The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1926-04-22

riais, transportation. housing. and s
forth. On top of that there prevaile,
the demands Of the Shipping Board
with the slogan that ships would wi,
tue war, and of the Food Administra
ton, with the slogan that food womb
win the war. Further there was RI,
railroad Administration with its neef
Tor material and labor. and finally
there was the feyerish quest for labo,
ana supplies on the part of the mimi
ton makers-all competing for labor
money, materials. transportation. fuel
power, and each insisting on the
greater Importance of its activity. All
this while the labor supply was being
iessened by the flow of men into the
Army
Whiie an endeavor was being made
to bring order out of chaos. the great
undertaking had to go on. Men shins
munitions, food, material had TO be
provided. Old organizations. bureaus
and traditions had to be met and
changed. but not DESTROYED until the
new was set up. The wonder of If all
Is, nor that there were so many mis-.
takes, but that so much was accom-
plished.
AT the time we entered the wor
prices were at their peak, and tending
higher because of the wars insatiabla
demands. The problem was not alone
10 secure the materials and labor and
TO stop the confusion, but to do II in
such way that the morale of the peo-
pie would be maintained The prices
OF some things. like steel and conner
were fixed far below prevailing rates
ana the wages of labor in those indus.
lrles were standardized. The more
nlghiy organized an industry. the
easier 1t was to arrange. Order did
not commence to appear until the
army funneled its needs through one
nan sitting with section of the War
INDUSTRIES Board and until the NAVY.
'nlpplng Board, Allies and Railroad |
Administration did likewise. Each de-
artment satisfied its requirements
through central authoritative body.
MS was called the War Industries
board, controlling and directing all
Materials and co-ordinating through
8 cha .rran the whole system Of gov
rnmental and civilian supply and de-
land was created by executive
roer In March of the year 1918
Briefly, this board endeavored to
lobilize the industries of America ca
nat the fighting forces of the Allied
no associated nations could draw
'om the United States--the last res
rVolr of men, materials and money!
he things needed for the winning of
1e war at the time the things were
eeoed and with the least dislocatjon
industry and the least disturbance
the civilian population.
Inc War Industries Board was or.
lnlzed like any other supervisory
'mmHtee' with chairman, vice
larman, members in charge OF va.
Gus activities, bureau chiefs and sub.
d1nate workers, 1t surveyed and
'usht to arrange the whole industrial
ar hald under the pienary powers
inferred BY the President and the
How we'll 1t did this Ia a
DRY for others to tell. What 1t did
the basis OF the plan | am here
'awing.
It was comparatively easy to fa
ices and to distribute materials. and
DEED to stabilize the wages of labor
those Industries in which prices
ere fixed. The labor situation. how
'er, became increasingly difficult,
lrticularly when General Crowder |
una 1t necessary to withdraw men t
the proposed campaign of 1919 |
ter 100000 soldiers had already t
EN- taken. a
Much has been said about the prof. Q
erlng of labor 1t is an unjust aeon. e
ton. 1t is only fair to saw that this Il
nation was primarily brought about i
rough the inexperience of the organ d
'tlon within our own governmental C
partments and by the furious bid r
lg OF munitions makers and shin n
llders for services. That situation C
sether with the increased prices of f
things that labor had to buy with Il
results of its work, made it inevi
Ole that labor must get higher u
Lges. q
So 1t became evident that the price a
ing program had to go even fur b
Or, and the War Industries Board s
len the Armistice came, was pro. /,
eding with a campaign to fix the Fl
Ices Of all the basic things that la. n
mad to buy. Some had previously n
en- fixed. speak OF labor in a much o
oader sense than manual labor. for n
unorEanized so-callsd white col =
" part OF our community-clerks, n
lchers, government employees, pro. n
'slonal men-wers less able to moot :
situation than labor in the mar. \
wsr sense. For the protection and !.
lief OF such groups certain plans !,
~ as3iAsd- To illustrAts- :
r-- |