The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-05-11
IDAHO IS CALLED
TO FURNISH MEN
SHIP CALKERS WANTED FOR
PACIFIC SHIPYARDS-STE
DORES FOR OVERSEAS


BOISE-Idahoan who can go into
the ship yards on the Pacific coast
and take up work as wooden ship
calkers are in general demand, an
imperative appeal having been re-
ceived by O. G. F. Markhus, director
of the United States public service
reserve, department of labor, for Ida
no, for them. Men who feel they can
take up the work should apply forth
with to the local county registering
agents of the reserve. A calker
makes water tight calks between the
planking and wood decks. He usually
works alone except in the case of
deep seams, when a helper assists
in pounding in the cotton and oakum.
The government has also called up
on Idaho to furnish half dozen good,
husky "stevedores" for immediate
service overseas in the quartermas-
ter's department. The age limit is
from IS to 40 years so draft men are
included. These labor volunteers will
receive the customary allowances for
dependents and usual army pay.
Regarding the employment and
surroundings of men who go into the
shipyards, Charles S. Horton, for
mer resident Of Boise, writing to Di-
rector Markhus from Portland where
ba hos rb;,,xyorJ anoy,1ox,y,,o ont COWS II,
part: Having arrived in Portland
and having carefully looked over the
labor problems in the city, and espec-
tally the yard at which l am employ
many statements so widely circulated
throughout the state of Idaho con-
corning the shipyards on the coast
are erroneous in the extreme. I ar
first yard to which applied. l knew
no one, and had no pull, as many
may suppose. My abilities were in
no way superior to others who had
preceded me. / am employed at the
Grant Smith-Porter yard, st. John,
Portland, and have been a close OBJ
server of everything in general. l
have worked in many large construc-
ton and other camps from coast to
coast, a,ffrad->have never seen a place
where so many men were gathered
together in perfect harmony. We
meet as brothers, help one another,
and discord and dissension is seldom
found among our ranks.
patriotism is the slogan, and woe
be to the Stacker who enters our
gates. We have no room for towards
and seditious utterances will not be
tolerated for moment. Our employ
ers will not countenance any disloyal
Our yard is well guard
ed against any pro-German violence,
a systematic method employed by the
is almost a guarantee
against loss of tools left on the prem
ises. To an onlooker it would be |
next to impossible to distinguish the |
bosses from the men, were it not |
from the different colored badges, as
The bosses here dress just as plain as
The workmen.
"Many have been led to believe, in
Idaho, like myself, that men in the
yards were driven like slaves, and
we're snot even allowed their freedom.
The idea is absurd in the extreme.
Everything has been arranged for
,ur comfort that could be furnished
n the limited space of time, and our
Employers have been provided large
anks of hot coffee which is furnished
rec to the men who labor at night.
"The cost of living here is about
he same as most places in Idaho, but
nen with families, especially those
With children, have some difficulty
hiding homes. Most men go to and
rom their work in the cars, the fare
eng six cents each way. The wages
re good for all common labor. Men
re hard to find who are willing to
axe common labor. I feel it my
uty to right great wrong, and feel
hat agitators are working in your
lidst trying to hamper the govern
lent in speeding up the much needed {
'ork. I hope this may be the means l
enlightening some of my fellow t
,orkers and offer the same in the +
pirit Of loyalty and the furtherance c
freedom and democracy" S
t