Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-08-01
NATION ASSUMES
CHARGE OF LABOR
IN u. S. TODAY
War Industry Requirements
Are Apportioned on Basis
of State Population

New York. Aug. 1.-The federal
government to-day took over in every
state in the Union. the recruiting of
common labor for the furtherance
OF the war. Labor requirements for
war industries have been apportion-
ed TO the various states on a basis of
population. and as men are needed
they will move forward TO meet the
demand, wherever this may be. The
aim Is TO eliminate the wasteful
turnover of labor: stabilize wages:
increase the production of essentials
and give efficient support TO the man
in the trenches. who needs from six
10 ten men 10 work for him in this
country every day he is in France.
Announcement of this plan was
made at a luncheon given in New
York City yesterday 10 Secretary of
Labor Wilson by Grosvenor Is. Clark
son, secretary of the Council OF Ma
uonal Defense. 10 gathering of
newspaper publishers. Mr.. Wilson
made an address, in which he dwelt
upon the problems facing the gov
ernment in the matter of mobiliZing
labor in the United States. and the
steps taken TO meet the situation.
John B. Densmore. director general
OF the federal employment service.
outlined in detail the drastic plans
which will result in prompt transfer
or workers 10 the fields where they
are most needed, and from the nom
essential TO the essential industry.
Independent recruiting of common
labor by plants employing over loo
men will be diverted, effective Au-
gust l, TO the United States employ
ment service, and there will be re-
strictlons upon private advertising
for la hnr rha ha
lect will be conducted with the least
possible injury 10 labor as a whole.
Under the methods adopted the
country has been divided into thir-
teen federal districts, each district
IN charge OF q superintendent OF the
federal employment service. The state
within each district are in turn in
charge OF state director, who has
full control of the service within his
state.
In each community there has been
formed = local community labor
board. which has Jurisdiction over
recruiting and distributing labor i'll
its locality. These boards will, if nee
essary, ask employers of non-war
workers TO give up labor 10 meet the
needed requirements for war pur-
poses.
\ shortage Of 100000 unskilled
workers in war industries is shown
IN incomplete reports TO the Depart
ment OF LaborS Federal Employ
ment Service. which to-day took
over the recruiting OF this class OF
labor for war industries employing
a maximum force OF one hundred or
more persons.
Final reports, il was announced.
are expected 10 show percentage
or one million workers
War Industry was defined in the
announcement by the employment
service as the manufacture or
products or erection OF structures
directly or indirectly supplied 10
some departments OF the Govern
ment for use N connection with
The war Coal mining also was
CLASSIFIED as wholly war work"
While they Will be protected from
recruiting by other industries. rail-
roads and farms must obtain their
unskilled labor by other means tnan
through the Federal Employment
Service, the announcement said.