The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-04-21
CHAMBER Of COMMERCE
WILL ASSIST FARMERS
Mass Meeting for Supervisors OF Ad-
joining Counties and Many
Prominent Men Give Ideas for
Food Conservation.
MAY RAISE FARM LOAN TO
HELP FINANCE FARMERS
Well-known Farmers Declare Labor
scarcity Is Greatest Menace.
Chamber 20 Employ Expert Farm
Demonstration.

Definite steps for extending and in
creasing agricultural interest around
Richmond by means OF loans to farm
ers intelligent direction in best
methods OF work. and in other ways
suggested. are to be taken by a
permanent central bureau of the
chamber of commerce. This was the
sentiment of mass-meeting held by
the agricultural bureau OF the cham
Der last night in the Jefferson hotel.
when the supervisors OF Henrico and
Chesterfield counties. and other prom
1nent citizens were present to give
their views on emergency measures to
be adopted to relieve the impending
food crisis.
0. ]. Sands presided at the meet
Ing. and introduced Mayor George
Ainslie. who stated that the union of
Henrico and Chesterfield in one big
body for all time would be the out
come of this meeting. In his opinion.
Agricultural Commissioner Koiner
spoke of the dangerous situation of
farm labor. and declared that the real
necessity before the farmer today was
the matter of stopping the migration
of labor to other parts OF the coun-
try. and away from the farm. 1t was
suggested that a movement be put on
foot to push through legislation that
would preclude outside forces COM
ing into this state and drawing
laborers away.
r. S. Farrar. one OF the states
farm demonstrators. read a paper on
the agricultural condition of the
state at this time, and urged that the
widening of interest along these lines
come about as soon as possible for
the greatest good of the people
Scarcity of Labor Is Menace.
F. p. Finnegan. widely-known
farmer, who owns a 500-acre farm on
the James river. gave his views of
virginia's needs and declared that
more foodstuffs than all the rest OF
the United States The scarcity of
farm labor. however. he thinks is the
menace and the danger that the state
must combat The only solution to
the problem. in his mind. is to finance
the farmer. and 10 put live stock on
the land. In this way the produce
tiveness of the farm lands OF the
state can be conserved. The intelli-
gent direction that will be needed, he
stated, can be secured to best ad-
vantage through the proposed bureau
of the chamber of commerce.
Send back to the farm employees in
the city who have come from the
farm, was the suggestion thrown out
by Willard Cohn. local farm imple-
ment man. This suggestion was
heartily endorsed by the meeting. and
steps for carrying it out will be taken
by the chambers bureau. it is
thought.
Take Men Out OF saloons.
MIR. Finnegan told the gathering
that CONSUMPTION by the government
for agricultural purposes would be
necessary to solve the difficulties Of
the farmer. and that he was to con-
fer with Secretary Tumulty on this
subject the first of next week. Take
the men out OF the saloons" he
urged. land put them where they will
produce something. Take men out of
the prisons and off the streets and
you will save the situation"
James Beliwood. owner of the fam
Gus lanes river farm, stated that he
had solution to the labor problem,
but 1t was pointed out that the ma
jority of little farms couldn't adopt
his methods. He stated that crops in
his vicinity this year were to be the
best in years. in spite of the fact that
crops generally are known to be short
all over the country.
w. G. Saunders. of the Henrico
board of supervisors, stated that he
would do all in his power to bring the
cooperation of his body with the
chamber in their movement to relieve
the strain on the farmer. and members