Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-12-12
NATIONHSLABOR
DIRECTOR PLANS
SOLDIER PLACES
Would Have the Returning
Yankees Colonize Tracts of
Government Land

Washington. Dec. 12.-Colonization
by returned soldiers and sailors OF
large tracts OF land under the diree-
tion and with the aid of the Federal
government is recommended as a So
luton of many of the labor problems
arising from rehabilitation by Sec
retary OF Labor Wilson in his annual
report, made public to-day. The gov
ernment should in the opinion of Mr..
Wilson establish and equip individual
farms. which would be linked into
community groups.
The war has demonstrated the na-
triotism and loyalty of American
Labor. the report says. and in the
continuance OF the spirit of sacri-
fice" on the part OF employer and en-
ploye shown during the war. Secre-
tary Wilson believes "lies the hope
for the further attainment and de
velopment during the days of peace
of that democracy for which we have
taken up arms"
The right of collective bargaining.
long recognized by the Department
of Labor, Secretary Wilson declares
has been more widely established by
reason of the war. He adds that "if
the principles upon which that agree
ment was founded can endure the
stress of war, IL is fair to suppose
that even greater success will at
tend their application during the
calmer periods of peace"
To solve the labor problems arising
from reconstruction, Mr.. Wilson rec
ommends the continuation of the
labor adjustment agency of the Ma
tional War Labor Board. Agree
ments have been effected between
labor and employers through this
agency, the report says by which GER
tain principles have been placed above
further dispute.
Agricultural areas should be pur-
chased by the Federal government
and added to the public domain to
provide land for the carrying out of
the proposed colonization program of
returned members of the military
forces, the report asserts. It is pro-
posed that administration of the pro-
gram be directed by a board con-
sisting of the heads of the Agricul-
ture, Interior and Labor Depart
ments.
Legislation needed to carry out the
plan, Secretary Wilson believes,
should include these provisions:
The possibility of commercialized
speculation must be eliminated.
Colonists must be given access, not
only to land. but to farms; not to
the bare soil, but to fully equipped
agricultural plants ready to operate.
The farms themselves must be
welded, together into genuine COM
munities, by provision for roads,
schools and markets, under the gem
eral supervision of the Federal gov
ernment
Arrangements have been completed,
says the report, to care for demob-
ilized men who do not care TO take
up farm work so far as possible
through the United States Employ
ment service, a branch of the depart
nent. on this point the Secretary
Says:
I'm presenting these recommenda-
tiOns at this time, I regard it unnec-
.essary to point out further posi-
bilities. In setting forth the neces-
sity for land settlement 1 am not un-
mindful of the vast numbers who
must again find their places in our
complex Industrial organization. 1t
is too early at present to forecast
accurately the industrial organiza-
tion or needs of our Nation after the
war. All the properly adapted facili-
ties of the Department of Labor are
at present engaged in the study of
those problems of reconstruction pc
culiar to manufacturing and Sec
ondary industry; and from time to
time 1 shall have recommendations
and conclusions to present based upon
such studies"
The report reviews the expansion
of the Department of Labor from an
organization of four bureaus, to one
of thirteen bureaus and two boards.
in response to demands arising out
of the war. During the fiscal year.
which the report covers, mediation
and concilation division handled cases
involving 1,O42,341 workmen directly
and 1886 indirectly.
The employment service recruited
for war industries during the year
1,SO0,593 wOrkmen.
The bureau of naturalization ad-
mitted to citizenship during the year
a total of 151, ,449 persons. decrease
under 1917 of 1881.
Work carried on by the department
is described as including: Securing
adoption OF uniform standards of en-
ployment in government departments;
obtaining suitable legislation for the
protection of women in industry;
promoting child labor laws; provid-
ing for the construction of homes for
war workers; establishing better re-
la tions between negro workers and
white employers. and establishing
minimum wage scales.