Salt Lake Herald-Republican | 1918-05-26 | Page 17 | Denies New Draft Rule Aimed at Labor

DENIES NW NEW DRAfT RULE RUl AIMED AT ATS LABOR S Secretary Secrets rY Baker aker B Assures Union Officials Bf f f Provision Provision Provi Provi- I s sion on Wo Wont Won't nt Be Used for Cons Con Conscription c 1 p t ion I I By United Press ASHINGTON May flay 25 WASHINGTON The war Avar department nent has no intention of conscripting la labor bore Its work ork or fight order must tot not b be thus construed Secretary I of oC War ar Baker declared tonight after hearing from labor Interests the apprehensive I cry Cly that th the d department was apparently starting a series of oC regula regulations regulations lions which would draft labor I While this order forces idlers either cither to lo work or fight i ht and directs nien men from nonessential lines into essential war warl tasks it i is not Intended as a club above e the heads of 01 men who strike Baker Bakery I I said In short Bakers Baker's explanation II meant that the war department does doc j not seek stel to take tae useful l labor bor and put fut it on military pay under the army I Though the provost mar marshal hal generals general's gen sen- orals eral's work or fight r regulation might be he interpreted as indirect conscription I it was su suggested ested that labor need havno have hav no fear of oC any general encl l direct conscription I tion The war departments department's policy polio ton toward to- to to-I to n ward ard labor Jabor Is to give he it adequate waves wages and fair Cair treatment and it was as sa said III there is no plan to the labor situation in a military way war I WORK IN PLANTS I American from t I laboring men forced pursuits will find ample I J work under prop proper r con conditions in war plants This was the view of oC American Federation Fed Fed- of oC Labor officials tonight ht In discussing th the n new w arm army draft rule ruler sweeping table manpower from nonessential trades The same process shifting process-shifting shifting o of manpower manpower manpower man man- power from Crom unimportant work work has has been in progress for fOl some time under the gradual curtailment of oC nonessential nonessential b by the war industries board The secretary of 01 war today ma made e the tho I following statement ment on the new regulations regulations regu regu- lations My Iy attention has be been n called to the possibility of or some misunderstanding of 01 the thc order issued through the provost pro marshal general affecting per persons ons en engaged engaged en- en aed in less essential Industries 0 one suggestion being hein- that this is the beginning beginning begin begin- ning of or a series of regulations for the purpose of oC affecting th the labor Jabor situa situation lion Ion in rn the countr country I I want to state In the most positive way that this regulation has hag nothing to do with the labor situation of or the 1 country countr and it is no part of or the Intention Intention intention tion of or th the war department either cither In Inthis inthis this regulation or an any other to undertake under under- I take lake to tn affect the thC labor situation of or orth th the country by hy mil military ita I regulation TO GUIDE BOARDS Th The sole oJ purpose of this thi order is to guide exemption boards In their duty to apply the provisions pro of oC the law affecting af af- af- af occupations a as a reason for fOI exemption exemption ex ex- x- x emption nn and deferred classification The secretary asked d what the ef of-i of 1 feet of oC this regulation would h be upon upon per persons on temporarily out of oC employment by reason reabon o of strikes s growing out of oC l labor bor disputes said The regulation re Is silent on that subject subject subject sub sub- but hut It is not the intention of ot the department to permit the lie draft regulations regulations regula regula- Lions to be used to affect any such labor controversy contro y and un unemployment b by reason of or strikes will not be he re regarded regarded regarded re- re as such unemployment as will cancel either exemption or deferred classification The whole question of or orthe I the relation of or the government o to lo labor is for administration by b the labor department de- de d de department and the war department does docs not intend any indirect interference in It ft