Evening journal., 1918-10-04
Cutting Terms OF
APPRENTICESHIPS
Government Needs Skilled
Men Soon as Possible
on War Work
DRIVE TO FILL
CLERICAL JOBS

One thing that the war has demon.
strated with utter cOnclusiveness is thai
long spprenticeships for mechanical
work can be dispensed with II the
emergency is sufficiently urgent. The
Department OF Labor's training and di-
luton service recognizes this princl-
pie.
The apprenticeship system had taken
a much stronger hold In England than
It has ever obtained here, and when
large numbers OF Englishmen were call
ed into the military service 1t was ne
cessary TO revise very radically i'm
pressiOns that had existed up to that
time. The United States Department
OF Labor has been very much interest
ed in England's experiences along this
line and has found them very helpful
I'm solving American problems.
The discovery OF an untapped reser-
vOir I'm women's work and the adop-
ton OF improved automatic and safety
appliances in machines provided salts
factorily for the work which was not
Of a complicated nature. There were
many jobs, however, developed by the
war in which experienced workers
were needed
The result was that intensive train
ing was instituted by the great fac
tories whereby men and women were
instructed in the operation Of cOmpli-
Gated machinery and intricate pro-
cesses. The way was shown by the
initiative and generosity Of a few indi-
viduals who appreciated the problems.
The government then established a
training section for factory workers In
the ministry Of munitions, and some
80 colleges and schools were brought
into the system. The course led event
ually to such advanced engineering
work as lead burning, tool settling. and
guage making, and were accompanied
by theoretical discussion in exact
measurement calculation.
Control Of labor power in Germany
IS absolute, according TO information
obtained from that country. The ar
rangement in force there, contrast
strongly with the present plan Of con-
troll in America through the United
States Employment Service.
lust how each workman Is chained
to his job may be realized when 1t Is
known that he can not change posi-
tiOns without the written consent either
OF his employer or OF a board Of seven
members appointed by the military au-
thOrities. The boards Of seven include
an army officer as chairman, two gov
ernment officials. two employers, and
two w0rkingmen. The w0rlngmen,
therefore, not only have small repre-
sentation on the board, but are denied
the opportunity OF choosing their own
representatives. Any violation or the
regulations concerning migration from
one Job 20 another is punished by heavy
fine or Imprisonment.
A trainlOad OF workers came TO a new
War Department construction job on
the seabOard from a western point
The Employment Service brought them
and the War Department paid the bills.
The job Is vltally important and must
be rushed 20 the limit. Like many
other Jobs now being done by the gov
ernment the lives OF many OF OF our
men and the time when our full strength
can be employed in the war depend In
part upon It. But bright and early next
morning the agent OF a firm which has
government contract and a plant a
few miles away came over and offered
the men cents an hour advance and
took the whole trainload away.
The Employment Service now has all
material ready for the drive for ex-
pert stenographers and typlsts needed
for war work In Washington. The fol-
lowing material relative to the drive
will be issued: 4. Letters to all Fed
eral directors stating the purpose OF this
drive. 2. Letters OF instruction to ex-
Rminers in charge Of local offices. Civ
Ing full instruction as to procedure
with applicants for war work in Wash |
lngton. 3. Printed Instructions to be
given applicants at each local ONCE |
who desire TO take up stenograhic work |
IN Washington, and comprehensive |
blanks TO be filled out and |
forwarded by local Offices to Washing
ton.
At the same time $1,000 posters and |
E------------------- |