The Washington times., 1918-07-05
LABOR DRAFTLA
FQRD.G.LOAFERS
IS BEING URGED
(cmtinued from First Page.)

Continued from First PageD
unpleasant and unhappy for thousz
Gnds, coal dealers repeatedly de-
elared that even when they had coal
on hand to deliver to customers In
dire need It was impossible for them
to get labor to man the wagons, not
because this labor was not to be
found, but because the men, making
high wages, insisted upon loafing two
or three days a week. and particu-
larly upon cold, bad days.
Transfer companies, laundrymen,
business men OF all classes, made re-
I ports Of the same kind
The dire needs OF the public did
not influence employees in the slight
est to put in full time. The coal
dealers found that when they worked
their men on Sundays, for which they
received double pay, the majority
were sure TO loaf Mondays and often
Tuesdays.
District Workers Shirl.
The District government Jared little
better than private employers. Labor
srs on the streets and in other de-
pRrtments manifested great uDcon-
cern about when they returned to
work, or how much loahng they did.
There Is general agreement of busi-
ne9s men today that there are hun
5 dreds OF lAborers, notably around al
leyH, who are loafng half the time.
These men ind 1t easy to get a few
days work anywhere, and the pay is
90 good they do not need to put in
more time than this to obtain funds
Tor their essential requirements.
WhislEey Runners From BaltimOrA.
Whiskey running between Wash
ington and Baltimore is occupying
the time OF many loafers, who refuse
to do hard labor when prints from
the whiskey business are enticing.
It Is getting to be almost a common
sight TO see colored men and women
from the alleys and white men Of
the same grade start out OF and re-
turn to Washington with large va
1iBes, admitting to friends that they
run regularly between this city and
Baltimore. Many Of them dilute,
adulterate. and sell the whiskey here,
while others turn 1t over to the con-
Sumers for whom they are simply
acting as messengers, or to boot
leggers with whom they are asso-
ciated.
A compulsory work law, 1t IL held
By District officials generally, includ-
ing the police, would greatly diminish
Tia bcodegging business now carried
on here, and put a lot Of bad eggs" to
work Ia legitimate business. As 1t is
now, they not only abstain from labor
themselves. but aid in corrupting
others who might be inclined to do
more work The Governments in
tsEest In the situation is in the fact
that the bootleggers have thriving
trade among soldiers and marines
ufnffnriaS aHCrIaA UaahFpE~fnp
BIg Round Up Of SIackerE-
The reclassincation Of draft regis
erants under the late work or nght"
Order, n6V being gone into by Dis
triet draft boards. is expected TO be
helpful IN cleaning up some Of the
loafers and putting them into the
army or into industry, but the great
majority Of the loafers who would
be hit " a compulsory work law are
men above the draft age.
The police department. under or
ders to be issued by Major Pullman,
viii soon begin q roundup of loafing
slaclers who have failed to register
and are to be found around alleys and
in crowded centers, refusing offers Of
employment and bestirring a spirit OF
devtlment in the idle generally. The
revision Of the draft registrants to
determine what shall be done with
them will help the police department
in its work. but the main help will
be IN the fact that when slackers are
rounded up they can at once be |
turned over to the draft boards and |
military authorities.
Heretofore the Federal authorities /
have been exceedingly slow in taking !
Oeer slackers arrested by the police. |
Often the men detained have been |
kept In police stations for several |
weeks before United States authori- |
ties bothered with them. There was
good ground for remonstrance aEainst |
detention without civil or military in
vestigation or trial Under the re-
cent Crowder order slackers can be |
quickly turned over to the military
authorities to decide what is to be /
done with them.
It is estimated by business men
who have sought to employ supposed /
loafers that there are several hun
dred slackers who have escaped reg
istration and whose methods Of liv-
ing are doubtful and Injurious to the
at large They would be
far better of in the army or com
PEELED to go to work in war indus
tries, while a compulsory work law
will take care Of that element OF
lcafers above the draft age who are
about military duties and
believe themselves free from COM
pulsion Of any kind, owing obliKa,
tfons to no laws and no standard OF
moralA