Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-10-12
By FRANK G. ODELL,

By FRANK G ODELL,
Editor of the Nebraska Farm Magazine.
Do you know that your postoffice is
now an employment bureau? That is
enc Of the new things Uncle Sam has
started during the present adninistra-
ton. Secretary Wilson Of the depart
ment of labor has tackled the task of
bringing the jobless man and the man
less job together, and now every post
Office 10 an agency Of the United States
employment service. The postmaster
is equipped with blanks for listing ap-
plications for labor or for employment
and is instructed to help get the worker
and the job In contact.
While this may appear to be princi-
pally in the interest of the worker, It
Is really one of the numerous far
reaching things started for the benefit
of the farmer by the administration
of President Wilson. The increasing
scarcity of farm labor has become a
problem to the farmer, especially In
the wheat growing and fruit growing
sections. This labor, which is of
be performed largely by itinerant
workers. Some agency which will meet
this demand and relieve the laborer of
the graft of employment agencies Is
necessary. Uncle Sam has started it.
A single illustration will show how
the system works:
In the Willamette valley of Oregon
thousands of temporary workers are
needed in hop picking time. On Aug
20 the Oregon Journal of Portland
printed news article about the new
government employment agency, stat
ing that 600 families could obtain i'm
mediate employment in the hop yards
by applying at the Portland division of
the federal employment service.
This is another item added to the
mass of accommodating evidence which
shows that the Wilson administration
has tried to give both labor and the
farmer a square deal. For the first
time in history this administration has
placed the needs of rural districts
squarely before congress as of equal
Importance with the interests of the
financial centers.
And why not? Financial centers
would not amount to much without the
nine billion dollar crop of the Ameri-
can farmer. But the interests of the
farmer have not always been so prom
inently and favorably considered by
congress as they have during the last
three years. The record of Democratic
claims for farmer support is record
of accomplishment. 1t reads like this
in the passage of laws and admins
trative acts:
What Has Been Done For the Farmer.
CURRENCY REFORM. = The fed
eral reserve act, under which the farm
er's paper is given special consideration,
including permission to national banks
to loan on the security of farm lands.
RURAL CREDITS.-An epoch max
ing legislative measure which will re-
lieve the farmer of the incubus of the
short time loan at extortionate interest
This measure alone, when in full force,
will save the farmers of the United
States one hundred and fifty million
dollars annually in interest CHARGES.
GOOD ROADS.-Seventy-fi million
dollars made available for the develop
ment Of roads from the farm to the
market, under conditions which will
prevent wasteful use of the money.
AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION. =
The passage of the Smith-Leyer act
brings to every American farm
through the joint cooperation of the
federal government and the states, the
help of these agencies in solving the
business problems of the farmer.
COTTON FUTURES ACT.-Deals a
death blow to gambling in this great
staple.
UNITED STATES WAREHOUSE
ACT.-Enables owners of stored prod
ucts to obtain loans on warehouse re.
ceipts more nearly approximating the
full value of the product.
GRAIN STANDARDS.-A law en-
acted last August authorizes the sec
rotary Of agriculture to establish off.
cial grain standards. This law is work
ing. The farmer who has been robbed
through iusgIed grain grades for yearu
will appreciate it's value.
CROP MOVING.-The surplus funds
of the treasury department have been
placed directly in the banks of the
south and west to aid in moving crops
during the customary season of money
shortage.
INTEREST ON GOVERNMENT
DEPOSITS. = Banks holding govern
ment deposits are now required to paw
2 per cent interest. This cuts off a big
graft which formerly came from the
free use Of huge sums of the peoples
money. More than a million dollars
revenue annually is now derived from
this source alone.
IMPROVED MARKETIN SYS.
TEM.-The farmer has for years felt
the power Of the market combine,
with its waste, inefficiency and dis
honesty, The office of markets and the
rural organization service established
in the department of agriculture dur
ing this administration, are working