Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
PATRIOTIC SERVICE
!. IS PUT UP T0LAB0R
Secretary McAdoo Answers
Union Protests Against
Cessation of Building.
WRITES SAMUEL G0MPERs

Secretary McAdoo yesterday called on
American labor not to object If the
nations war policy Of conserving credit
results in curtailed building operations.
but to seek some other kind of employ
ment. If necessary. as patriotic duty.
In a letter to Samuel Gompers presi-
dent Of the American Federation OF
Labor, answering a protest by the
Building Trades Council of San Fran
cisco and other labor unions against
shutting down OF building during the
war. Mr. McAdoo said:
Men are needed to build ships, to
build houses to house men working in
the shipyards, to erect plants to pro-
duce war material. to run our rail-
roads, to operate our industries and to
procure food required by the allies and
ourselves. These needs are already
the war progresses.
Should Render Patriotic Service.
"If our wage earners are unable to
find employment for which they are best
fitted and which they would prefer, or if
they are unable to find employment
where it would be most convenient for
them to work, the opportunity is pre-
scented to render a most patriotic service
in this period of national stress by seek
ing other kinds of employment and. II
need be. moving to other districts where
work is to be had"
The Secretary explained that the gov
eminent does not seek to prevent build
are absolutely needed, but it ENCOURAGES
the postponing of building operations
which are not required to protect the
health or provide for the comfortable
needs of our people, or to supply i raeii IL
business essential to the successful
prosecution of the war
The Secretary's letter was made pub
lie, together with one from J. b. Dens-
more, director of the United States
employment service. to Paul NJ. War
burg, chairman OF the Federal Reserve
Boards capital issues committee. say
ing the Department of Labor would as
sist workmen in finding employment
Secretary McAdoo's Letter.
In the letter to Mr.. Gompers. Sec
rotary McAdoo said:
"As you know, l have no authority
to direct that building operations be
curtailed 1 have merely suggested
that unnecessary work of that kind be
Such postponement would, 1 am sure.
help win the war. but every patriotic
man must be determined by his own
conscience in the matter, and must
decide for himself if he can postpone
the erection of a contemplated building
until the war is over. The situation
must be viewed from a national and
not from local standpoint
'The great financial operations of the
government make it essential that
avery r1pneceSSarv eyneDdifnre nv the
government. by the states and munich
palities and by private corporations
and individuals be avoided while the
war is in progress.
There must be no siackers in Wall
street. none in the homes, none on the
farms, none in our Industries. Capital
and labor alike must do their utmost.
There must be no waste. no extrava-
gance, no unnecessary expenditure.
The nation has need of all its man
power, of all it's wealth, of all its re-
sources"
Communication to Mr.. Marburg.
Mr.. Densmore, writing to Mr.. War
burg, said the system of distribution
of labor and of housing workmen is
faulty.
while it is true he said. that the
labor situation in the United States is
comparatively satisfactory. it is equal
ly true that conditions could be greatly
improved through a more scientific
distribution of labor OF course. it is
understood that change of domicile by
workers entails sacrifices and expense.
But you will not find the laboring man
of America hesitating about the sacri-
flee of his comfort and convenience
when the nation calls.
ITO transfer labor from SURPRISED to
depleted sections, the employment serv-
ice will shortly have revolving travel
ing fund of s25O,000. This may be used
to advance transportation to be later
reimbursed by the intended employee.
Carpenters, shipbuilders, structural
ironworkers, and in fact, every kind of
mechanic, in large numbers, could find
assistance in reaching ready and re-
munerative employment upon applica-
ton to the United State employment
service. a branch of which can be found
in every large CITY,"
cAvc CIT wCn MD nFAnoo