Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-27
{. N. HURLEY CALLS FOR
SH|PYARD VOLUNTEERS
Shipping Board Chairman Wants mt
Least 100000 Skilled Workers
To Offer Services.
FOUR MINUTE MEN TO HE'LL
Patriotic Workmcn Can Serve Their
Country as Effectively as Soldiers
and SaiIors-VoIuntcers Will lie
Called to Yards When Needed

Edward y. Hurley. chairman of the
United states Shipping Board, in lot
ter 10 General L.. W. Nichols. as chair
man Of the Virginia Council of De
tense. emphasizes ono of the pressing
needs IN the shipping program at pres
cnt. and calls on the Council OF De-
fcnsc for immediate consideration of
soInr striking plans. Mr.. Harley says:
we welcome your cooperation In
tho plan which has been formulated
for the organization NJ volunteer re-
serve army to be hold in readiness for
tho expanding needs Of the shipyards
We arc asking tho chairmcn OF tho
State Councils Of Defense TO take steps
Immediately 10 call for volunteers for
this shipyard army from among tho
skilled. Intelligent and patriotic work
crs of their communities. We want a
reserve army OF highly skilled mo
chanics. numbering not less than $50
900. TO hold itself iii readiness for any
call
During the two weeks period he
ginning January IS, tho four-ninutc
men Will explain TO their audiences all
over the country what ShiphuiidinE
means To America in this war. During
that week, 1t is hoped that all tho state
councils will he in complete readiness
10 list and take tho pledges Of the
shipbuiidin6 volunteers
waiting merely to 10 told wha, service
they can best render. Trained rivetcrs,
hoilcrrnakcrs. punchers. fnachinists
hlaeksmiths. carpenters, calker:. mill
wriEhts and other trained mon can rem
der no service moro vitality needed than
the service Of the nation in the ship
yards. AS q gauge of future needs
there wcrc approximately 10000 mon
employed in tho shipya rdS OF tho coun-
try six months ago, while there arc
now about 5000 employed. \ volun-
tccr army of $4,000 hold in reserve
each man ready to put his whole heart
Into the work when called Will give
ture will be met.
lust as the troops in the trenches
in France arc supported by the reserve
forces behind them. SO must We have
large force Of skilled and natriotic
workncn ready al any moncn, to en-
ist In the battle for democracy in the
hipyards.
Every skilled Workman who volun-
tccrs for work in the shipyards NAV
we'll feel that he has joined the milf
tary forces OF America. Every rivet
driven is a blow at tho Kaiser Every
ship turned out brings nearer the day
Of democracy's ,riumphs. \ full days
work IN the yards is equivalent TO the
taking OF German trench.
Workmcn who are already engaged
in direct government work should re-
main At their posts. Those who are
engaged III work not contributing di-
rcctly to the success Of the war now
have their opportunity TO volunteer for
nattona! service The volunteers who
VIII constitute the great shipyard re-
serve have the assurance that they will
receive standard wages. and that they
will be considered part of the military
forces Of the United states
The volunteer reserve army OF shin
builders VIII! be composed OF men who
pledge themselves TO give their skin
and their energy to the program OF
ship construction whenever the call
comes. II is our hope that each OF the
state Councils of Defense Will imncdi- .
aiciy provide agencies through which
the volunteers may receive full infor- (
nation as the character of Skill re-
Iuircd. and tho classes OF worl, for
which they viii he registered The
form OF pledge viii be wired to the
state councils immediately.
In their response TO the military
ties quickly exceeded their quotas
There was the same evidence OF pa
iriot;sm in meeting the requirements (
OF the Liberty loans. We count conf
IDENTIFY upon the patriotism OF the I
skilled workmen who desire to volun-
teer Tor tho shipbuiIGinG reserve
With reserve army Of 100000 men
We will he ready for every need We
will he ready TO increase the forces in
the old yards. meet the needs of the
new yards, and where three shifts OF
labor can be used the reserve army will
b" called on 10 provide the skilled
start organization at once Name /
for tho plants where the .
highly skilled men we need can be
spared. Appeal at once TO the ship
%ard managers in your section to join .
toEethcr in an agreement that there .
shall he no more divcrting OF labor (
from ono yard TO auothcr--a condition .
which has tended towards demoraiiza-
ton. The work of the councils can be (
most effectively accomplished if coin 4
rident with the educational work OF
the four minute men"