Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-12-12
COLONIZATION
OF SOLDIERS IS
RECOMMENDED
Secretary of Labor Wilson
Urges This as Means of.
Supplying Employment

Washington, Dec. determination
by returned soldiers and sailors Of
large tracts of land under the direc-
tion and with the aid of the federal
government, is recommended as 9 So
luton of many of the labor problems
arising from rehabilitation by Sec
rotary OF Labor Wilson in his annual
report, made public today. The gov
eminent should in the opinion of Mr..
Wilson establish and equip individual
farms. which would be linked into
community groups.
The war has demonstrated the pa
triotism and loyalty Of American la
Dor, the report says, and in the con-
,lnuance of the spirit of sacrifice
on the part of employer and employe
shown during the war. Secretary Will
son believes Lies the hope for the
further attainment and development
during the days of peace of that
democracy for which we hav taken
up arms"
The right of collective bargaining.
long recognized by the department OF
been more widely established by rea-
son of the war. He adds that eff
the principles upon which that agree
ment was founded can endure the
stress Of war. it is fair to suppose
that eve greater success will attend
their application during the calmer
periods Of peace"
To solve the labor problems aris-
ing from reconstruction, Mr.. Will
son recommends the continuation OF
the labor adjustment agency of. the
national war labor board. Agree
ments have been effected between la
Dor and employers through this
agency, the report avs by which GER
air principles have been placed
above further dispute.
Agricultural areas should be pur-
chased by the federal government and
added to the public domain to pro-
vide land for the carrying out of the
proposed colonization program for re-
turned members of the military
forces, the report asserts. 1t is pro-
posed hat administration of the pro-
gram be directed by a board consist
ing of the heads Of the agriculture
Legislation needed to carry out the
plan, Secretary Wilson believes,
should include these provisions:
The possibility Of commercialized
speculation must be eliminated.
Colonists must he given access, not
only to land, but to farms: not to the
bare soil, but to fully equipped agri-
cultural plants ready to. operate.
The farms themselves must be
welded together into genuine COM
munities, by provision for roads,
schools and markets, under the gen
eral supervision Of the federal gov
eminent.
Arrangements have been complet-
ed, says the report, to care for de-
modified men who do not care to
take up farm work so far as possible
through the United States employ
ment service, a branch of the depart
ment. On this point the secretary
says:
I'm presenting these recommends
tions at this time. I regard it unnec
essary to point out further p%ossibilf-
ties. In setting forth the necessity
for land settlement 1 am not unmind-
full of the vast numbers who mus
again find their places in our com
pick industrial organization. 1t Is toe
early at present to forecast accurately
the industrial organization or needs
of our nation after the war. All the
properly adapted facilities of the de-
partment of labor are at present en-
gagged in the study Of those problems
of reconstruction peculiar to manu-
featuring and secondary industry;
and from time to time l shall hAve
recommendations and conclusions to
present based upon such studies"
The report reviews the expansion
Of the department of labor from an
organization of four bureaus, to one
Of thirteen bureaus and W boards,
in spoons to demands arising out
of the war. During the fiscal year,
which the report covers, mediation
and the Cancellation division handled