The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-01-27
BUILDING WORK ENCOURAGED.
Secretary Of Labor w. B. Wilson Urges
Definite Policy By Each Community.

Announcement Of a nationwide cam
paign for the promotion of both private
and public construction was made by
Secretary Of Labor William b. Wilson at
business readiustment conference re-
Gently held at the State House in Boston.
Mr.. Wilson was unable to be present in
person, but a telegram addressed to the
conference and presented by Roger ".
Babson, chief of the section on inforIna-
ton and education of the labor depart
ment, under whose general direction the
campaign is being conducted, the secre-
tary strongly urged the adoption Of a
definite construction program in every
community.
Secretary Wilson gave these six rea-
sons in support of his appeal;
Building is an industry which is not
inflated and which has not been put on
an artificial basis by the war.
Building employs all classes of labor
common labor, stone masoRs brick lay
ers, carpenters, plumbers, steam filters,
coppersmiths, and many other trades
Building enables most Of the cost to
get back into the wage workers pockets
Therefore, it makes little difference to
the worker who builds if the cost of
building should be 20 per cent less a few
years hence; for then, through idleness,
his income would be correspondingly cut
down.
Building creates permanent wealth,
increases the taxable property Of the
community, and is a form Of wealth sub
ject to little depreciation,
Building makes for good citizenship,
and it is the only safeguard against boil
shevism. As someone has asked, Did
you ever see the red flag Of anarchy fly
ing over a mans own hearthstonep
Building can be tabulated and regu-
lated. We know just how many are be-
ing built, az permits must be secured by
all. We can allot building to communi.
ties as one would allot quotas in Lib
erty loan campaign. The construction
industry stands out almost alone in its
ability to be regulated and stimulated
The remainder Of the secretary's tele-
gram was as follows;
Deferred Construction Part of War Debt
Deferred construction is really a part
Of our war debt. II should be one Of the
first accounts to be paid unless the coun-
try is to remain in a state of arrested
development. Inasmuch as the building
industry is regarded by many as the
means Of facilitating the general indus
trial transition from a war TO a peace
basis. it should have the encouragement
of all interests. For ultimately all in
dustries must suffer and prosper alike,
In fact, my interest in stimulating con-
struction il only due TO my interest in
every trade and in every citizen.
Public Construction as a Temporary Ex-
pedient.
public construction will be helpful in
mitigating conditions. While parks,
highways and other public improvements
add to the general welfare of a commu-
nifty, it is not of itself a sufficiently com
prehensive program to solve the readjust-
ment problem.
Private Construction Necessary to Re-
store Normal Conditions.
therefore, it is evident that the pri-
vate as well as public construction must
be resumed before the country returns to
normal conditions. Next to placing pri-
vate funds in governmental securities, it