The Washington times., 1914-10-18
East TO Harvest
Crops of the West
Secretary Wilson Will Ask Rail-
roads to Carry Workers
From Cities to Gather Ma
tons Food Supply.

A young coal miner wandered
into New York in the early nineties
and encountered a unique custom,
When the hop season arrived the
mines closed down so the miners
could go out in the fields and pick
hops.
That miner is now Secretary
William B. Wilson, Of the Depart
n,ent of Labor. And he intends to
work over this suggestion into a
means of helping the Western
farmers harvest their crops.
"Harpest help excursions" are
to be started next spring, if the rail-
roads cooperation is obtained, and
these will serpe the double purpose
Of filling the demand for harvest
hands, and offering temporary work
to many city workers who find
themselves out of employment
each spring.
By ]. R. HILDEBRAND.
One William B. Wilson, coal miner.
found himself blacklisted about twenty
years ago. So he found himself a lob
In the iron mines Of western New York
State.
There, when the hop-picking season
arrived, Miner Wilson encountered a
new experience. All the mines closed
down and the miners were set to work
by the hop growers to pick the hop crop.
Whereupon Miner Wilson conceived the
germ Of big idea.
It happens that in this year of 1914,
Miner Wilson is known as Secretary Of
Labor Wilson. And now he is about to
bring this idea forth and make It serve
several hundred Western farmers, as
well as thousands Of the occasionally
employed who find themselves each
spring facing an unwelcome vacation.
Likewise. the idea fits the needs Of
scores Of college students. office work.
ers, and city dwellers, who would well
effort during the harvest season.
Obviously the first difficulty in bring
ing these men in contact with these
jobs is the problem Of transportation.
Therefore, the Secretary has conceived
the idea Of harvest hand excursion"
and negotiations will be begun this win
ter to obtain their cooperation for such
q project.
..,~ Tested on Small Scale.
The beginnings of this project were
worked out this spring. A telegram
came into the Secretary's office from
the labor commissioner of Oklahoma
hands for that State. Later it was
said $4,000 men were needed. TO
meet this emergency Secretary VIII
son had the telegram sent out, ac-
companied by explanation, to every
college in the country. and to many
Industrial organizations.
In Washington alone, 10S men ap-
piled to the department for infor- |
nation about positions. Similar de-
mands later came in from Kansas.
from Missouri and from North Da- |
kota. OF these log inquirers. seventy |
four are known to have gone from !
this city to the fields. Those who re-
turned reported their experience a de- |
one. A few Of those who |
went stayed when they found posi- |
lions for the entire year. !
But 1t is not Secretary Wilson's |
idea to make the annual harvest help |
scheme a sort Of vacation for those
who can afford to spend the time in
the West without any profit on their
return. He hopes to secure rates |
from railroads which will permit
men from many occupations for
which spring is 4 dull season to Ill
up that gap with profit to themselves |
by enlisting in the army Of harvest
ers to be carried West on excursion
trains from every large industrial /
center Of the East. On the way west
these trains will take on other men. |
In this way 1t also is hoped to start |
a back to the fbrm" movement OF |
material proportions. 1t is believed
many men in Eastern cities, who now |
Jump from one temporary position to |
another would gladly avail them |
selves Of the opportunities in the