Evening star., 1918-02-17

service voluntarily they will be. con-
scripted- That's what the message
meant. That is one of the steps for
which President Wilson. by achieving
supreme leadership, has paved the way.
When he says conscription is necessary
Congress will provide for it.. The
mothers and fathers Of the men who
have gone to the front will see to that
Courage Equal to Task.
Conscription of labor is something
which England has not dared under
| take. But that is no sign President
Wilson would not dare it. The British
government has not dared impose mil
itary conscription upon Ireland, though
applying it to England, Scotland and
Wales. Can you imagine Ohio being
exempted when military conscription
was resorted to in the United States?
There were loud outcries against
| conscription in this country. 1t was
opposed by some of the men in Con-
gress who now are among the most
bitter critics of the governments war
progress. But the American people
supported military conscription, because
should weigh impartially. They will
support conscription of labor, il labor
will not otherwise do it's part They
never will submit that strikes. to in
crease wages already high or, to obtain
recognition of unions. shall impede the
progress of the war.
Labor leaders are opposed to labor
conscription. but the American people
are no more following labor leaders to-
day than they are following political
leaders he man would make himself
ridiculous who opposed the President
today on the strength of having po-
ltlcai following: To attempt to lead
religious following against him
would subject a man to suspicion of
lunacy. A leader with a labor union
following would be equally impotent in
opposition Let Woodrow Wilson but
| say that labor conscription is necessary
and it will be as Inevitable as the ris-
| ing of the sun.
The President has not concealed the
fact that he hopes to avoid this ex-
treme step. But his patience-the pa
tience which Germany tried too far
is growing ragged around the edges
Chairman Hurley's telegram to the
striking carpenters was an appeal and
warning. The campaign now under
way 70 enroll so. 600 men for ship
yard work is an effort to avert con-
scription. The wage adjustment board
mas been created in an attempt to keep
the men satisfied and at work, and
the wage scales the board is recon-
mending are liberal Huge sums have
been appropriated and every effort is
being made to provide comfortable
housing accommodations for shipyard
workers.
Do you recall how President Wilson's
Americas rights were accompanied by
measures intended to impress upon the
world the righteousness of Americas s
cause? He is pursuing today the same
program toward recalcitrant labor. He
is giving labor a last chance, Just as
he gave last chance to Germany.
| Capital Already Under Control.
The cry in England has been that
labor shall not be conscripted unless
conscription is applied. also to capital.
LABOR IN this country hasn't even that
leg to stand on. There never has been
any thought of conscripting labor and
binding it out to private hire The
| shipyards or any other industry for
whicn there was draft on labor
would be taken over and operated by
the government.
| Even without outright censcription,
control of industry and business is be-
ing taken more and more out of pri-
vate hands. Mine owners no fonger are
masters OF their collieries Food dis
| tributers must conduct their business
according to government specifications.
And during the last week, by procla-
| nation of the President, all foreign
commerce of every kind was brought
under official regulation.
| Under the war finance corporation
bill. now pending in Congress, further
| restrictions to be put on business
through the control of credits. and pri-
lority in fuel distribution gives life and
death control over industry. Freight
embargoes and priority in shipments
Operate still further to take away from
business it's independence.
Conscription started with the soldier
and has been applied to capital, to trans
portation, to industry. to commerce and
even to the housewife. who may not buy
a pound of flour unless she buys at the
same time a pound of other cereals but
SO far it has left labor untouched. Labor
! alone is free to indulge in profiteering
! Developments of the last week have
stretched very taut the rope which labor
has been allowed to have
Leaders in Congress Consulted.
] Relations between Conpress and tho n a .