Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-09
The Political Mill
Wodsworth-Austin Lobor Droft Bill
Deols Directly With Monpower Problem

the better way is by law. This is
no time to let politics stand in the
way. 1t is no time to let opposi-
ton from labor groups or any
other groups stand in the way.
The weight of the testimony is
that this time has arrived. Ger
tainly, 1t will be difncult to argue
that if men can be drafted into
military service to fight the war,
men and women may not be
drafted to produce the weapons
and the food needed to carry on
the war and to keep the American
people supplied with food.
Labor Laws Not Upset.
The Wadsworth-Austin bill is
the simplest labor draft bill yet
produced, which says exactly what
it means. 1t does not set up new
agencies. 1t gives those already in
existence more authority, the
Manpower Commission, for ex-
ample, and it will operate through
the selective draft, with the local
boards functioning for the labor
draft just as they function for the
military. 1t does not propose to
upset the existing labor laws re-
garding hours of work, overtime
pay, and rates of pay. It is not
designated an anti-strike bill, but
it may have the effect of prevent
ing work-stoppages in war plants,
which certainly should be pre-
vented. There have been too
many millions Of man -work-days
lost already in these plants by
work stoppages of one kind or
another. It does not interfere
with collective bargaining, or
mediation, arbitration or. any
other process OF settling labor
disputes. It covers all men from
18 to IS years of age. and women
from Is to SO.
The authority is rested in the
hands Of the President to de-
termine when any workers are
needed in war industry or agricul-
ture, and to issue 4 proclamation
stating the numbers of workers
needed. He may call for volun-
teers. If the volunteer plan does
not bring the necessary number
of workers, or if he deems that
the situation cannot be met by
call for volunteers, he may direct
draft of labor, through the local
selective service boards.
Delayed by Politics.
Many members Of Congress are
either not fully conversant with
the situation regarding man
power needs, or they are hopeful
that the problem may be worked
out without q draft. The admin
istration itself, through the Man
power Commission, or otherwise,
has not advanced a labor draft
proposal. It has been as reluctant
as Congress itself to tackle this
problem directly and through the
enactment Of a law. It realizes,
as does Congress, that it will not
be popular. But obviously some
thing must be done about it. It
jHftparent that II the farmers
are not taken care of in the mat
~ter-pf labor. there will be an.
insufficient supply Of food stuf1s,
fpr the military forces, for the
American people and for the
nations which are fighting with
us against the Axis powers.
It has been argued that 1t is
one thing for the Government
to draft men into the Army or
the Navy, which are Government
organizations and another to
draft them to work in plants
which are privately owned and
operated. The alternative, how
ever. would be for the Govern
ment to take over all the war
plants and the farms and run
them, which in the end would be
far more restrictive so far as
labor Is concerned, and a long
step toward Specialization of the
entire country, with pretty awful
political Implications.
The Military Affairs Commit
tees are expected to give early
consideration to these manpower
bills. The whole question can
there be threshed out. The SOON
er the better, so that the people
NAV know what tn eynert