The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-11-19
RELEASE OF men
BEING ARRANGED
DECENTRALIZATION PLANNED ON
BASIS OF INDUSTRIES. ABILITY
TO ABSORB WORKERS.
Men Will Not Be Turned Loose to
Shift for Themselves, but viii Be
Provided With Employment Before
Being. Discharged From Service.

Washington. - disqualification OF
men In the military and naval service
Of the United States after their return
from France will be carried out large
~ on a basis Of the ability Of trades
and occupations to absorb them, ac-
cording to a plan being worked out by
the labor, war and navy departments
and the war industries board. 1t was
said that the plan will be submitted to
President Wilson soon.
The war industries board has sent
questionnafres to employers in all in
dustries asking the needs of each for
men and the answers will show where,
when and how rapidly jobs will be
ready for discharged soldiers and sail
ors and what trades are most in need
OF them. Supplementing this informa-
ton will be that received from draft
boards and community labor boards
which are to cooperate in the word.
Bodies to Be Combined.
The war labor policies board and the
United States employment service will
be combined to handle the labor de-
partment's end. The war department
is expected to establish new bureau
or to convert the activities of Provost
Marshal General CrOwder's office to
this end. General Crowder was sug-
gested by some officials as the man
best qualified to deal with the task of
preserving the balance Of power of
the labor supply without delaying de-
mobilization operations.
With the conversion of industry
from war to peace basis many
workers also will be released from
emergency jobs created by the war, but
this problem has been taken into con-
sideration by the officials who are
working out plans for general sta
bilizing Of labor conditions when the
soldiers are returned to civil life.
Much Work Ahead.
In this connection, officials pointed
out that with the ending Of hostilities
there will be great resumption OF
private construction and manufactur-
ing, held up and restricted because OF
war work, and that thousands OF
skilled laborers will be needed in all
parts of the country for this work.
Secretary Baker said every phase OF
rehabilitation Of the army Is being
carefully studied by war department
agencies, but as yet no plans nave
been formally formulated. The only
orders so far issred curtailing war
work deal with projects upon which
work has not actually started, he SAID.
The question of the number OF
American troops to be released IN
France or elsewhere in Europe Is be-
ing studied on that side, Mr.. Baker
said, while the general staff Is pre-
parting recommendations as to the
number to be kept under arms IN TINS
country. The problem in Europe re-
mains of joint operations with the
allied nations in after-the-war guard
ing and other work to be done by the
military forces and no conclusions on
this point can vet be made.
Mr.. Baker said several factors VIII
govern the order in which men Will be
released from the army. 1t Is obvious
he said, that as matter OF justice
men who have been longest In the ser
vice should be released first, but the
Industrial situation and the special
need for men Of a certain calling prob
ably will modify the principle of max
ing a lengthy service to guide for mus
tering out.
The labor employees are confident
that the rehabilitation Of the 4,OOO,ooo
men now under arms at home and
overseas and the conversion OF indus
try to its peace status will not cause
any serious problem of Unemployment.