South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-02-01
ASKS INDIANA TO
AID MAINTENANCE
OF TRADE SCHOOLS
Sen. Calder Tells McCray Of
Need For Training Build
ing TradCsmen.

WASHINGTON. Jan. aI.-A spe-
ciai and urgent p.ea for th" cstab-
l--1meu- and maintenance OF trade
schools boz Indiana has been made
during the last trw days iu a letter
hich sen. William 81. calder OF
sew York has sent Co Gov. Nc
Cray Son. Calder is chairman OF
the special committee ON recon
atruction. which has travelled an
over the country during recent
months for the purpose OF invcsti-
eating reconstructipn problems and
trying. if possible. 20 find remedies
for existing unsatisfactory condi-
tons. The committee found that "a
shortage uf skilled tradesmcu Is one
~ the greatest drawbacks 90 re-
construction following the war
Sen. Calders letter 90 the Cover
nor 81 Indiana setting forth the
findings Of the committee and aU-
teaiius for help is OF special inter
est al this time I'm 10 ne SAYS:
a comprehensive study Of the
causes OF the present shortage in
housing and OF the various factors
entering into the building industry
which have tended 20 Tetard its
I,rDgTcsS. las been conducted by this
h.'tliiltlAANf- AAIAflE TIC past eight
months. and although We have not
been able 20 visit every state Ia the
union. we have covered all which
the tiRe 1T our disposal has permit
iod auH have iutcrrOgated authOTi-
ties from all over the country In
order 20 give q national scope 20 tie
otudy our investigation has en-
allied US. as "a result OF the perspect-
i've thus afforded, 20 ascertain some
of the things which will remedy the
conditions which are unSa tisfactOry
and which hamper reconstruction.
skilled Man Rarity
cone Of the outstanding factors
which is now hampering the build
nag industry is the curtailment ut
the source of the supply of skilled
tradesnen. The building industry
is more highly organized than any
other large industry, but ~ is no
ficeablc everywhere that its mem
beers are now getting along in years
ana I'm some trades the skilled young
man Isl "a rarity. IL has been the
experience in the past that the
skilled mechanic In the building
trades drops out very much earlier
than in other trades and IS forced
90 take mp other or less skillful en-
ployment. His pay has accordingly
2 Sual run but the necessity for con-
slant replacement has been ever
present.
The American youth takes kind
IS TO the particular trades which re-
quire a little more skill than the
others. and So we lind among the
electricians, The plumbers and the
Hasons numerous young men OF
American birth, but such is not the
case with the other trades Here
tofOre men from foreign shores. dis
sttisfied with the political and so
Cial conditions existing In their
fatheTlaud have come 10 this cOun-
try and, without serving a technical
apprenticeship. they have started at
Che bottom of the ladder in the
building trades. Those who have
been worthy have risen 20 heights
limited only by their ability.
THE country was huge indus
trial training school where the
building trades were taught largely
20 newcomers 20 our shores but the
rltvages of war cut off this source
of supply and the result is apparent
on every hand. The remedy seems
plain-more apprentices. This goes
ro the essence. for without ap-
prcntiCes We shall soon be short of
journcymtu not only. but OF fore
men and practical employers. The
problem is. How shall this bc
acEieved2' The best solution seems
Ia be through the fostering of build
ing trades schools Some OF the
states. under their labor codes. have
authorized state Industrial COM
mission 10 operate an apprentice de-
partment-
Sees Decentralization.
Another thing which has been
patient I'm all of our Investigations
is that the supply OF labor Is de-
pleted through over-specializatiou.
There arc trades, such as paper
hanging. I'm which work is done but
81 few months in the year. This
particular trade is the busiest. Of
course. just prior TO the two sea-
Sonable rental dates. with the result
that these particular trades are and
must be highly paid. or else tho
men who participate therein must
be competent TO function I'm other
trades i'm the off seasons. This
leads 10 the thought that extensive
government or state aid 20 trade
schools In which apprentices may Dc
trained IN sufficiently wide range
If related activities 10 enable them
10 adjust themselves to changes I'm
Industrial conditions and Seasonable
demands OF the construction indus
trv. would be beneficial not only 10
the tradesmen themselves but 20 the
body polite.
Summarizing the above. solicit
vour good offices in promoting the
replacement OF the fast dwindung
supply OF building tradesmcn
through an adequate R-steu OF trade
hoolS which Slau be conducted
-lnnr Inns rlnrfInn.1 4 hnNn md !