The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-07
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORM ALTON i.
BUREAU
OUR NATIONAL LABOR POLICY.
FREDERIC ]. HASKIN. Director.
Washington. D. c.

III washington, d. G.
OUR NATIONAL LABOR POLICY.
Washington, D. c.. June 3.-With
the organization. just completed. Of
the labor policies board. the United
States government has in operation a
machinery for the distribution OF la
Dor and the solving of labor prob
lens generally, which is comparable
in scope and authority to the labor
ministries of our allies.
1t has frequently been said that this
is labor's war and the fact that with
out the whole-souled patriotic effort
of the individual American workman
this nation would be helpless against
Germdny is apparent This is the first
war in history where the organized
effort Of the millions at home has
been as essential to success as the
proves of the soldiers on the battle
field.
Long before America entered the
war the other belligerent nations had
found it necessary to give the labor
! problem careful specialized study in
order that the latent power of the
| man behind the man behind the gun
might be utilized to the fullest extent.
The problems to be solved by these
was, in the first place, the necessity
| of converting the commercial fac
tories of the nations into war plants
and training men who had, perhaps,
been making kettles. in the quantity
| manufacture of shrapnel helmets.
Then, as more and more were called
to take their places in the trenches
the danger Of labor shortages became
apparent: unskilled labor had to be
called upon to do the work skilled
men had always done in times of
peace, even then the ranks of labor
| were all too thin and another step.
| that of calling women into industry
wholesale. was taken. At first the
women worked mainly in so-called
| non-essential industries. Then as the
drain on manpower kept on, women
were called upon to do the work of
skilled mechanics in. war plants, and
one by one the non-essential indus
tries closed their doors or were con-
verted into strictly war plants. For
instance, in the year 1918 there will
not be manufactured in England one
single automobile for pleasure pur-
poses.
These two steps, the placing of
labor and the substitution of un-
skilled for skilled employees. soon re-
ce1ved two technical names, "alloca-
ton" and ''dilution." There were,
| however. two other matters just as
ton has had to be given in all the
warning nations.
The first of these was the standard
| ization of wages in war plants en-
gagged in similar classes of work. 1t
was soon found that without some
action OF this nature the labor turn
over" or drift of employees from one
industry to- another, would be a very
serious handicap to production. Com
petitive wage scales offered by manu-
facturers in the same city. anxious
to fill their war contracts, assisted in
this turnover. Mechanics working in
mun1tion plants would find that at a
nearby shipyard they could get five
dollars a week more for practically
the same sort Of work. A wholesale
exodus would follow and while the
building of ships would proceed mer-
rily the output of the munition fac
tory would be seriously curtailed
Standardized wage scales for all
skilled trades and common labor had
therefore to. be fixed by the govern
| ment in order sthat work might pro-
coed in all war plants on an even
basis.
The other problem concerned the Just
treatment of workmen by their en-
ployers in such matters as good liv-
ing and working conditions, as well
! as wages high enough to meet soar
| ing prices and share in war profits
| on the part of those who do the actual
work of production. Disputes be-
just as natural in wartime as in time
| of peace. but as strikes in war
threaten the welfare of the entire
| nation. the government soon realized
| the necessity Of taking on its own
shoulders the responsibility of settling
labor troubles and melting out punish
ment to the guilty when strikes, walk
| outs or other troubles threaten to
| throw a monkey-wrench into the ma
chinery of war production.
| In England and France these vari-
! Gus problems have been met by the
establishment of separate departments
of the government. known as minis
tries of munitions" in the various di-
| visions of which is vested RESPONSE
bility for the success of the nations
entire labor policy. In America. how
ever, it has been thought best to leave
all labor matters in the hands of the
| department OF labor. inside which
have been established three major
| boards charged with consideration of
all the problems outlined above.
These boards, all OF them put into
| operation since the beginning Of the
year and now getting fairly under way
| SO that survey OF their responsible
| tiles can be made in the present in
| stead of the future tense are known
as the United States employment serv-
lice, the labor policies board and the
national war labor board.
The first of these. of which John B.
| Densmore is director general, has as
| its sole and all-important duty the
problem of labor supply. Thru thou
sands OF district agents. scattered all
over the country. and working under
| the jurisdiction of the chairman of the
state coulcils Of defense. men. women
and boys are enrolled for every form
of war service outside of the army and
navy. Every war manufa cturer in the
nation knows of the federal employ
| ment service, and when he needs
their capability. Holy ambition is
still achieving, still pursuing"