The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-06-29


WASHINGTON, june ga cam
paign to obtain from 100000 to 100000
additional laborers, and large numbers
of machinists and other skilled
mechanics, for the war industries, was
started today by the United States en-
ployment service of the department.
Of labor, and it was announced officially
that many of the less essential indus
tries would be called upon to release
employees TO meet the emergency.
Fhe department of labor announces
that there is shortage of 900 com
mon laborers in the vital industries and
that war plants in Connecticut and
MARYLAND alone were in need of at least
$4,000 skilled maehinists.
In many plants, it was said, work on
guns and ammunition is being delayed.
A serious condition also was found III
the coal mines, and it was announced
that this situation must be met at once
if sufficient fuel was to be obtained to
keep the war industries going at maxi
mum speed.
Agents of the employment service al
ready have begun to make their de-
mands upon the less essential indus
tries, and after Aug. ] labor recruiting
| BY private agencies will be forbidden.
| The government experts are making q
careful study of the situation and viii
endeavor to divert labor from the less
essentials to the war industries in such
a manner that there viii be the least
| disturbance of business interests.
| 1t is a foregone conclusion, however,
| that number of the less essential in
lustries will be forced to curtail their
output.
| The official announcement reads:
War industries of the United States
lare at this moment short of between
10000 and 100000 common laborers
and the lack of workers in the Goa
mining industry is imperilling all other
production. So serious is the situation
considered that the United States EN-
ployment service. in which common Ia
Dor recruiting for war has been central
lied, is endeavoring to complete its re
eruiting machinery so that that whole
sale relief may he given before tn,
ban against private labor recruitin!
goes into effect on Aug. l.
"The situation with respect to skille,
labor is nearly as serious. One of tn
largest munition plants, turning on
heavy calibre guns, is short 1000 ma
chinists, while the war plants of Con
neetieut and Maryland alone are under
manned by $4,000 skilled machinists.
"The solution lies in the recruitin
/ by a centralized government agency, o
/ workers for war work from the non-es
I sential industries as quickly as pos
l sible. This plan has been assigned t
I the United States employment serve
by the president and the productio
/ boards and departments.
"The employment service estimate
that its employment Office must be il
creased at the earliest possible momer
to at least 700 and its corps of loc;
agents and travelling examiners must
1 greatly augmented in order that ever
community may be combed for We
1 workers.
III The department of labor, through Il
employment service, will co-operaf
with war industries board, the railfoa
and fuel and food administrations, tt
shipping board and the war and nav
departments to determine the basis n
ON which available labor must be di
tributed in order to meet the emergenC
conditions.
The situation in the coal mines h;
II been more precarious by the last ca
| IL oil Il 81 L.,
and warning has been sounded tn;
miners and laborers must be obtaint
l. from other industries and sent to Il
l. mines in large numbers if prodnctie
of coal is to be maintained at a pa