Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-11-29
WAR TO PEACE SHIFT
QUICK AND QUIET
Reconstruction Need Not be At
tended With Upheavals or
Disturbances. Says As
sistant Labor Head.

Washington. Nov % I'll we put our
selves down 10 winning the peace ny
drives as we have to winning the war, the
probIc,aS nf labor and industry III the
aftcr-thc-war period will be easily and
INSTANTLY settled. saws Louis i. Post,
assistant secretary Of labor,
Mr.. Post declares he docs not antici-
pate any particular problems IN the read
n,stment period we changed quickly
from peace to war production, he SAID,
and IT seems To me that there should he
no reason why our factories and our work
men should not bc able To change back
from the war basis to the peace basis as
quickly. making due allowance Tor such
lack al raw matcrlai%aS may exist, Que 10
seasonal conditions But, gwen tht raw
materials, plants which were manuiact'lr-
my articles for peace trade before th'
war should TIC able To- reaSScmble thcr
machinery and change their processes
back 10 the basis ot peace production
without So much confusion and delay
rs many people anticipate.
There Is bound to be certain shifting OF
labor from plants at present solely dc
signed for war work back To plants that
were the big producers in peace times
Mr. Post believes; but he regards the
efapIovrncnt service of the Department
IT Labor as a suitable agency for handling
Inc nrobl ms that might arise from such
tho problems that might arise from such
shifting and believes that IT will be able
10 provide workers with jobs as well as {"
provide workmcn for employers
There IS an element IN the wage quHs
tion which NAV produce industrial unrest
md in that only does the country lac"
danger from the reconstruction n"crrS-
,tice thinks MIR Post Even this may hc
avoided hv intelligent agreement and
conference between labor and employers
However. Post declares. ~ employers are
to hC guided hv the type 81 men who have
figured All through history rs tho 'prlv-
hcccd class. who think II their religious
,tuty to refuse Ia deal with organized
men. We viii have trouble Y rs mucl
.ljsposltIun will hc shown hy employers e
adjust industry and lis problems rs th'
mon thry hire, the possibility nf trnuhl,
will bc reduced ia i minimum
The worker who in peace times wa
able, to earn $50 week has under Wal
wages and war overtime, frequently beer
enabled to 90 home on pay night with sion
IN his pocket. representing his week
wages The man who has experienced TIM
i not gong 10 hc willing to stand,
material reduction IN II. II Is true. o
course, that he viii hc willing to forge
tho overtime work he has been putting
in. but even should there be reduction
in the cost Of living. which seems unlikely
the worker IS not going 70 accept re
duotion Of his wages To his pre-war bases
That, however, IS q natter OF the m
dlvidual. rather than The union.
collective bargaining will solve muci
! Of that feel that there should ho cnn
t,nued existence Of the agency rcprcsente'
through the National War Labor Board
The decisions Of that board. providing
Tor a review Of the wage awards every -
months on the bass ot changes IN th
cost Of living, and more particularly III
awarding Of the right OF collective bargain
ing. f entered into thoroughly and Il
harmonious spirit hy workers and en-
plovers alike, Will do much TO solve th
problem through the operation of th
shop committees.
L do not anticipate any lack Of Job;
People forget that we have been pract icin
abstcntlon from what VIC want and nee
and that there Is much production to b
caught UP with and much essential wor
10 be done that has boon neglected ,
post tponcd during the war period.