The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1924-04-04


service show surplus of labor, espe-
cially of what is designated as un-
skilled labor, in nearly every indus
trial city and town in the United
States.
There are many members Of con-
gress who would vote for the complete
restriction program, but the number
is not sufficient to enact such legisla-
Jon. The evidence given before the
immigration committees is Of such
nature that even the hard-boiled COM
mitteemen were astounded. If new
immigration law is not enacted before
June 80, 1924, the law of 1917 will
become operative. Under that law
immigration to this country is almost
unlimited. Before the passage of the
three per cent law 100000 immi-
grants were coming here each month.
Secretary Of Labor Davis has said
there are 100000 people in Europe
who are anxious to come to America.
1t will thus be seen that the danger
ahead of the United States can not
be lightly treated"
Conscription Would Force Labor
to 'sBe Good"
In its discussion Of the proposed
conscriptien measure the committee
says that the military committees of
the two houses of congress have
under consideration bills providing
"for the conscription of labor and
material resources" in case of national
emergency
"a national emergency, says the
legislative committee, covers many
possibilities and may come in peace
as well as war time. That provision
in the bills refers only to the unor-
ganized militia.
"It is only in case of war or when
the president shall judge that war is
imminent that he is authorized to de-
termine, proclaim, and conscript the
material resources, industrial organ
izations and services over which gov
ernment control is necessary to the
successful termination of such emer-
gency.'
"Another clause in the bill author
ICES the president to take such steps
as may be necessary, to stabilize
prices of services and of all commodi-
ties declared to be essential, whether
such services and commodities are re.
quired by the government or by the
civilian population This clause au.
thorizes the president to fix wages Of
labor and prices of commodities
War College Began Plans Two
Years Age
"It has been known for two years,
the report concludes, "that the army
war college at Washington was in
vestigating how far legislation coult
go in conscripting labor. A repre-
sentative called at the office of tn,
American Federation Of Labor an.
was told that labor would oppose an,
conscription legislation.
1T may be we'll to quote Maj. Gen
Hanson E. Ely, the commandment o.
the army war college, who broad
casted his speech to the 343rd Division
Army Engineers, March 13, over th'
radio. He said that through con
scription The government would b
able to do away with any labor diff
culties in a national emergency HI
said that if, there was anyone dissatis
fled or disposed to make trouble h
would be taken out Of industry ant
put in the trenches. He said that hs
felt confident that an experience oi
this kind would be an adequate cur'
of all truculency on the part of the
working men, for he felt pretty sur'
that a brief stay in the trenche:
would make the mines and the fac
tories look pretty good.
| "The material resources, he said
would be handled in somewhat sim
/