Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1919-03-14
STATEMENT OF SECRETARY or
LABOR ON BUILDING PUBLIC
WORKS, ETC.


4 an Of the opinion that from the
time we restore ourselves to our nor
NAL postwar activities the demand
for peace time production VIII be 50
great that there VIII not be the reno
test possibility or securing any reduc-
ticn in the wage rates from their pres
snt basis I feel further. that the man
ufacturer who fails to take into con
sideration the prospects Of the future
and who. il a hope Of securing a cheap
er labor or cheaper Jaw material. does
not build UP his organization and main
tain it during the possibly brief period
Of readjustment, viii be handieapped
in securing his share Of the business
afterwards; because ne WIZ be handi-
capped through lack of working forces
in his factory.
1T therefore seems TO me that the sit
uation resolves itself into taking care OF
the possible problem In the interim be-
tween our ceasing war activities and
the time When we have assumed Our
natural postwar activities.
with the attitude Of mind that I
have expressed as existing on rac part
OF some manufacturers relative to
waiting for q lowering in the prices of
raw material ana the price OF la5or. ID
may b. that the restoration Of Iliilss-fy
VIII not take place as rapidly rs the
demobiilzati0n takes place We are
not sure OF that. There ought t3 ae
provision made for a reservoir that
world absorb the demobiiLzed workers
and the demobilized soldiers nor ia
doing the things which there is no need
% have done but in doing ne things
that ought 20 be done this are vala-.
able for peace time purposes 8 yes
erVoir that VIII take care OF Ehem FOR
the b1 ef period betwee1 their dismissal
from the Army or the dismissia. from
tire Var Industries until they can be
reaisCrbed into the natural post war
Il d'I-sg rial activities.
The Department Of AgrictslluTs IS
{ lkinz steps to accomplish ps Of that
purpose in the matt-r OF road improve +
ment Highway improvements on the
lbtcrs Congress has acted IN tie past.
tl...i s0r military purposes AMI for post
81 ral.fes. roads are necessary all u. 80
In. country. Wher= men arr employed
IL r. building, they do not hive q Ne
-LSul from their own hOr-- sOmmuni-
tbs to engage in the wJr'<. The Dc-
oartment Of Agriculture. therefore. llas
ssksd or IS about 10 ask for an increas
ID appropriation which viii enable it
N cooperation with the respective
States. TO engage il nation wide pro
ect OF road building that viii absorb.
Z need be. some OF these workers TEN
lorarily. until Industry resumes its nat
rraI course
During the period Of the war. by
-irtue' of the shortage OF woTkmen.
here has been little or no municipal
ctivity in building operations in
ark extentiOns. II sewage extention.
-ater-worts. or any other Of the public
Utilities. They have been delayed ant
ostponed because of the shortage Of
lan power and because Of the inability
. finance we are suggesting. through
he Department Of Labor, TO the va 3
0us municipalities throughout the
1untry the advisabuity # their re- 9
Iml1g these activities es SIS atrIy Z
tta possible
Whenever it is possible 70 utiliz
lblic means. whenever IL is possible q
1dertake public work. or things tina p
re- valuable for peace-ti.ue purposes q
should be undertaken as promptly as
icctRAr- ~ LlA-A- l4u4 4- -AEEt-GtA --a--
lght TO be provided so that it car p n
ilized If il is needed
Personally. am opposed TO the ere
ion Of work solely for the purpose or Z
wing employment to somebody. 7 loo'S u
,on that as being so much waste, y
wasted energy, and y
lste OF material But the same argu q
slt cannot be made against employ U
: labor for useful purposes and this ri
ould always be borne in mind. that
you have millions Of men out OF en- CO
lyment and By virtue OF their being !"
. Of employment. unable to supply oS
"a and clothing and shelter for their an
Miles they are going to insist upon -ih
opportunity OF earning q livelihood
I am not one Of those who take the
.unG that country or a government %
as every man living Bur all gov 20
ments. an organized society is man az
ated. and CT 1ssquently. more or less
lficiaI because OF the restrictions ma
Z must Of necessity be imposed for. S7L
purpose of enabling US to live In
mony with each other. And because
hose restrictions men have no- al-
IS the opportunity of wosking for
uselves. and am one OF those who t'''
eve that all good governments win -.
10 it that every man has the oppor- -
.ty 20 earn a living In other words.
Government does not owe BIN a
ig. but il owes him che opportunity
rsr-fr,o-