The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-12-12
COLONIZATION
BY OUR FIGHTERS
Secretary of Labor Would
Have Them Take Up
Unused Land
WOULD SOLVE
LABOR PROBLEMS
Thinks Government Should Equip In
dividual Farms for Soldiers and Sail
ors and Link Them Into Community
Groups-Other Recommendations.

WASHINGTON, Dee. l2.-Coloniza-
ton BY returned soldiers and sailors of
large tracts Of land under the direction
and with the aid of the federal govern
ment is recommended as q solution of
many of the labor problems arising
iron rehabilitation by Secretary of
Lat or Wilson in his annual report
made public today. The government
should in the opinion of Mr.. Wilson
establish and equip individual farms,
which would be linked into community
groups.
The war has demonstrated the patri-
otism and loyalty of American labor,
the report SAYS, and in the continuance
of the esprit of sacriice' on the part
of employer and employe shown during
the war, Secretary Wilson believes
. lies the hope for the further attain
ment and development during the days
Of peace of that democracy for which
we have taken up arms. =
The right of collective bargaining,
| long recognized by the department of
labor. Secretary Wilson declares has
| ngN0 more NtuGlN tAIdDll>lttA #LN III
son of the war. lie adds that If the
principles upon which that agreement
was founded can endure the stress OF
war, il is fair to suppose that even
| greater success will attend their appll
/ cation during the calmcr periods OF
peace
To solve the labor problems arising
from reconstruction, Mr.. Wilson recon-
mcuds the continuance of the labor au
/ iustment agency Of the national wal
labor board. Agreements have been ef,
fected between labor and employers
! through this agency, the report says
by which certain principles have beer
4 placed above further dispute.
! Agricultural areas should be pu,.
chased by the federal govttnmcnt anC
added to the public domain to provid'
land for the carrying ont of the pro
posed colonization program for re
i turned members OF the military forces
the report asserts 1t is proposed thp
administration Of the program be ii
rectcd by a hoard consisting OF TIL
heads al the agriculture, interior, ar,
: labor departments.
,, Legislation needed TO carrv out III
plan, Secretary Wilson believes, Shout,
include these provisions
Il The possibility of 'commercialize,
, speculation must be eliminated.
y Colonists must be given access. no
+ only to land. but Ia farms; not to til
; bare soil, but 10 fully equipped a2ri
4 cultural plants rcadv.to operate.
| Tie farms themselves must be wcle
. ed together into genuine communitie
Il tv provision for roads. schools an
f markets, under the general supervislo
: of The federal government.
! 4 Arrangements have been completed
, says the report, to care for demobi
al ICED men who do not care to take u
I farm work SO for rs possible through tn
). United States employment service,
3 branch of the war department. O
!. this point the secretary says:
q In presenting these recommend;
tions at this time, | regard it unnece
!. sary to point out further possibilitie
: In setting forth the necessity for Ian
: settlement l am not unmindful of Il
l. vast numbers who must again find the
= places in our complex industrial orga
: ization or needs of orr nation aft,
7 the war. All the properly adapted Il
! cilities Of the department of labor 4
| At present engaged in the study
those problems of reconstruction p
Eculiar to manufacturing and secondal
i industry; and from time to time
shall have Recommendations and co
chsions to present based upon SUI,
studies.