Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 80, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 January 1918 — FAVORS DRAFT OF LABOR [ARTICLE]

FAVORS DRAFT OF LABOR

Head of Shipping Board’s Bureau Makes Suggestions. Washington, Jan. 4.—Plans for obtaining and holding the necessary labor supply at the shipyards and on other essential government work, as suggested to the senate commerce coirimirtee by Meyer Bloomfiefild, head of the shipping board’s industrial bureau, include: , 1. Either general or special conscription of labor. 2. Creation of war zone districts about shipbuilding yards. • 3. Legal authority to commandeer residences and public utilities, such as transportation lines, electric and gas lighting, water plants. < tc. 4. Power iti local federal authorities to fix prices for all essentials like food ami fuel supplies. Emergency pressure will lead to competition* f- r labor, and each deparfnient will suffer. This condition, with that of soaring prices for food arid fuel, will encourage labor unrest and report ted demand for wage increases, < trrection of these conditions,' Mr. Rlc<onfield believes, lies in conscription of labor ami price-fixing for essentials at government plants. The conscription could be worked out in connection with the army draff.