Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-03-03
URGE OPPORTUNITIES
FORLABOR TO MAKE
LIFE WHAT It WILLS
Secretary of Labor Wilson
Warns of Soviet Threat But
Says Danger Eased; Pleads
For Business Activity.

Washington. March 3.-Opportuni-
ties for the workers ito make their
lives what they should wish them" We're
urged today before the conference. of
mayors and governors. jointly by
Labor Wilson.
Warming of Bolshevist attempts in
Seattle and elsewhere to overthrow
the existing order of things the labor
secretary declared that no country
owes a man a living but every
country owes him an opportunity to
earn a hyins, = I.
Bolshevist outbreaks have respond
ed thus far to the appeal of reason.
he said, and added, "the outlook is
bright after we provide proper employ
ment during the next few months. :
INVITED TO LUNCH.
He urged resumption of building
activity throughout the nation.
President Wilson invited all the
governors and mayors to buffet lun-
cheon in the state dining rooms 1T
l p. m.
1--WE are certain" Secretary Wilson
said, that these disputes were not in
dustrial or economic in their origin
but were well planned and deliberate
attempts to establish the Soviet sys-
tenn of government in the United
States. They desired to put into ef-
feet here the Bolshevik doctrines of
Russia"
Turning to the prombem of unem-
ployment. the secretary declared that
apparently $4,000 men are now. out
OF work. with unemployment increas-
ing because men in industries are un-
certain as to future prices.
SHOULD BE JOB SURPLUS.
"The war has kept out 100000 for
eign laborers annually. Shipbuilding
has taken 100000; and at least one
million men will be in the army for a
year. Therefore, if business could be
put back on a peace time basis there
would be shortage of labor"
One solution, then, he argued, was
for the government to continue in its
normal public building. States and
counties and cities also should con-
tinue such work he said.
In discussing difficulties of cancel
lation of more than seven billion dol
lars in war contracts, Secretary of
War Baker announced that work has
been definitely suspended on $500, $780,
600 worth
The departments policy, he said.
was to settle unfinished contracts
justly so the contractors could go home
with the money in their pockets to
start the industrial machinery again
on peace time production. Cutting
contracts was also carefully consider
o5 l-o i,,fv Of Jah
disruption, the department always
in mind in its cancellations, he said.
TO PAY CONTRACTS.
Machinery has now been provided
to formalize informal contracts and
Baker proposed today to mail all dis
trict boards instructions for validating
and paying al contracts held up at the
signing of the armistice.
Baker estimated that by the end of
April 100000 men a month would be
coming home from overseas num-
ber equivalent to the maximum ship
ped over during the war. He antici-
pated no serious unemployment in
crease by reason of this influx.
Secretary Daniels outlined the ac-
tion taken by the navy department to
reduce, as far as possible, nation wide
unemployment. He explained that
from the beginning of the war the
navy department had tried to avoid
over purchasing 80 as to prevent de-
moralization of the labor market
should peace come suddenly. The
navy's plan was always to Keep ma
teriaI on hand to prevent slowing up
of war efforts, but asked delivery at
the rate Of consumption rather than
Immediate delivery Of . years supply.