Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-04-30
L0AFERS IN WAR TIME.
Ry Edward Mott WOOiIey,

Member American Defence Society.
Copyright 1918. American Defense
Society.
One reads a good deal in the
newspapers about the scarcity of
Ia Dor, and we hear serious predic-
tons concerning the difficulty farm
ers will have in planting and har-
vesting their crops. yet in travelling
about the Country-and in recent
months l have covered the United
States from coast to coast have
observed large numbers of men who
seemed to have no occupation at
all. In my own part of the coun-
try, the region adjacent TO New
York. L believe that many thou
sands of men are practically loaf
ing. l am informed in certain fac
tory towns that considerable per
cent of young and able-bodfed men
are living on the earnings of their
wives and women relativcs-and in
some instances on the, money
brought home by their mothers.
Work has been so plentiful for
women in these industrial centers
that this class of men consider it
unnecessary to do any labor them
selves; or at least they prefer to
do as little as possible
/ have often stood in front of the
motion picture theatres along about
. O'Clock in the afternoon. watching
the outcCming throngs of people,
and have been amazed at the large
proportion of young men who ap-
parently are in sound physical con-
dition. The other day | asked a mu-
nicipal official in a large industrial
community how it happened that
these young men were able to spend
the whole afternoon in a picture
show when we were reading con-
tinually about a labor shortage
The shortage would be less
acute" he answered, ''if something
could be done to make these men
work. This community is full of
men who are idle by preference,
and the money they spend at the
picture theatres and elsewhere is
earned by the toll of women who
work long hours in the factories.
It's a burning disgrace that this
sort of thing should exist; and it
will be more than a disgrace if
n
during the summer on the farm,
where labor will be so much in
demand"
Now | do not cite this situation
with any intention of advocating
the conscription of Lahore at the
present time. / don't pretend to
say whether such a law would be
feasible or not. ] do say that some
sort of census ought to be taken in
every such community, giving
reasonably accurate idea as to the
number Of men who are Sinking
the sponsibilities of this great
war crisis. Then, having ascer-
tainer the facts, every moral infiu-
ence should be brought to bear
il no legal steps could be taken
to make them useful in the new
emergency confronting us.
Moreover, | have made It nv
task to observe the employees in d
large number of confectionery and
soda stores, and have found that
hundreds OF young and husky men
are doing work that ought to be
done at a time like this, by women.
] have often wondered what was
going on in these fellows heads
as they Skipped around in white
aprons making milk-shakes and
serving chocolate frappes.
What we need in this country,
especially, is realization OF the fact
that we are at war, and that every
man ought To be spending at least
part OF his time in the cause.
AS / look at it, this problem IF
getting men where they can do the
most service is partly a matter of
local community patriotism. a
great deal can be done to wake men
up by the local press, churches,
public gatherings and societies.
and by the creation of that subtle
thing known as community spirit.
The class of men ! have been talk
ing about ought 10 be shamed into
doing things more worth while.
They ought to be dragged into the
llmelight.