The labor standard., 1918-05-01
Provost Marshal Wants Them to Gather Data for the War
 Department.
NEED SKILLED MEN FOR ARMY
Information Required is to Be Taken From Questionnaires of Drafted Men-Artisans to Be Picked
 From All Sections.

LAIOu6u luG provost mdfSlaIS once is undertaking to organize a volunteer army of school teachers throughout the entire land, so as to secure an efficient industrial army to stand be- hind the men with guns in their hands and enable the United States to fight the great war to successful conclu- sion. It is very big undertaking and like many of the efforts put forth by the government at this time much de- pends upon the voluntary assistance of loyal and patriotic people. The matter has been taken up with Presi- dent Wilson and he has expressed the opinion that the school teachers of America, those who are now engaged in teaching the children of the coun- try patriotism, will come to the aid of the government.
 In order to enforce the selective draft system the country was organ ized with 5000 local boards to pass upon the returns which the selected men made. In the office of each local board, comprising the district which the board controls, are the answers to the questionnaires of something like total of 100000 men. About 1,5O0.- GOO have already been selected for the fighting forces of the National army, but there remain in various classes men who could be extremely useful to the government on account of the knowledge and skill which they have attained In their daily occupations. It Is necessary for the provost mar shal's office at Washington to obtain information as to the qualification, ex- perience and adaptability of these men to the work which Is necessary in con. nection with the war.
 Pershino Needs Skilled Men.
 For instance, not long ago General Pershing wanted 1000 bricklayers. He wanted them not as civilians, but as soldiers. He needed them for particu- lar work which was to be done for the support of the army in France. Then again there was call for 5000 spruce lumbermen: that Is, men who had knowledge of the numbering and logging business, who could go into the woods and get the spruce lumber necessary to make airplanes. Then there is a call for motor mechanics, and for men skilled in many other lines of industry who as soldiers will perform as great a service in support ing the army at the front as will those men who are working industriously for the government all along the line in order to make the fighting forces eff fective.
 Now the provost marshal's office is in need of the information that Is on file in the offices of the various local boards, and the only way this tnfarma- tiOn can be obtained is through the voluntary assistance of some particu- lar class of people. 1t has been de- cided that the school teachers of tlle' country by giving a little of their time each day to the work can obtain from the local boards the information which the provost marshal must have in order to secure the classification of the men so as to make up the various lists that are necessary to make the army the great machine which 1t is designed to be.
 Get Facts From Questlonnaire.
 In order to get this information mil. lions of cards have been printed and 6tSuL tO tAc SdAAOuS 1ONdA OoekA uSs NkOA which is to be copied from the ques- tionnaires on file with the boards the necessary information respecting each individual selected man that the pro- vost marshars office desires. Upon this card the man will be classified ac- cording to the findings of the local board, but the important feature will be his classification as to occupation and skill in any particular profession. trade or industry; his familiarity with tools and instruments, or other kinds of work. It will make no difference what his occupation may be, the infor- nation concerning the man will be put upon the card and these cards sent to the provost marshal in Washington.
 It is proposed to classify at least 100000 men who will be available for service in the United States as soldiers. They will be put in uniform and subject to the same discipline as the other selected men. Instead of be- ing trained with guns and for fighting, they will be trained for particular duty that is needed.
 It is the intention of the provost marshal's office to make the selection of men for these industries so as to cause the least possible disturbance among workingmen, or in the indus