New-York tribune., 1918-05-24
Thousands in
City Dazed by
Draft Order
Threatened Labor Short.
age Causes Protests;
Hotels Hit Hard

New York, probably the greatest city
in the world for what Provost Marshal
General Crowder yesterday termed
useless" occupations, was dazed by
/ the order from Washington that men
OF draft age must fight or else engage
in some productive form of labor Only
the order of Fuel Administrator Gar
field. which halted virtually all indus
tries east of the mississippi, has pro-
duced like effect here since the war
began.
The amusement and luxury affording
sphere of New York's life is specially
affected. Theatres, hotels and restau-
rants have many employees who will
have to change their jobs because of
The mandate from the capital.
And some Of them will kick. They
started to aim the kick just as soon as
they read the newspapers yesterday
announcing General Crowder's order.
The walters will kick, using the
strong boot Of the American Fedora
tion of Labor, if they can.
The bartenders will kick, also appeal
ing to the American Federation Of La
Dor for kicking motor power.
The hatboys and other hotel and res
taurant attendants promise to kick
with the aid of their employers, who
say their business interest sare even
now jeopardized through labor short
age.
The sales clerks in department, gro
Gerry, drug and other stores also will
kick, using the same argument of labor
shortage.
The only persons who will have to
take their punishment in silence will
be the out-and-out loafers, pool and
billiard "aces," gamblers, racetrack fire.
quenters, bucket shop operatives, and
the major and minor prophets of the
fortune telling, palmistry and clairvoy-
ant schools.
Others who will probably suffer
themselves to be led to the recruiting
stations or to some other place of use
full employment without much protest
will be the neatly uniformed footmen,
doormen, housemen, buffers and at
tendants in clubs. hotels, apartment
houses and Office buildings.
Lucius M. Boomer, managing director
of the Hotel McAlpin, president of the
Hotel Claridge Company. and director
panies, said General Crowder's action
was extremely serious for the hotel and
restaurant interests.
'lf the government takes our wait
ers, clerks and other attendants, it
will bring about very serious stua-
tion." said Mr.. Boomer "The shortage
of labor is bad enough already. 1t is
almost impossible to get enough help
now. | employ more than 1000 wait
ers, and if lose any of them / don't
know where I am going to fill their
places.
"The employment of women will
not solve the problem. They cannot
be trained in a short time"
Mark A. Caldwell, secretary of the
Hotel Association of New York, said
the order undoubtedly would mean a
hard drain on the help available to
hotels. He roughly estimated the mum.
ber of hotel employees in New York at
$4,000, most OF them men, and an ap-
preciable percentage of draft age.
A. Toby, secretary of Bartenders'
union would protest most emphatically
through the A. F. of L., with which it is
affiliated, although only SMALL num-
ber of members of this local would be
affected by the order.
The same statement was made by
William r. Joyce, secretary of the Bar
tenders Benevolent and Protective As
sociation, Local No. 3. Mr.. Joyce said
ell the bartenders' unions, waters and
hold meeting next Monday afternoon
at 228 East Eighty-sixth Street. at
which this order would be discussed.
1--WE are patriotic" said Mr. Joyce.
But | don't like the looks of this or
der. There are seven hundred bar
tenders unions in this country and
Canada, and every local in this country
| has taken from $500 to 81 900 in Lib
erty bonds. In addition, to be in good
standing, every member has to hold a
Liberty bond Of his own. Between six
thousand and eight thousand Of our
members have volunteered for army
and navy service. ] don't think the
boys should be forced to give up their
jobs till they are called to- the colors." :"