The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-04-09
Proposal Would Put Industrial
Slackers to Work BY New
Classification.
SUBMITTED BY CROWDER
Primary Purposes is "Purifica-
tiOn" of the Second, Third and
Fourth Classes of Regis
trantS.

mod1ncationS OF the draft classifca-
ton lists which would affect in one
way or another the status Of every
one OF the millions OF registered
men is proposed in a plan submitted
to President Wilson by officials of the
provost marshal generals office and
the department OF labor. While the
primary purpose Of the new program
is the publication OF the second
trants who are not engaged in any
productive industry, attention also
would be given to lower sections Of
Glass / and the effect, its trainers be-
lieve would be to solve the nations
labor problem and largely increase
the output Of the necessities Of life
The proposal would utilize the
draft machinery for putting indus
trial slackers to work. Every reg
istered man who has been granted
deferred classification, would be Civ
On TO understand that such deferred
is not legal right, but privilege
and that IL unfair advantage is taken
of that privilege, IL will be summari-
ly revoked. =
II proposes to make a most care
full survey of the lower sections of
Glass / and Of other classes to inden-
tify those men who are idlers or who
are gaining their living through un.
desirable or harmful" pursuits. I'm
der the latter head, officials suggest
might be listed CANDLES, bookmakers
for races, poolroom touts and others.
Formal notification would be served
upon these men that, unless within a
specified time they obtain employ
ment. in some useful industry, they
would have their classified status
changed so as to send them into mill
tary service Immediately.
Next Step in View.
The plan is not designed to inter-
fere in the slightest with the So
called non-essential industries These
may be affected to some slight de-
gree. but officials say such injury
would be Offset many times over by
the resulting national good TO be OBJ
tained from the augmented labor
supply and the greatly increased pro-
duction of essentials.
Administration officials who have
participated in the preparation of the
plan declare that the next step
would be to obtain authority for the
industrial classification of the man
power of the country up to the age
of so years.
To make the program fully effec-
tive, IL is intended to utilize the ex.
listing local boards virtually as EN-.
ployment agencies for their districts
Accurate reports would be kept as 10
the vacancies existing in the neigh.
borhood and when a man was in.
formed that he must seek a useful
occupation he would be told where
Just man as his QUESTIONABLE
shows him to be was needed
Would Improve Status.
The status OF men on the classified
lists, both in Glass l and in the de-
ferred classes, in the opinion OF the
provost marshal generals office
would be improved. Delinquents
who did not heed the warning would
be induced into the military service
reducing the number OF men to be
called from Glass /. This would op-
crate to delay still further the date
when the services Of men In Class 2
might be needed. This fact Is ex-
pected to draw to the aid OF the
"purification." relatives and friends
OF boys who are about to be called.
That determined opposition to the
plan will develop in some quarters
has been foreseen. The effect upon
the labor market of the addition OF
many thousands OF able-bodied
workers might be to reduce the pres
ent wage scales. The economic bal
ance will be kept even. however. &c
cording to the champions OF the
program, by the reduction in the cost
OF life's necessities through increas-
ed output and In the improved st
uation OF the dollar in international
exchange.