The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-17
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORM A TION
BUREAU
FREDERIC J. HAsKIN. pirscter.
WASHINGTON D. q
WAR AND LABOR.
Washington. D. G

WAR AND LABOR.
H.-keeping the Workman Satisfied. |
Washington, D. c.. Sept 14.-Since |
the war began there have been in
stances where the turnover OF labor !
at war plants has scared to 100 per
cent a week and maintained that fiS-
ure, meaning weekly change IN the
entire working force of the plant, for
three or four weeks at a time.
This turnover, as Secretary or Labor
Wilson has pointed out, is in reality
the individualistic strike. 1t is the
strike of the individual dissatisfied
with working and living conditions at
the war plant where he is engaged and
unwilling or unahle to continue stead
lily at work while those unsatisfactory
conditions confront him.
For this reason the new working
conditions service of the department
of labor is destined to prove one of the
most powerful of federal agencies for
preserving peace and satisfaction
among Industrial war workers. 1t Is a
new departure. Never before the war
had the federal government taken this
I move into a field generally considered
one of state jurisdiction.
The laws of the several states pro-
vide certain standards for working
| conditions, particularly with regard to
| safety appliances, lighting and ventila-
| ton facilities The state laws are by
no means uniform, however. and have
in several instances proved inadequate
! in view of the hurried development OF
war plants. The institution of national
standards of working conditions ade-
| quate to insure comfort and happiness
| for war workers is one of the most
important steps the department of la
Dor has taken to guard against disceu
tent among the workers, causing large
| LABOR turnover and consequent waste
| and delay in war production.
h0 cot
ment of labor provides that its purpose
snail be, among other things. ito inn
prove the working conditions of the
wage earners of the United States" it
is doubtful whether this step could
have been put thru under the pre-war
conditions when industry was run
without any other interest than pri-
vate gain. But now, with the greater
part of industry concentrated on war
production, and all war production be-
ing carried out on government con-
tracts. the department of labor can
and is esta blishing definite policies en-
this subject. seeing that uniform in
sertiens are made in all contracts and
thus securing the adoption of such ma
tional standards as Investigation and
experience prove best. The attitude of
i the administration is very firm on the
subject OF decent working conditions,
and should national legislation become
necessary to enforce its aims, 1t is no
secret that any plan proposed by the
department of labor will have the sup
port of the various war production d.
visions of the government. There is
firm determination that the greed of
powerful individuals shall not be per-
mitted to run counter to the govern
ments policy of maximum war sup
plies produced by contented workers.
Specifically the duties of the work
ing conditions service are as follows:
To examine into the matter of work
ing conditions in the war industries,
to determine the uniform standards
which should be maintained, to adopt
rules embodying such standards, to de-
termine the best means for securing
Z the adoption and maintenance of such
, standards and to cooperate with the
. state authorities for the above pur-
poses. This work is mainly carried on
, land inspection service of the depart
tment of labor, which will be described
later.
Lessons from English experience
: have been thoroly absorbed by the de
: partment of labor in planning the
, working conditions service. In Eng
land, in the early stages OF the war
I no supervisory work was undertaken
as to hours of labor or health pre-
. cautions. Faced with crucial neet
ment permitted employers to work mel
, and women alike II hours a day
9 seven days a week. But in the sum
> nler of 1915 it became apparent tina
production suffered rather thai
e gained from such policy. Extensive in
= vestigations were begun by the min
istry of munitions. followed by tn
\ esta blishment of supervision whicl
has served as model for our owl
: government in working out it's SINH
e lar problems.
The records iof the department o
: labor show that it is no mere senti
z mentalism which has prompted thi
far.reaching step of government sup
| erviSion. The numerous fatalities i
the war plants, needless deaths fror
the unguarded use of industrial pois
ons in the manufacture of explosive,
9 and the frequency of sweating o.
\ the army cloth contract revelations
r would each alone be justification TO
the step.
AS mentioned above it will be tn
L investigation and inspection service @
n the department of labor which will b
= charged with the duty of collectin
y. the data necessary for natural super
q vision of the workers interest. Plan
are that this service shall provide tn
field forces also for all tho other ID
visions of the department OF labol
I For this purpose the various exam
liners, Investigators and inspector
hitherto maintained by the variou
u war production branches of the go,
II the investigation and inspection sci
=, vice. la addition, a large number {
expert labor inspectors will be adde
to the personnel of this division.
% Another new division of the depar,
). ment of labor which Is becoming NOR
prominent every day the war continue
/ is the women in industry service. AT
proximately three and half millio
IS women are now employed in war In
, dustry alone in Great Britain In TIL
country a quarter of million men
month are being withdrawn from civ
n occupations to enter the army and RI
"A course to the labor of women to
degree approaching what is being don
q in England will soon become necei
IS sary.
It is not the intention of the depaTt