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Show Government Regulation Solution of the Labor Problem During War By ANGUS McSWEEN " Government action, including the formation of a definite labor policy j to be adhered to for the period of the war is necessary to solve the labor problem. This problem is now the most intricate and troublesome with which the nation is confr6nted. Labor shortage is hampering preparations in all directions. It is preventing the effective carrying out of the shipbuilding plans of the government, reducing the output of munitions and slowing downvtha production, of coal and other necessary materials. ' Labor is fighting for an extension of unionism." So far as this provides pro-vides only for the better organization of skilled and unskilled labor, it has the sympathetic support of the government. Capital is demanding not the abolition of the organization but the suspension of organization rules which restrict production. From the standpoint of governmental and public welfare it would seem to be necessary that both capital and labor should make concessions, and that until these concessions are mad the difficulties under which the nation is now struggling will continue. Regulations have been adopted by which highly skilled men will be exempted from the second army draft. This is expected to aid ia keeping the production of necessary industries at a high mark. It will, however, only slightly affect for the better the generally recognized rec-ognized shortage of skilled labor in all industries and it will not contribute con-tribute except in the slightest degree to the solution of the problem of increasing at once the supply and efficiency of labor. It is in connection with this latter proposition that the fight between labor and capital becomes a serious obstruction to the betterment of general gen-eral conditions. So long as capital opposes an extension of the organization of labor, labor is not likely to make any concession respecting the suspension of union rules. Hence the necessity of forcing both sides to make concessions and thia can only be done by the government. |