Evening journal., 1918-01-23
PLAN MOBILIZATION
Of WAR LAEOR
Competition Between IT.
dustrieS and Government
TO be Checked
FARMERS ASK
.. S. FOR HELP

WASHINGTON. Jan 23.-Nleasures to-
check competition for labor between the
war industries and government asen-
oies have been taken by the Department
df Labor. This was announced yester-
day after a delegation Of Virginia truck
growers, headed by Representative Hol-
land, had called ON Assistant Secretary
Post with a protest that the farmers
would lose a million bushes Of potatoes
this year # the entcement Of farm
labOrers by industrial concerns were
permitted to continue.
The delegation was told that the De-
partment already had directed the can
collation. Of extrayaganl advertisements
for men which are considered detri-
mental 20 the governments war pro-
Gramme Industrial pl0nts are being
assured that all real labor needs will
he met by tho United States employ
ment service, IN whose hands the DIS
iributlon Of the available labor supply
has been placed by Secretary Wilson.
Mobilization Of shipyard workers, q
Department statement last night said,
has been placed an ine hands Of the em-
ployment service by the Shipping
Board. Independent recruiting by the
board and the individual plants will be
discontinued % permit a concentra-
ton Of effort during a two weeks
campaign, beginning next Monday,
which Will culmlnate in o national ship
builders registration week February
Is.
Confusion and suffering are said TO
uNa ~
as to shipysrd needs, attracting many
men 10 places where an ample supply
Of workers already was gathered.
Published statements Of the number
Of men who will be wanted have been
mlsinterpreted." said the statement.
as meaning that great numbers are
wanted now, whereas tney are wanted
only In limited quantities and of par
ticular types at any one time. Men
should stick TO their Jobs until tho
Department tells them that there is q
shipbuildlng position waiting and what
the wages and housing cond tlons arc.
by registering lrf the Public Ser
vice Reserve men can be assured that
they will be told when they will he
wanted The reserve now is listing
men willing to serve on railroads, in
munitlon plants an. in the divisions OF
the army which required skilled me-
chanlcs."
II was estimated that from now until
next August 100000 men will bo need
ed for shlpbuilding.
An appeal TO President Wilson 10
speed up governmental machinery In
aid OF production so as TO relieve the
anxiety Of farmers as TO labor supply.
credit facilities and seed shortage, was
made yesterday In a memorial from the
Federal Board OF Farm Organizations
in behalf Of more than 100000 Or
ganized farmers.
Tho board asked for reply Febru-
airy g, when representatives Of the
seven national farm organizations
comprising the board, with several
State masters Of the Grange and heads
Of The Society OF Equity and other
bodies, will seek an audience with tho
President TO discuss constructive plans.
The memorial said:
IF food is TO win the war, as we are
assured on every side, the farmers OF
America must produce more food in
1913 than they did In 1917. But unless
present conditions are radically chang
ed increased crops next year are i'm
possible. Under existing conditions we
cannot equal the production of 1917,
much less surpass II, and this for rea-
sons over which the farmers have no
control.
so far as we have learned there Is
not a single genuine farmer, represen-
tative Of the organized farmers of
America, In any position OF authority
in the Food Administration, Tho Advls-
DRY Council Of National Defence, or any
Of the other special boards charged
with the conduct Of he war.
Comparing their own small earnings
With The huge war profits they see on
every hand, the farmers have lost con-
ldence that the government understands
the needs and 1lcullies Of the farmer
Unless that confidence can bo restored.
% IS useless to hope that we can main
tain the food production Of last year
and meaningless TO talk OF Increasing
TO-"