Milford chronicle., 1918-09-27
WORK OR FIGHT BUREAU

The Work or Fight Bureau of the
State Council of Defense is doing its
part to assist the industries OF this
state in meeting the great need for
man power From July 1st to Sep
tember 21st, 210O complaints regard
ing Idlers and Slackers were reported
to this Bureau. by industrial firms,
police departments, courts. private
citizens and members of the families
of those not working. or not working
regularly. OF this number of men.
the large majority OF them either Sc
cured employment themselves or Civ
en- employment that had been secured
for them. through the efforts of the
United States Employment Service,
and others.
During the last week - men were
convicted in the Court of General
Sessions and were fined $500 each and
given a term Of three months in the
state WOrkhOuse. These twelve men
had been assigned to jobs but had
failed to take the job. did not stay on
it and work regularly and steadily.
or quit the job entirely. The Bureau.
for various reasons, assigned some of
these men TO two or three different
Jobs, trying their best TO strike a job
that these men would work at without
being arrested. But after they had
been given various opportunities war
rants were issued for their arrest. to
teach them a lesson as well as to show
the other folks. who were inclined to
work. that the committee administer
ing the law meant business.
There are two classes Of persons
who come under the operations of
this bureau; first. the Idler; any man
between the age OF IS and 90 unem-
plOyed. is considered an Idler; second,
any man between the age of is and 55
years. who has a regular job but
works al it irregularly. is considered
a Stacker.
The persons who come within either
OF these classes are brought before
the Director. or Assistant Director,
if in New Castle or Wilmington. in
the lower counties before the local
Inspector. and it is fully determined
whether he is employed or not. and if
so. whether he is working regularly
and steadily. If il IS found that he
is not working he is given an oppor-
tunity to get a job and get on it. and
work regularly. In case he fails TO
do this he is then assigned to a job.
selected by this bureau.
The Compulsory Work Bureau has
decided. and the New Castle County
Court has sustained the decision, that
when a man is assigned to a specific
job, he must work at that job. II he
fails TO do so he is liable 10 arrest
and fine and Imprisonment.
IL is believed by the directors of
the Bureau that there still are men
who are not employed at all. and men
who are working very irregularly /
who come under the operations of .
this Bureau, and il is the duty Of ey-
cry citizen Of the state to report to .
the directors Of this Bureau any such .
OF the law.
This is no time for Slackerism,
either in the draft or in the indus
tries.
Nearly a hundred men. who have
been found by this Bureau to be of
iraft age. not regularly employed.
have had their names sent to their
local board by this Bureau. and the
iraft board has been asked to reclass-
fy them and place them in Glass la.
and induct them into the army where
hey will have to work.
The State Boards and the local
Boards are cooperating with this
Bureau in many cases. Men are hav-
ng their classitications changed in
many instances. Christopher L.
Ward is the director of the Bureau.
md F.. Ross Farra. formerly Chief
Inspector. is the assistant.
Any citizen knowing of any men
the ages OF IS and 90 years
ii age. unemployed or who work ir-
will send notice to this Bu-
eau. in the Old Federal Building, at
9Th & King Streets. Wilmington. and
he cases will be given prompt atten-