Evening journal., 1919-01-24
Want SOLDIERS
ON PUBLIC WORK
Wilson Asks Cities and
States to Go Ahead With
Improvements
AGAIN WARNS
AGAINST WASTE

army ana from INC Wal luuuctlico
should be put under way at once as a
reconstruction measure, according to
Secretary Of Labor William B. Wilson,
who, in a statement outlining his views
on this subject, points out that not
only will the transition from wartime
conditions 10 a peace basis be facili-
tated thereby, but that a work OF great
permanent value to the nation will be
accomplished.
States, cities, towns. in fact all gov.
ernmental divisions, ought now. he be
lieves, 90 make up for the reduced
construction due 20 the war. The gov
ernment's obligation 20 provide en-
ployment for the returning soldiers and
the necessity for many forms OF i'm
provement IN municipal and State
equipment rendered such program
essential at this time, he holds.
The Secretary's statement follows:
Il am Of the opinion that from the
time we restore ourselves to our nor
NAL postwar activities, the demand
for peace-time production viii be so
great that there will not be the re-
motest possibility Of securing any re-
ductlon in the wage rates from their
present basis. / feel, further. that the
manufacturer who fails 70 take into
consideration the prospects Of the
future and who. In a hope OF securing
a cheaper labor or cheaper raw ma
terlal. does not build up his organizs-
tlon and maintain it during the possibly
brief period Of readiustment. will be
handicapped in securing his share OF the
business sfterward, because he will be
Handicapped through lack OF working
forces in his factory.
1T, therefore. seems TO me that the
situation resolves itself into taking
care Of the possible problem in the in
terim between our ceasing war aotivi-
ties and the time when we have as
sumed our natural postwar activities.
with the attitude Of mind that ]
have expressed as existing on the part
OF some manufacturers relative 10
waiting for a lowering in the prices Of
raw material and the price Of labor. it
may be that the restoration Of indus
try will not tax place as rapidly as
the rehabilitation takes place. We
are not sure OF that
There ought TO be provision made
for a reservoir that would absorb the
demobilized workers and the demobi-
llzed soldiers not in doing the things
which there is no need to have done,
but in doing the things that ought TO
be done-that are valuable for peace
time purposes reservoir that VIII
lake care Of them for the brief period
between their dismissal from the army
or the dismissal from the war indus
tries until they can be reabsorbed Into
tAs natural postwar industrial activi-
tls.
"The Department Of Agriculture Is
taking steps to accomplish part OF that
purpose In the matter Of road improve
ment, highway improvements, on the
theory Congress has acted on In the
past that for military purposes and
for postal routes roads are necessary
an over the country. Where men are
employed in road building they do not
have TO be taken from their own home
communities to engage in the work
The Department Of Agriculture, there
fore, has asked or is about to- ask,
for an Increased appropriation which
win enable u, I'm cooperation with the
respective States, TO engage I'm a nation !
wide project Of road building that Will !
absorb, II need be, some Of those work |
ors temporarily, until industry resumes |
its natural course.
During the period Of the war, by |
virtue Of the shortage Of workmen, !
there has been little or no municipal |
activity in building operations, in park
extensions, in sewage extension water |
works, or any other OF the public |
utilities. They have been delayed and
postponed because Of the shortage Of |
man power and because Of the inability /
20 finance. We are suggesting, through |,
the Department or Labor TO the varl- |
ous municipalities throughout the coun-
try, the advlsability Of their resumlng /
these activities at as early date as
possible.
Whenever 10 is possible TO utilize
public means, wherever It IS possible |
10 undertake public work, or things !
that are valuable for peace-tlme pur-
poses. it should be undertaken IS
romptly as possible. 10 may not be |
oeded, but II ought TO be provided, |
30 that It can be utilized II It is
needed.
Personally, am opposed 90 the |
creation OF work solely for the purpose |
Of giving employment TO somebody. | /
look upon that as being so much waste /
wasted intelligence, wasted, energy and /
waste Of material. But the same argu- |
ment cannot be made against employ
ing labor for useful purposes, and this
should always be borne in mind. that, !
\ you have millions Of men out OF en-
iloyment and by virtue OF their being
out OF employment, unable 30 supply
food and clothing and shelter for their !
families. they are going 10 insist upon |
the opportunity Of earning a livell- !
hood.
Il am not one OF those who take the |
ground that a country or a govern |
ment owes every man living. But all /
governments, all organized society, are /
nan created, and, consequently, more
1r less artificial because Of the re-
irictions that must Of necessity be i'm
osed for the purpose OF enabling us
% live In harmony with each other.
nd because OF those restrictions men
we not always the opportunity Of |
Drhng for themselves, and | am one
those who believe that all good gov
rnments will see 10 it that every man
as the opportunity TO earn living. Tn
'lher words, the government does not |
I'VE him a living, but it owes him the 4
opportunity to earn a living"