The sun., 1918-01-07
Blanket Exemptions May
Be Necessary to Prevent
Slowing Up Of Output.
SITUATION NOW SERIOUS
Danger That Calling Of 387,-
600 More Men Will Disrupt
Certain Industries.
Special DespascA to TnH srS.

army draft call Is only about q month
distant. yet with every passing day the
problem Of devising new exemption
rules which will safeguard the nations
production OF necessities grows increas-
ingly complex. congressman, war ac-
tivity administrators and department
chiefs are deeply concerned over the
growing labor shortage throughout the
country and the topic is assuming first
Importance In conferences at the Capitol
and at war board meetings.
1t would appear that either blanket
exemption rulings or draft Of labor to
certain Industries must be invoked II
the country's resources are to be mobil-
ised adequately for the support Of the
United States and its allies in the com
ing year. That the question will pro-
empt all others in the attention Of Con-
gress within a few weeks appears to be
q certainty.
As tho United States stands to-day.
about 100000 men have Joined tho
colors. Next m6nth $4,000 more will
be called up. With labor in such de-
'mand now that almost every industry
is bidding .recklessly for man power.
skilled and unskilled, and with wages
soaring and prices Of products more
than keeping pace. the country faces re-
arrangements Of living conditions which
threaten q veritable turmoil OF readjust-
ment. according to some Of the Govern
ment's labor experts
May Decrease sE0ciency.
Tho outstanding dangers. they say, are
heavy losses In national efficiency and
in national productivity. The calling UP
of $4,000 men puts an added burden
which, II unwisely apportioned will dis.
rupt the nations industrial fabric, 1t IL
said.
Despite speeding up by increasing
resources and man power the output OF
munitions and army supplies has not
met the programme Of the War Depart
men,. Congressional investigators have
sought to show that red tape and inef-
ficiency In administration have been al
fault, but in the main !, has been found
that the nations railroad facilities and
labor power have not been equal TO the
Iluge FItkid Pioeeu oNiO'S - a''''''''
IN a night
The country has responded to the ap.
peals Of the Administration In a spirit OF
sacrifice and unanimitv surprising tC
the most optimistic. The agriculture
interests have brought to the markets
record crops and the railroads have
moved more freight than ever before
Great shipbuilding. ammunition anc
aeroplane Industries have grown w
where none were before and mine op
orators have done their utmost to give
the added power necessary by producint
more coal In ten months than they eve;
did in twelve.
Problem Grows More Complex.
But the spirit OF America Is ono tina
calls for the contamination OF hercu
lean tasks in shorter time than mar
ever dared to assume that they coul'
be accomplished. and now that ther,
appears to be slight tagging In the pro
gramme for production leaders In Wash
! ngton are calmly putting forward radi
cal suggestions that few months ag,
would have seemed the dreams of
most impractical and revolutionar.
idealist.
| As has been stated many time
( America Is now attempting to produc
the goods formerly made by the mil,
ions who are fighting on European bat
tie fields. In addition she must produc
| engines Of war on a scale, neve
dreamed Of few years ago. and at tn
very outset of her gigantic undertak
ing she must reduce her labor suppl.
by l.6s7.000 men who will bear arms.
The Government has no figures yet T.
show the number Of men who rolun
teered from the various industries. Onl.
in a general way can conclusion h
reached as to which industries were mos
severely bled Of help. 1t Is known, 70
instance. that one OF tho frst States I
reach it's so-called quota OF volunteer
was Pennsylvania II is therefore SAT
to assume that thousands Of miners ar
volunteers in the army.