Evening journal., 1918-07-06
SATURDAY, JULY 8, 1918.
.wORK OR FIGHTr

- HRIsToPHER L. WARD, OF this city who recently
~ appointed Director OF the Compulsory Work
Bureau Of the State Council Of Defense. has begun his
work He charged with the enforcement Of the law
requiring that all made residents Of this State between
the ages OF IS and 50 years. in the National Army
a public officer shall be employed in a useful
lawful occupation during the period Of the war. Ho
should have the support OF every Delaware newspaper
and Of every loyal and industrious Delawarean the
reasonable proper enforcement Of that law against
loafers and slackers.
We think that all intelligent persons realize that II
highly essential that the bureau Of which Mr. Ward is
the head shall have behind It the force OF strong and
undivided public opinion Unless have that It cannot
operate successfully
1t viii be the policy OF the bureau under Mr. Wards
direction TO try TO effect the desired results with no
frequent TO the penal the law
than is absolutely necessary Il is felt by him and by
members OF the State Council that the great thing
to get everybody work That will be effected
most by the mere knowledge the part Of the
ider Stacker that there such law and that is
belns enforced In recactrant cases. course II
will be necessary TO invoke the penalties Of the law
but it believed that the full effect OF the win be
measured in way by the number OF actual prosecu-
tcns under IT,
It is worth bearing in mind that in Maryland after |
trial lasting almost year. such has been great
President Wilson has urged that all the |
States force their slackers and oRfers TO work or
fight. Delaware must do her duty in this behalf and
the law should be made living thing and not dead
letter.
Mr.. Ward has issued poster which tells the story
TO all good citizens well TO the idsrs and slack
II is headed Work Fightw After reciting the
fact that the law Of Delaware requires all
IS and 55 years Of age not soldiers public officers
10 be work In useful lawful occupation during
the war, It adds:
This regularly and continuously at work |
Working three four days week is not obeying this
law.
"A who does not work at all an dler. A m6n |
who does less than solid, honest weeks work every
week is a Stacker.
'Idlers and slackers liable under the law 20 be
assigned to certain employment at certain fixed rate
OF wages and compelled TO work at IT, under penalty Of
fine ard Imprisonment. Iders will be put TO work |
where they Will do the most good. slackers may be
taken from their present jobs and given Others which
they may not like well
elders and slsckers both alike helping the enemy
They cut down the manpower Of the country. which |
must back up our army In this great conflict.
"All good citizens win approve Of this law obey It |
and help to enforce il.
sThe OF dle-s and slsckers should be reported
10 this bureau"
In view Of this activity by the bureau and its determ
nation to enforce the law at all hazards It viii be well
for the dlers and ssckers get without fur
ther delay.
No man who values. slightly. his personal or
family reputation will desire figure in the war records
Of this State as Stacker a losfer. That fact win
serve to make the compulsory war work law almost
automatic in its operation.