Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-07-05

The Legislature Of Delaware, at a Epe-
cisl scszion held early this year, passed a
law requiring that all men between the
ages of IS and % vears-not soldiers or
public officers, and notaries public, 1t has
been decided. are not public officers within
the meaning and intent of this law
shall be engaged at work in some useful
and lawful occupation during the CON
tinuance Of the great world war IN which
our country is now engaged. The purpose
of this law is to secure for the Federal
government the cooperation OF every
ounce of man-powcr throughout the
country in support Of its prosecution OF the
war
1t is not given to all men The privilege OF
rnlisting in the armies or navy Of Our
country and taking part IN the active
fighting. That duty devolves upon tho
Young and lusty men, inspired by the
ardor Of youth and with the strength OF
youth. But equally essential to our actual
fighting strength is the home support by
workers in the various trades, especially
in those lines that give direct aud and
support 20 the government building
ships and manufacturing the varied NUM-
tons Of without which support the
fighting ability of orr government would
be seriously handicapped
The situation, therefore, IS this: The
government has called upon It's lighting
forces. and they have responded nobly
We now have n million American soldiers
in France, with q few millions more in
prospect 10 support them, If necessity
arises. But we must supplement these
fighting legions with work here at home,
to keep them supplied at all times with the
required food and munitions, without
which they could not fight.
Hence comes tho demand for labor, and
thus the requirement of the State that
those Of its citizens who are not available
for fighting purposes must give their time
and labor to the maintenance OF all the
supplies Of war that are so imperatlvely
demanded at this time In the compliance
with this demand there Is room for every
able-bodied man between The ages OF Is
and IS years possibly older-as the law
says, TO go regularly and continuously
at work, because their work is necessary
TO the successful prosecution OF the war
upon which our government has entered.
This legal regulation means that there
is no room for loafers in the State OF Della
ware. Every able-bodied man who,
through some demeaning process OF reason-
ing which high-minded mon cannot com
prehend. has made up his mind that he
can get along IN life without the special
exercise of mental or physical effort, must
come down from his self-assumed pedestal
and make up his mind that at last he must
20 to work. That he must make himself q
useful member Of society, and no longer
stand forth as a parasite.
In accordance with the law of Delaware
to utilize every clement Of useful occupa-
ton to the prosecution of the war, q COM
puIsorv Work Bureau has been established
in the old Federal Building, at Sixth and
King streets, in this city. Mr., Christopher
l.. Ward is in charge of this bureau, and 1T
is his sincere purpose 10 utilize every
ounce of physical labor within the bounds
OF the State of Delaware, white or colored,
10 the furtheraDce OF our success IN the
war In public announcement he SAYS
elders and slackers are both alike help
ing the enemy They cut down the man
power of the country, which must back
UP our army in this great conflict All
good citizens will approve of tins law,
obey it and help to enforcH it. !"
And so they will There is now no room
in all this country for loafers and slackers.
AL must either work or fight