The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1914-06-05
Many Harvest Hands Needed

1t will be necessary to import to
Oklahoma from other states from
10000 to $4,000 men in addition &c
those available in the state, to mar.
vest the record-breaking wheat crop
which will be raised this year accord.
ing to present prospects. The fore.
going estimate is made by Charles
Daugherty, state labor commissioner,
who through assistants in his Office
has made a statewide investigation
Of the wheat crop situation. Mr..
Daugherty believes that II no unfor-
seen circumstances interferes Oklaho-
ma will harvest this season between
100000 and 100000 bushels of
wheat besides a record-breaking crop
Of oats, barley and other small grains.
In order to meet the enormous de-
mand for harvest hands which will
begin within a few days Labor Com
missioner Daugherty has established,
in addition to the three regular state
free employment agencies at Oklaho-
ma City, Muskogee and Enid, branch
agencies at Alva, Ponca City and
Frederick and others are still to be
located. In addition business men in
various sections of the state have
volunteered to notify the labor de-
partment OF help needed
The wheat harvest Will begin first
in the southern tier of Oklahoma
counties about June 8, according to
Mr.. Daugherty The crop in the
northern section OF the state will be
ready for cutting about ten days later.
acquisitions are already coming into
the free employment agencies which
are in charge Of e. w. Vance OF Okla
homa City, for men in the extreme
southern part Of the state.
The investigation OF conditions in
the wheat growing sections of the
state has been carried on by four as.
sistants Of the state labor department.
E. w. Vance in charge Of free en-
ployment agencies has investigated
conditions in Southwestern Oklahoma,
W. G. Ashton, assistant state labor
commissioner, has made the rounds
OF about thirteen counties OF North
western Oklahoma which comprise
the biggest wheat growing area of
the state. G. E. Warren, state fac
tory inspector, visited the counties of
Western Oklahoma including Major,
Blaine and Alfalfa.
Mr.. Daugherty says that Kansas
will need $4,000 men to handle her
wheat crop and that the men who
come to work in the Oklahoma har-
vest can work their way northward
into that state, thus finding contin-
uous employment for a number of
weeks. According to Mr.. Daugherty
the Oklahoma farmers are willing to
pay minimum wage of 50 a day and
board for good harvest hands and II
the supply does not equal the demand
they may pay even more.
w. G. Ashton, who has been visiting
the biggest wheat growing counties of
the state, estimates that there are
100000 acres of wheat in the thir.
teen counties visited by him which
will have a total estimated yield of
22,1S0,000 bushels, according to pres
ent prospects. He received orders for
several hundred men while on his trip
and he estimates that in Woods coun-
3y alone 1000 men will be needed to
handle the crop.
All Of those who have been inves-
tigating the wheat prospects say that
Oklahoma will have the biggest crop
in its history barring unforeseen con-
ditions. Wheat is in almost perfect
condition, having been favored with
ideal growing weather throughout the
entire season,
In Kiowa county, one Of those Wis
tied by Mr.. Vance, It Is estimated
that 1900 men will be required to
harvest the crop. Some of the rail.
road companies also are cooperating
with the farmers and labor depart
ment in an effort to supply harvest
help. In some sections OF the state
all local help will be needed to handle
other spring crops, making necessary
the importation of practically all men
needed for the harvest.