Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-06-28
Call for Harvest Hands.


Opportunities for utilizing this in
strumentality came to the department
in May. 1914. The Secretary of Labor
then received from the labor commits
sioner of Oklahoma a Geographic call
for harvest hands. His favorable re-
Spouse brought similar appeals from
Kansas, Missouri and South Dakota
All these states are in the great wheat
belt, where at harvest time the need OF
help from outside is phenomenal. In
that region, during the six weeks from
early June to the middle OF July every
year, five to ten times as many workers
are needed for harvesting as can be
employed in the same region during
the entire eight months from Septem-
Der to June
Secretary Wilson responded to those
wheat-belt calls by securing the as
sistance of the Post Office Department,
which caused the post offices OF the
country to post bulletins Of the De-
partment of Labor announcing this
temporary need of the western har-
vest fields.
From Salem's Fire.
THE object was SO promptly effected
that the announcements were recalled
before the end of June. an excessive
supply of harvesters having then been
secured. Hardly had the harvest help
episode ended when the disastrous nrs
at Salem, Mass, suggested further
lines of national work in labor dlstri-
button. A large number of factory
workers were thrown out of employ
ment by that disaster, and the local
relief committee solicited the aid or
the Department of Labor. Secretary
Wilson again utilized the bureau OF
immigration and the division of infor-
nation. AS result, hundreds OF the
disemployed wage-earners or Salem
were soon placed in other locaiitles at
their accustomed work.
prompted by the results OF thoee
two experiences, and the large posi-
bilities of like kind which they sug-
gested, the department entered at once
upon the national labor exchange
project. which it is now developing. In
this work, both the Post Office Depart
ment and the Department OF Agrlcui-
ture have enlisted heartily. inc De-
partment of the Interior and the De-
partment Of Commerce also are cor,
daily cooperating. Through these and
other executive agencies, local as wen
as national, much may be expected.
Principal Work Under Way.
at is not at an improbable that the
Department Of Labor will thereby be
able to promote labor distribution ex-
tensively and satisfactorily, that public
lands and arid lands reclaimed by gov
ernmental irrigating systems may be
utilized in aid thereof, that farm
credit and farm-making projects may
be stimulated for it's further promotion,
and that agricultural and other voca-
tional training may come cooperative
ly into this service for the solving Of
employment problems. AS yet, how
ever. the principal work actually I'M
der way relates to the national labor
exchange as an employment agency.
Soon after the beginning of the
present calendar year eighteen en-
ployment zones were mapped out. They
cover the entire continental United
States. In every zone there is a head
quarters; in several there are sub
branches.
AT the headquarters of each zone an
immigrant inspector is in charge. He
is assisted by at least one understudy.
also an officer Of the immigration serv-
ice. SO that an experienced representa-