Evening journal., 1918-06-18
CRONDER IS AFTER
THE work Stacker
Conscription of Labor With
View of Mobilizing Man
Power is Object
II CLASSES UNDER
NEW ARRANGEMENT

WASHINGTON, June is.-The ulll-
mate conscrlption OF labor, with view
thoroughly and effectively to mobilize
the man-power OF the nation for actual
nghting or war work at home. is called
for In the program for changing the
draft laws that have been laid before
Congress.
Provost Marshal General Crowder IL
the father OF the scheme He has dis
cussed II fully with the members Of The
Military Affairs Committee OF the Sen
ate and House during the last few
weeks, II became known yesterday.
General Crowder has urged that legis-
lation be enacted during the next fouI
or five months increasing the draft age
limits from eighteen TO twenty-five
years and In his talks to the military
committees he has frankly declared that
one Of the principal reasons for the
step is the necessity Of applying the
"work-or-flght" rule TO men above the
present draft age 10 reach the work
slackers" above thirty years OF age In
forces. and OF so applying II that the
greatest possible results for the sue
cessful prosecution Of the war can be
obtained from labor under direction OF
the military authorities.
Conscription OF labor was provided
for in the original draft OF the changes
that were made In the draft laws sew
eral weeks ago, but II was eliminated
at the request OF Secretary Baker. who
said that II was not necessary at THIS
time"
The proposed new legislation will
not make it's appearance until next
/ fall. when the draft age limits viii
have 10 be extended because OF the few
men that will remain available for
military service through depletion OF
Glass 4 Of the present registration, ac-
cordlng to members OF the Military
Committee. II has been suggested al
| this time so the necessity for II can
be realized when the timo comes for
enaoting IL.
Conscription OF labor through a new
draft law would not interfere in any
way with the new policy Of the De
partment OF Labor assuming contro
Of the recruiting OF labor for the larg'
industries in manufacturing war mum
tlons. Il was pointed out.
Il Existing labor conditions would nc
be seriously disturbed, the committe
members said. as the proposed lesisla
tlon would permit men engaged in IS
sential industry TO remain in that IN
dustry. II would give the proves
mashai general power 10 force ever
p man between the ages OF eighteen an
! forty-flve years either 10 work or 1gf
! and 10 conscript the men betwee
these ages who are engaged in non
essential occupations to enter an esser
tar industry or go into the mllitaT
service. He exercised similar powe
when ne recently issued his "work-or
fight order 20 men within the presen
draft age limits.
General CrOwder discussed his plan
thoroughly with the Senate Militsr-
Affairs Committee on Saturday and sub
mltted TO the members an outline o
how the proposed new law would work
His plans call for a reclasslflcation o.
all men between eighteen and forty
five and for the creation OF about seY-
enteen different classes instead OF the
present five classes. The. tentative
missionaries for the proposed new
registration submitted 20 the committee
show that a much more complete rec
ord Of every mans experience, ability,
health and general availability for mill
tary service or industry will be obtain
ed under thersuggested change.
Whether men already registered
would be required TO nj out new ques-
tlonnaiyes or not has not been brought
mn. These details viii not be worked
out until the new legislation has been
enacted.
The proposal TO increase the draft
age for military service without con-
sldering the conscription OF labor fea-
ture Is rapidly finding favor In Con
/ gress. and both branches are prepar-
Ing to grant the Increase as soon as
| Secretary Baker and General Crowder
ask IT,
Il will probably be several months
before this first step is taken. There
are still considerably more than l.
| 100000 men in Glass 1 Nvho are avail
able for military service, and recent
changes In the draft laws require that
this class shall be completely depleted
In every district In the country before
any men in Glass are called for ser
vice anywhere.
Under the present draft laws. Presi-
dent Wilson is authorized to call any
number Of men, without limit. into the
army and TO deplete all OF the i've
classes Of men registered II he deems
Il necessary. e-
The attitude Of the War Department,
however. is that IL does not desire to
20 outside of Glass | II II can possibly
be avoided. The increased age limit
has been proposed 10 prevent the ne
cessity for drafting men outside OF
Glass 4 and who have dependents for
military service. .ss.
A separate registration OF unmar-
ried men between eighteen and forty
five has been suggested by members OF
the military committees as a prelimin-
sry step TO placing all men between
those ages under the authority OF the
draft officials.
AS soon as Glass is depleted the
unmarried men and the men without
dependents between eighteen and
forty-fve should be made available for
induction into the army said Repre-
sentative Crago. OF Pennsylvania, Re-
publican member Of the House Mill
tary Affairs Committee, today. They
are Just as physically NJ as the men
between twenty-one and thirty-one
and you will nnd that there are more
men between thirty-one and forty-flve
who are not doing anything TO help
win the war than there were between
twenty-one and thirty-one. We snould
send them into the army, and then
place the others between eighteen and