Baxter Springs news., 1918-10-25
COMMUNITY LABOR BOARD
WILL USE AUTHORITY
TO DEAL WITH THE
LABOR SLACKERS
WOMEN ARE MUCH NEEDED
Should Volunteer to Fill Posi-.
tiOns of Men Who Leave
NOn-Essential Places to
Take Up War Work

Parsons, Kan, Oct. 20.-A meeting
Of the Community Loabor Board, re-
presenting the U. S. Employment Ser
vice, was held Thursday afternoon at
the office of J. NJ. Kersey, Chairman
Of the Board, in this city. The other
members constituting the Board were
present, namely, Frank Wornstaff, Of
Rittsburg, B. W. Mcfarland, Chanute,
Tclyde Davidson, of Pittsburg, Mrs. f.
w. Boardman, Parsons, Mrs. H. A.
Medaris, Parsons, and U. G. Powles-
land, Examiner in Charge Of the u.
S. Employment office at Parsons;
Milton c. Powell, National Field Or
ganizer sent out by the Department
Of Labor at Washington, was present
and outlined to the Board the various
duties which they, as board are sup
posed to perform. He impressed up
on them the wide scope Of the work,
and the authority vested in the Com
munity Labor Board. The principle
duty as outlined Is the induction Of
women into non-essential industries,
thereby releasing men to enter the es-
sential war work. It was explained
| that this meant industry in its broad
est scope.
Coming directly from Washington,
Mr.. Powell was in a position to lay
before the Board actual facts as they
exist today in regard TO the carrying
on of the work of the essential war
industries, and the shortage of this
class of labor. Only by the substitu-
ton of women laborers into the non
essential industries can enough labor
be secured to enable the Government
to carry on the program as projected
by the Army and Navy Departments.
Community Labor Boards have wide
powers, and their authority eminates
from Washington. The Board seeks
the most active cooperation Of oil en-
ployers of non-essential labor and en-
ployers of any class of work, which
in the judgment Of the Board, can be
carried on BY men. They also ask the
cooperation of employees in such in
dustries, and from the women who are
ready to volunteer for such positions
being vacated by men entering war
industries.
Mr.. Powell impressed upon the
Community Board that he had infor-
nation to the effect that certain coun-
ties, or communities in this district
had considerable amount of unem-
ployed labor, and that there was no
excuse why such labor should not be
engaged in war work. 1t was decided
that an opportunity would be given to
this class of men to Immediately af-
filiate themselves with some essential
war industry. The authority to deal
with such as refuse to heed this re-
quest rests with the Community Labor
Board. The enforcement Of all Of the
powers of the Community Labor
Board will be most carefully looked
after by the Department in Washing
ton. Laborers volunteering for war
work will, as far as possible, be given
their choice Of industry in which they
shall be employed; those who do not
volunteer for work in the war indus
tries will receive no such considera-
tion.
Women are reminded that il is their
patriotic duty to volunteer to occupy
positions such rs may be recommend
ed By the Community Labor Board,
by volunteering 10 fill the positions Of
men in non-essential industries who
will thereby be released for war work.
This is tie end sought to be achieved
by the U. S. Employment Service.
The Community Labor Board is now
making an Industrial Survey and list
ing industries which are, in their OPP
inion, suitable for women to enter.
These lists as soon as completed are
forwarded TO Washington, and when
approved are to be given wide pub
licity.