The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-08
WILSON'S ADVISERS
DIVIDE SQUARELY
Cabinet Members and Others
Differ on Rehabilitation
and REIMBURSEMENT.
PRESIDENT MAY DECIDE
Academy Of Political Science
Discusses Problems Of
Reabsorbing Soldier.

Two plans for the readjustment Of
Industry to a peace basis in this coun-
try are being fought out by students
Of the present economic situation.
Each plan OF operation for the shift
from a war TO a peace standing has
It's adherents among high Government
officials and advisers OF the President.
The adherents OF each system are said
70 feel so strongly on the matter that
the final decision may be left to Mr..
Wilson himself
Advocates OF the first plan believe in
the continuance OF work on contracts
for equipment and other munitions for
p time. SO that the returning soldiers
may have an even chance with the
present highly paid war workers in the
rush for the better class OF peace jobs.
Those who favor the second plan
urge the immediate cancellation OF all
war contracts and the holding UP of
Rehabilitation until after the millions
pr war workers have found their places
in peace industries. Opponents Of this
scheme say II means that the soldiers
must take what jobs are left when all
the munition workers are placed.
Those who oppose the early de-
mobilization Of the soldiers. and favor
the cancellation Of war contracts are
said to be Secretary OF Labor Wilson,
Labor Commissioner Felix Franklin
ter. and Nathan A. Smyth. assistant
director OF the Federal Employment
Service. In this position they have
the support OF Secretary OF War
Baker.
Favor Quick DemobiIixation.
Their opponents, who want the SOL
diers to be sent home as soon as pos
sfole, are former Secretary of the
Treasury w G.. McAdoo. Bernard NJ.
Baruch, Leonard Replogle. and e. B.
Parker. Priorities Commissioner
In an address yesterday at the an
nual meeting OF the Academy Of Po-
ntica Science at the Hotel Aston, Mr..
Smyth declared the promptest cur
tailment OF production of equipment
and munitions of war TO be necessity.
On the other hand, W. II. Hamilton OF
the, stan of the War Labor Policies
Board pointed out a need of control
OF the discharge of men now In the
war industries az we'll as those in the
army. lest soldiers returning from
the army later on fnd the best Jobs
taken and the labor market glutted.
Mr.. Hamilton said yesterday:
GENERALIZATION is not a simple and
isoiated problem. A discussion of II
cannot be confined to the DISCHARGE OF
fxan hA
as we'll the Involuntary discharge of
war workers. The process is not COM
plete until those who have been re-
leased are reabsorbed into industry.
This reabsorption is contingent upon
a reimbursement OF the % to as per cent.
Of the productive capacity of the coun-
try from emergency TO ordinary uses
Favors Slow Discharges.
while there is probably enough DO
tential employment in the productive
establishments Of the country to ac-
commodate all discharged soldiers and
war workers, there is no assurance
that, in the absence OF careful plan
ming, II will open at a rate fast enough
70 meet demands.
at is important that men shall not
be discharged more rapidly than they
can be reabsorbed Into industry. II
they are, the labor market will be
giutted, the standards OF living and
working conditions so painfully built
up will be beaten down. serious drops
In rates of wages will occur, the disor-
ganization OF the buying power OF the
masses will threaten the employer 3
profits, and these events will carry
with them at least a threat of de-
preston. with Industrial unrest, vio-
lence and economic disorder.
Must Find New Markets.
'-rhe problem calls for a check upon
the rate of flow into the labor market
and a speeding up OF the resumption
Of ordinary business. The magnitude
Of the problem of reorganization is
evidenced by the necessity OF finding
new markets for new goods in lieu OF
the 10000 900 900 worth of commod-
tiles which the Government now pur-
chases.'
"A check upon the flow OF labor into
the market can be obtained through
a conscious control of the streams
which make it up" Mr.. Hamilton said.
ne llIHI SlfthIilt AOtIDtStu OF men
discharged from service overseas, is
already subject to a check imposed by
limited shipping facilities. The second
composed OF men discharged from ser
vice here. Is also subject to control
The third, composed of men and
women discharged from war indus
tries. can he controlled through a def
mite policy for the cancellation of war
contracts. The fourth, the stream of
immigrants, Is liFnly to be arrested
for the period of reconstruction by
limited shipping focilties."
Mr. Hamilton urged, in the event OF
the release Of men faster than they
can be AFFORDED, the providing for
them OF buffer employment" upon
railroad building. ship construction.
reclamation and public buildings.
wouId Defer disqualification.
Mr. Smyth expressed the belief that
the soldiers must wait in arms until
the war workers have secured peace
Jobs.
During the next three months
md new Jobs" he said up to date
reports from all over the country indi-
cate that industrial! transition, II not
complicated by the rehabilitation OF
soldiers, can be accomplished speedily
without serious ana protracted urem-
ployment.
"The soldiers let go are being mus