El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-09-18

GsCONE time ago the cry went out
y that there was a scarcity Of Ia
Dor and that labor should be con-
scripted for essential industries The
trouble was not that there was a
scarcity Of cheap labor. The corpora
tons were accustomed to having two
men bid for every job, and when the
number was reduced TO one. they cried
.conscript labor Now the secretary
OF labor has said that the time may
come when we should have conscrip-
ton Of labor. but when that time does
come. the laborer shall be conscripted
The same as a soldier. He shall be
conscripted 20 work tor the govern
ment and under the government he
shall not be conscripted 10 work to
enrich private individuals and cor
porations. In other words. before 4
man shall be cOnscripted for a place,
that place must first be comman-
decred."
Addresses 4IndustrIal Mass
These remarks on q much discussed
public question were made by Louis F.
post. assistant secretary OF labor. at
q meeting Of representatives OF ii
Paso's industrial mass at the court
house auditorium Tuesday night The
meeting was attended by about oUO
working and business men.
Rov II. Walker presided over the
meeting. among prominent attendants
being mayor Charles Davis, president
Otis C. Coles Of the chamber Of com
merce. n district commander Brls
Cen. J.. J.. H~Grnbrook- The fifth cav
airy band. Lieut.. Edgar J. h Bush,
leading. furnished music
Assistant secretary Post introduced
by Claude B. Hudspeth, delivered prac-
ticaIlv the same talk he had made at
the noon meeting OF the chamber OF
commerce. but elaborated on some of
the important points. He spoke IN
part IS follows.
Explains German Schemes
Z am here TO address the industrial
mass-the employer and the employed
ON the activities OF the war laDor
board. You know the German theory
~ government is that the man be-
longs to the state. They beueNed
sheir ku1tur should be carried over
the world and one ] morning Inelr
announced that the day
had arrived when they slouIl maIcn
forth TO conquer the world. 80 Iney
raped Belgium and invaded France
Had they taken Paris, England would
have come next, and then Canada ana
Mexico. with the United states pc
tween the pinchers- We remained out
OF the war until they invaded our
country. by telling US not TO cross
a certain line in the ocean n sink
ing our ships when we do
Need Army ut Home.
Vow. the president has said. we are
fighting for world wide democracy. l
and are fighting for the German peo-
ME as truly as for ourselves, WheJher
STo accompiish this end. we must
have an army at the front and an IN
army at home. and / want 10
plead with YOU that the industrial
army must mobilize, that business
rNsn and employees. partners IN pro-
though not yet in distribu-
must mobilize at least during
the war. They must Work toselher
and be a unified army at home ] ask
that they come together At least 4or
the period Of the war Then they
will find that Il works so well that
thew viii keep Il on. By no means, let
productive work stop II productive
work stops today. We begin 10 lose
the war tomorrow"
Trnces Department History.
Mr.. Post then traced the history Of
denartment Of labor from the
Of wage earners. both north
e~n and southern. at Louisville, Ky.
i few month"; after the civil war and
resolution asking congress Tor
creation Of a department OF lanor,
TO the time when president Tart Just
before leaving office, signed the bill
and Wne president MA4eols on NnNIL
ing office. appointed secretary VII
the first to hold the post
The speaker gave a brief biography
OF the secretary Of labor. who came
TO this country from Scotland when
eight years old. and went to work on
breakers in an anthracite mine
Post told Of how the young work
sr. an officer in his union before ne
was q years Of age, was discharged
because Of an article he had written
which ~displeased his employers. and
he was blacklisted for ten years
as A result.
Were Not Paying Living Wage.
Mr.. Post then raced h history OF
the war labor board. designed to put
an end to strikes and lockouts during
war at least He also pleaded for
full support Of the federal employ
ment bureaus.
He repeated his former declaration
living costs are more now than
the war. saying. living wages
we're not paid before the war and
prices have raised 60 TO SIS percent so
an increase OF that much is
necessary in order TO reach even the
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