Evening journal., 1918-11-19
LABOR FACES
some CHANGES
"'Velvet'' is Disappearing,
But Real Work Will
Be Demanded
GOVERNMENT NOT
A COMPETITOR

No general disturbance OF the labor
situation is looked for as result OF
The armistice between the Allied and
the Central Powers, and except for a
few minor adjustments, things are ex-
pected to go along as they have been
going until the formal signing OF the
signing of the peace treaty.
This does not mean that the days OF
easy money and Of tremendous prices
for labor are to continue, for they are
not II simply means that labor Wi
gradually get down to a normal basis.
Pay. except in some industries, is
likely to be reduced for some time
come, but the pay that man or wom-
an has been able TO earn in the last
year will not be continued. This is be
cause overtime and Sunday work will
be largely cut out, but the man or
woman who desires 10 work VIII have
no difficulty in finding Jobs at fair,
rven excellent rate of compensation.
The change will come from the fact,
FIRST, that government work will no
longer be rush work, to be completed In
record breaking time, no matter what
the cost; and TO large extent the gov
ernment Will cease TO be competitor
IN the labor market. For instance, II
is understood 10 be the policy OF the
government to finish those projects
which were already well under way at
the time of the signing Of the armistice
II will not leave a building or pier
half completed, and It's contracts for
general supplies will probably be filled.
Where the pinch will probably come
hardest will be at the munitions factor
les. for the tremendous quantities OF
munitions needed when the war was
at It's height will no longer be required.
and the government has no place TO
store the hundreds OF thousands Of
shells that have been turned out every
day. Munitions manufacturers will
probably work up the stock they have
on hand, but Will probably not make
any large new supplies. But this only
means that the men and women released
from these occupations will find EN-
ployment dn other fields. Workers In
the mills making explosives will also be
released tn large numbers for other
work.
Then the work on the cantonments
win probably be stopped at compara-
lively early date. but the work now be-
ing done win probably be finished.
These great places VIII hardly be re-
quired after the war. and while Camp
Dix may be made permanent camp,
Most OF the environments vii probably
be dismantled. the lumber OF which the
buildings were constructed sold and
the land turned back to the owners.
The cessation OF buolding at these
places will release more labor.
The shipyards Will continue to get
out their work. The men Will be paid
by the day or hour, as the case may
be. and there will be no time and half
for overtime and no double time for
Sundays and holidays. Sunday work
will stop altogether. So the man whose
extra time and Sunday work frequently
netted him more than his regular dal
work viii be compelled to get along on
his straieht pay. II viii not help him
10 kick or to strike for the sltust'on is
such that u matters very littleto the
government whether the work goes on
or not. and Il men strike because they
cannot get extra time and Sunday work.
as has been the case In some parts OF
the country, the work VIII simply be
shut down. either 10 be completed Hat
II labor conditions warrant, or absn-
doned altogether.
There Is not the slightest disposition
20 treat labor unfairly. but every work
ingman has understood that the condi-
tions under which he was working and
the amounts OF pay he was drawing
were abnormal and could not continue
and II he was wise he adjusted himself
30 that situation. And under the
changed conditions that are soon TO be
here the workingman who invested his
surplus earnings in Liberty Bonds, in
stead OF blowing it In on luxuries, has
II all over the fellow who blew his In.
Another thing that will have It's effect