Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-06-18
PRESIDENT URGES
EMPLOYERS TO USE
BUREAU OF LABOR
II Must Have Sole Direction oil
All Workers in War Plants,
He Proclaims.
ASKS LABOR TO RESP OND

Washington. June lS,-Prcsident vii
son, last evening issued the following proc
lamation on the labor question, which he
regards as most vital factor toward
winning the WAT
For more than \ year It has been oul
pride that not our armies and navIes only
but our whole people Is engaged III a
righteous war. We have said repeatedly
that industry plays rs essential and
honorable role In this great struggis
* do our military ornaments. We an
recognize the truth of this, but we must
also see its necessary implications
namely that industry, doing vital task
for the nation, must receive the support
and assistance of the nation. We must
recognize that it Is natural demand
almost right of any one serving his
country, whether employer or employee, 10
know that his service Is being used IN the
most effective manner possible. In the
case of labor this wholesome desire has
been not a little thwarted owing to the
changed conditions which war has created
In the labor market
There has been much confusion as 10
essential products There has been ignOr-
ancc of conditions men have gone hun
dreds OF miles III search of Job and wages
which they might have found ut their
doors Employers holding government
contracts of the highest importance have
competed for workers with holders OF
similar contracts and even with the gov
eminent itself, and have conducted CNpen-
sive campaigns for recruiting labor in see
toms where the supply of labor was nj
ready exhausted California draws its
unskillcd lak or from rs tar rs east Buffalo,
and New York from as far west as the
Mississippi Thus labor has been induced
to move friIitlesSly from one place 70
another, conqesting the railways and los
ing both time and money.
such condition is unfair alike 10
employer and cInploye, but most OF all 10
the nation itself whose existence Is
threatened by any decrease In It's produc-
tive power II Is obvious that this sltua-
ton can be clarified and equahzcd by
"a central agency the United states en-
plov1nent service of the Department Of
Labor. with the counsel Of the war labor
policies board aS tho voice Of All the IN
diyidual agencies Of the government
Such = central agency must have sole d.
rection Of all recruiting of civilian workers
IN war work and. in taking over this great
responsibility must, at the same time,
have power to assure to essential industry
an adequate supply Of labor. even 20 the
extent Of withdrawing workers from non
essential production. II must also protect
labor from InSlncerc and thoughtlcsS ap-
pcals made to It under the plea OF patriot
ISM. and assure II that when It is asked 70
volunteer in some priority industry the
need Is real
Therefore. l. Woodrow Wilson Prc>i-
dent OF the United States Of America
solemnly urge all employers engaged IN
war work TO refrain after August ! 1918,
from recruiting unskilled labor in any
manner except through thus central
agency. urge labor to respond as Loyalty
as heretofore to any calls issued by this
agency for voluntary enlistment IN essen
tial industry And ask them both alike TO
remember that no sacrifice will have been
in vain il We are able to prove beyond ali
question that the highest and best form OF
efficiency IS the spontaneous cooperation
Of free people.
Woodrow Wilson.
The White House June II. 1918.