Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1918-08-30
Drag Them Out
Only Profiteers Demand Con-
scription of Labor
Government Not Exercised Over Situation---The
Working Men Did Not Ask for Exemp-
ton, 1t Was the Employer

ingtOn.-"Drag out the con-
spiratOrs behind conscription and you
will find they are the most prolific
war profiteers in the United States"
said Frank Morrison, secretary Of the
American Federation of Labor, in op-
posing conscription Of labor before
the house committee on military af-
] fairs.
Senator Thomas of Colorado is re-
sponsible for this Objectionable
amendment to pending draft legis-
lation. The amendment is as fol-
lows:
"That where any person shall have
been placed in deferred or exempted
class for any of the reasons in this
paragraph set forth, he shall not be
entitled to remain there unless he
shall in good faith continue, while
physically able to do so, to work at
and follow such occupation, employ
ment or business, and if he fails so
! to do he shall again be subject to the
draft; the president shall make regu-
lations for enforcing this provision"
Secretary Morrison showed that
the government has not asked for
this amendment, which is offered
simultaneously with organized labor's
announcement Of nationwide or
ganizing campaign against the steel
trust.
"This amendment" declared the
trade unionist, "is an attack on the
loyalty of American workmen and
will make the world believe, espe-
cially our allies, that our workers
are slackers, that they are not Civ
ing their best to win the war.
"Secretary of war Baker is au-
thority for his department. When
asked by the senate committee
what he thought of the amendment
he said.
"T think it is unfortunate to add
that
at is therefore a fact" continued
Secretary Morrison, "that the gov
Iernment is not exercised over the in
dustrial situation. But some one is.
He is hidden in the dark engineering
a movement to conscript labor and it
comes in here as an amendment to
the draft bill.
"When war was declared the work
ers of the nation willingly fell in
line ready to go where needed to save
the country and the world for dem
ocracy. 1t is the same democracy we
are fighting for in protesting against
this amendment.
"The working men attacked by this
conscription amendment did not ask
for exemption. They wanted to fight.
But the necessities of war made it
imperative that many should be ex-
empted, so they could manufacture
munitions for the soldiers at the
front.
at was the employer who asked for
the exemptions. He said he must
have workmen to fill his war con-
tracts. Then, here and there an en-
ployer, closing his eyes to the in
creased cost of living, with only in
creased profits in mind, refused to
concede sufficient wage for fair liv-
ing standard Low wages and poor
working conditions became unbear-
able and strikes followed. But these
strikes We're soon adjusted by the ma
chinery of the department of labor.
Notwithstanding the peaceful in
dustrial situation it is now proposed
to cast odium on loyal workmen who,
while kept from the front against
their will, desire to earn a wage suf-
fcient to keep themselves and fam
lilies above the poverty line.
Assuming this law is enacted and
carried out to the letter, and 1000
mechanics in war plant strike, what
then? How can their places be filled?
Will the government become a strike
breaking agency, using soldiers who
seek to save democracy to defeat
working men who are also fighting
for democracy on the industrial field
eff soldiers are not used, where will
strikebreakers be found? Is the COl-