The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1917-06-22
ORGANIZE FARM LABOR.

Departmental Cooperation in Solving
Farm.Labor Problem. Plan
For Distributing Avail
able Help.
Under the Government plan for
the organization of farm labor, the
details of which have just been an
nounced by the United States De-
partment of Agriculture, provision
is made for nationwide cooperation
in the solution of the farm-help
problem. The work of organization
already has been started in about 40
States, and it is expected that event.
ually every community in the United
States will be reached. 1t is believed
that the resultant utilization of
emergency labor will begin to have
an appreciate effect on the farm
labor situation before the season has
far advanced. Meanwhile the i'm
mediate and acute problem of sup
plying labor for the harvests, now
beginning in the Southwest, is being
handled, so far as the United States
Governments services are concerned,
through the existing employment
service of the United States Depart
ment of Labor, which will continue
to handle such problems Of mass
mobilization under the new plan as
it has been in the past.
Federal and State Cooperation.
The plan is based on close CO.
operation on the part Of the United
States Department of Agriculture
and the United States Department Of
Labor with State committees on ma
tional defense charged with labor
matters, with the State agricultural
colleges, with the county agents, and
with county and local or township
labor committees or representatives
to be established in every locality
The Department of Agriculture will
represent the Federal authorities in
determining farm-labor needs and in
assisting in organizing all available
farm labor in the rural districts. The
Department of Labor will devote its
attention to organizing in urban
communities and industrial regions,
and will cooperate with the farm
labor forces where necessary by OBJ
tanning extra labor from the pop
ulous centers.
The plan provides for strictly
local handling of all labor problems
that can be adjusted locally. The
fundamental unit of the organi-
cation is the community man."
who, with the assistance of such
committees as he may appoint, can
vases his own neighborhood, finds
out what farmers need help and
what men are available for supply
ing the local need, and effects such
adjustments as can be made locally.
If, after all local adjustments have
been made, there remains either a
deficit or a surplus of labor, he re-
ports to the county man." whose
business it 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 a
whole and reports to the United
States Department of Agriculture,
which, in close cooperation with the
United States 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 terri
tory, reporting to the units higher
up only when it needs help or has
help to offer. The plan provides
that supplemental reports shall be
submitted by each community man
whenever changes in the local labor
situation make desirable further adj
justments that can not be met with
the material at hand or when a sur
plus of labor develops which he can
not use.
A great many retired farmers, of
whom there are 100000 in the coun-
try, may be available for emergency
service under this plan of farm
labor mobilization. The plans con-
template also the drawing of emer-
gency labor from the cities under the
immediate direction of the United