon. After their commitment % this
institution they Will he assigned 70 work
At various industries principally farm
work hv the governor Particular at
tcntion is to be paid in the prosecution 81
this important work. to rowing bands Of
zvpsics Who may visit any Of the counties
Of Maryland
The MARYLAND movement. especially
in our next-door ncighhor, Cccl county,
has aroused great interest in Delaware
We have law somewhat similar, by
which a State Council Of Defense IS
provided. with extraordinary powers.
ncludi nc that Of arraigning those who
ircfti>c 10 work ana compelling them % DO
such work n may bc assigned to them.
This Council has been duly organized,
and Is prepared to make vigorous on
-orrement of the law Il viii take cogni-
rancc not only Of idlers. but Of persons
engaged in what arc called non-cssentlal
occupations that IS, those that haV no
connection whatever with war operations
and assign them where they may render
the most acceptable service, mainly on
farms. where all kinds OF labor are badly
needed
That there is need Of such plan in
this State is not 20 be doubted There IS
hardly farmer in Delaware who can say
he has labor sufficient for his needs through
OUT the coming harvest IN Middietown
citizens who arc familiar with farm work
have organized tentatively and will JOIN
IN helping in the coming harvests during
spare hours. especially during the evening
hours, now made more available by reason
Of daylight saving Many school boys
also have volunteered for farm work.
Yet there has not been altogether a
great scarcity OF men The great trouble
has been the refusal OF the 'slackers
to work Especially is this true Of the
Negro farm hands, who this year had
demanded the most extravagsnt wages,
in addition to many special privileges,
and then were not willing to work full
time. Under the arrangements about to
be employed in enforcement Of the new
Law, all these indifferent men and these
idle men Will be compelled TO do their
part.
II is we'll that this is to be done. This
is no time for loafers Il is time for
every man who is able to work to do his
part, especially IN farm work and other
labor essential to the prosecution Of the
war 1t is full time for ;fction-the time
when man can work and refuses to
work should be compelled TO work.