New-York tribune., 1918-09-24
u. S. Employment Board Is
sues Sweeping Order to
Industries
Even War Plants
Included in Dictuyn
"Precise, Cold, Military
Calculation" Dictated
New Rule

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23.-One thou
sand community LABOR boards, in all
sections of the country, were ordered
today to take steps to oust men from
non-essential employment and muster
the women of the nation TO take their
places.
The agencies which are to carry out
the work will act under detailed in
structions from the government re-
ceived through the United States En-
poyment Service, and will publish
lists of non-essential positions now
held by men that can be filled by
women.
This will not only tend to cause the
men to withdraw voluntarily from
such work and enter other industries
essential to the prosecution of the war,
but will also induce employers to sub
stitute women for men, ii is believed.
These drastic instructions to labor
boards are made necessary by the
present shortage of 100000 skilled
and uaskil!ed laborers in war indus
tries.
Smyth Issues Statement
\. A. Smyth, assistant director gem
eral of the United States EMPLOYMENT
Service. in his instructions to local
boards said:
at cannot be too strongly empha-
sized that our country is facing most
serious situation with regard to labor
supply.
"The War Department has projected
an enormous programme. apparently
reckless OF the fact that there is not
enough labor available to carry it out,
IN reallty relying on the viii of the
American people to drop everything
else and put it through.
At this moment this programme is
seriously retarded for lack of man
power in war industries
IF we can have shells enough in
France next year we can blast a path
to Berlin. To the extent that we fall
behind in the supply of material we
snail have to make up the deficit from
the living bodies of our Young men.
his Is not Fhetoric. 1t is cold, pre-
else military calculation.
Use Women in War Work
"One of the fundamental processes
which is going to save our war pro-
gramme will be the introduction of
women into some phases of war work
and the use of women in non-war work
so as 10 enable men to go into war
work.
This process cannot begin too soon.
10 stimulate, and at the same time
supervise and steady these movements
OF TABOR INTO war industry and of wom-
en- into non-war industry, is one of the
chief duties of the community labor
boards.
when you have determined upon a
ilst OF industries in which women shall
be used, 1t should be submitted for an
proval to the Federal director and ad
vlsory board in your state. Additional
lists may be required from time to
time.
AS such lists are made and ap-
proved You should give them wide
spread local publicity.
Men Must Quit Jobs
In face Of such publicity. emplov-
ers III non-war industries will hesitate
20 use men where you have indicated
mat they should use women Men who
are working at what board such as
yours shall determine to be woman's
lob during war times will, of their own
accord, be prompted to take IN other
work"
The use of women in employments
under the proposed scheme of jncreas-
ing the available man power in essen
'lal war work, is not expected to apply
TO occupations clearly unfit for women
The United States Employment Service
instructions point out that barrooms
and saloons, poolrooms, mines, smelt-
ers, quarrles, furnace work and glass
works are not suitable occupations for
women. In addition, girls under TWEEN
ly-one years of age should not be en-
pioyec IN occupations OF places o.
employment such as public messenger
sefVice' street cars, elevated and sub
way transportation service. or as cje-
Nator operators and bell bows in hotels
and clubs. Likewise. the use of moth
ers OF young children should be dis
couraged-
New York Awaits Orders