Newton D. Baker to Woodrow Wilson

I have your note of the 19th, enclosing a letter of the 18th by the chairman of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics with regard to the operation of the draft upon men in the spruce logging and lumbering industry. I feel that I ought to take this matter up with the Secretary of Labor before attempting to express an opinion. As you know, there has been difficulty with labor in the spruce field, and, while it might be necessary for us to organize under some military form a regiment or other unit of foresters to go into the forests and get the spruce we need, I feel very sure that in the interest of the whole labor situation that course ought not to be taken except as a last resort. The Secretary of Labor has been constantly in touch with this lumber strike, and the last report I had on the subject was so favorable that I assumed it needed no further attention from me. I will, therefore, get into communication with Secretary Wilson and bring my own information down to date.

I do not see how in any event a remedy could be provided by any sort of directions, even from Washington, to the District Exemption Boards in the matter of exemption of individuals. If, when the draft is completed, it is found that serious inroads have been made upon the number of men engaged in this industry, we can use your power to discharge men from the military service to correct the difficulty; but no anticipatory action of that kind could be taken.

Respectfully yours,
Newton D. Baker