The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-07-23
WILL ORGANIZE STATE
OF FLORIDA FOR HANDLING
THE VITAL LABOR PROBLEM

The people of Florida, in common
with those of all other States, have
been asking themselves this question:
Glow can we solve the problem Of
farm labor and the maintenance OF
our own state industrial plants, while
at the same time periodically yielding
that labor which the government
must have for the essential war in
dustries?"
This constitutes the most important
question before the people today. Up
on its successful answer depends the
winning of the war with righteous,
enduring peace. We must mobilize
the maximum man-power of the ma
tion-not only upon the fighting front,
but also to swell the ranks of the Ma
tional Industrial Army everywhere.
Three things must be done: First
the menace of idle labor must be abol-
|ished, and every able bodied man in
duced to work six days per week. Sec
ond, every man must find mans job
and make way for women in classes
of employment where they may be
used; third. labor must be properly
distributed, in order to avoid conges-
ton, which involves temporary idle
ness of just so much man-power, and
TO promote the industrial parity Of all
sections of the country.
With these things accomplished
there will be no danger of a labor
shortage-at least not for months to
some. But our task is colossal one,
demanding the most energetic atten-
ton. Soon we will have 100000 men
in France to feed, clothe and equip.
with other millions coming on. At the
same time we must continually con-
tribute to the necessities of our allies
The Work in Florida
The State Of Florida is already or
ganized with offices of the United
States Employment Service, to which
men and women may apply for EN-
ployment, and where employers may
list their labor needs. Both classes are
urged to do this.
District Superintendent Cliff Will
liams, with headquarters at Meridian,
Miss, is now undertaking a campaign
of intensive organization in this State.
IT Is proposed to organize the people
of every county for self-help and gov.
eminent aid by establishing a branch
'of the self-preservation Loyalty
League. It's plans, purposes and
methods of organization will be
explained at series of meetings to
be held as follows:
Miami-Monday, July 20.
Jacksonville-Tuesday, July 30.
Bartow-Wednesday, July 81.
Tampa-Thursday, Aug. /.
Enthusiastically Aug. 3.
Pensacola-Sunday, Aug. 4.
Governors Proclamation
In recent proclamation concern
ing these meetings, the Hon. Sidney
j. Cats, Governor of Florida, said:
Whereas, the drain that is being
made on Florida by the removal Of its
young men to army camps and the
firing line, as well as the drain conse
quent upon the essentials with which
to wage a successful war, requires a
sane and proper consideration Of GER
tain grave problems which compel i'm
mediate action.
Therefore, I, Sidney ]. Cats, Gov
ernor of the State Of Florida, hereby
urge all the sheriffs, county superin.
tendents of public instruction, minis.
tiers of the Gospel, mayors Of munici
palities, members of the State and
county councils of defense, member,
of the State Senate and House of Rep
resentatives. representatives of labor
newspaper men, all State and count,
food and fuel administrators and rep
resentatives from all essential indus
tries to attend these meetings and en-
gage in discussions for devising way
and means for completing the cultiva
ton and harvesting of the crops G
our State and for keeping in full op
Grafton all the industries and enter
lprises necessary and essential to on
government in winning the war, W
have reached time in our Stat
t when no person should be idle. ever
t consumer should be producing an
: no man, woman or child in our Stat
!, should be without his or her task. TIL
l hands and hearts of every libertv-lo'
: ing citizen, man. woman or chill
should turn to the task of producin