Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-06-05
PLANS For ORGANIZING
TO MEET FARM LABOR
SHORTAGE ANNOUNCED.


of which were announced by the United
States department Of agriculture, pro-
vision Is made for nationwide so-op-
Grafton in the, solution of the farm help
problem. The work Of organization al
ready has been started in about forty
states. and 1t is expected that eventu-
ally every community in the United
States will be reached. It Is believed
that the resultant utilization of emer-
gency labor will begin to have an APP
probable effect on the farm labor sit
uation before the season has far adj
vanced. Meanwhile, the immediate and
acute problem of supplying labor for
the harvestA now beginning in the
southwest 10 being handled, so Tar; as
the United States, governments Il SER
vices arc concerned, thru the existing
employment service or the; Quilted
States department of labor, which will
continue to handle such problems of
mass mobilization under the new plan
as it has in the past.
Federal and state Cooperation.
The plan Is based on close co-opera-
ton on the part of the United States
department of agriculture and the de-
partment of labor with state commit
tees on national defense charged with
labor matters. with the state agricul-
tural 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 repre-
sent the federal authorities in deter
mining farm labor needs and in assist
ing in organizing all available farm la
Dor In the rural districts. The United
States department Of labor will devote
its attention to organizing labor In ur-
ban communities and industrial re-
gions and will cooperate with the
farm labor forces where necessary by
obtaining extra labor from the popY-
lous centers. a
The plan provides for strictly local
handling of all labor problems that can
be adjusted locally. The fundamental
unit of the organization is the com
munity man. who with the assistance
of such committees as he may appoint,
canvasses his own neighborhood, finds
out what farmers need help, and what
men are available for supplying the To-
cal need and effects such adjustments
as can be made locally. If, after all
local adjustments have been made,
there remains either deficit or sur
plus of labor, he reports TO the county
man." who canyasses the situation for
the state as whole and reports to the
department. of agriculture. which, In
close cooperation with the department
of labor. is charged with the distri-
button of mobile labor for the country
as a whole.
Each Unit Clearing House.
Thus each unit in the system acts as
a clearing house for its own territory,
to the units higher up only
when II needs help or has help to offer.
The plan provides that supplemental
shall be submitted by each
man whenever changes IN
The local labor situation make desirable
further adjustments that can not be
met with the material at hand, or when
4 surplus of labor develops which he
can not use. $
A great many retired farmers, OF
whom there are 100000 in the country,
nay be available for emergency service
under this plan of farm labor mopillZa-
ion The plans contemplate also the
drawing of emergency labor from the
cities under the immediate direction OIL
he department of labor, the effective
utilization of college students and
school boys, and if necessary, the as
,ignment of volunteer women and girls
20 rural tasks connected particularly
with feeding and caring for harvest
hands or other extra labor, or with
farm canning or drying of surplus per-
shable products. In other words. the
plan contemplates supplying assistance
not merely for field operations. but to
farm women during their season OF
heaviest domestic duties.