Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1917-07-05
MODELLING men
FOR farm LABOR
Uncle Sam Co-0perates With
States and Local CON-
mitteeS.
DRAW WORKERS FROM CITIES
Fundamental Unit Of Organization is
Community Man" Who First
Makes Such Adjustments
as Are Possible.

Under Uncle Sans plan for the or
ganization of farm labor, the details
of which have been announced by the
United States department Of agricul-
ture, provision is made for nation
wide cooperation in the solution of
the farm help problem.
The plan is based on close co-opera-
ton on the part of the United States
department of agriculture and the
United States department of labor
with state committees on national de-
Tense charged with labor matters,
with the state agricultural colleges,
with the county agents, and with coun-
ty and local or township labor commit
tees or representatives established in
every locality. The department of
agriculture represents the federal au-
thorities In determining farm labor
needs and in assisting in organizing
all available farm labor in the rural
districts. The department of labor
devotes it's attention to organizing la
Dor in urban communities and indus
trial regions, and co-operates with the
farm labor forces where necessary by
obtaining extra labor from the popu-
lous centerS.
Community Man Most Important.
The plan provides for strictly local
handling of all labor problems that
can be adjusted locally. The funda-
mental unit of the organization is the
AnnV 1nVN1rT mil xrvIaA rry4Nh h..
sistance of such committees as he may
appoint, canvaSses his own neighbor-
hood, finds out what farmers need
help, and what men are available for
supplying the local need, and effects
such adjustments as can be made local
ly. IF, after all local adjustments have
been made, there remains either a
deficit or surplus of labor, he reports
to the county man." whose business
1t is to effect adjustments between the
several communities in his county. The
county, man, in turn, reports any deficit
or surplus to the estate man." who
canvasses the situation for the state
as whole and reports to the depart
ment of agriculture, which, in close CO.
operation with the department Of labor,
is charged with the distribution of
mobile labor for the country as a
whole.
Thus each unit in the system acts
as a clearing house for its own ter
ritory, reporting to the units higher
up only when 1t needs help or has
help to offer. The plan provides that
supplemental reports shall be submit
ted by each community man whenever
changes in the local labor situation
make desirable further adjustments
that cannot be met with the material
at hand, or when surplus of labor
develops which he cannot use.
To Aid Farm Women.
A great many retired farmers, OF
whom there are 100000 in the country
may be available for emergency serv-
ice under this plan of farm labor mo-
bilization. The plans contemplate also
the drawing of emergency labor from
the cities under the immediate direc-
ton of the department of labor, the
effective utilization of college students
and school boys, and, If necessary, the
assignment of volunteer women and
girls to rural tasks connected particu'
larly with feeding and caring for har'
vest hands or other extra labor, OF
with farm canning or drying of sur
| plus perishable products. In other
words. the plan contemplates supply
ing assistance not merely for field op'
eratiOns, but to farm women during
their season Of heaviest domestic du'
ties.