Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1917-11-15
LOAFERS AND VAGRANTS
State Council OF Defense Takes Steps
to Clean Up Buns and Slackers.

After receiving a legal opinion
from the committee of the State
council of defense as to the enforce
ment of the statutes relative to idlers
within the state, the council has issu-
ed the following to all peace officers
and others in authority in the state:
One of the most important prob
lens confronting the State Council Of
Defense, in session, at Boise, Octa-
Der 29th, was the serious condition
of agricultural labor. Urged by all
authority to incgeasc the production
as a patriotic duty, the farmers of
Idaho have found great difficulty In
caring for the crop after 1t has been
produced. The fact was established
that, In towns and villages, where
there were many idle men, the Of
fer of abnormally high wages for
work in saving the crop Of fruit, po-
tatoes, sugar beets, etc., has been met
with indifference or contempt and Of
ten with a~&ownright refusal to work
at any price. Farmers are not often
thus confronted with the loss not
alone of profits but of crops. In an
hour when the welfare of the nation
is endangered, when the entire world
faces a shortage of food, when 1t is
NJ vital irnnortopoo tbot avarv ra
source of the nation should be mobi-
lized, 1t is the serious duty of all
peace officers and all others in author
ity to use every provision of law to
compel idlers who prey upon the
community, but render no service, Ell
ther to go to work or move on. The
scripture lesson, 'if any will not
work, neither shall he eat" should be
enforced.
The legal committee of the State
Council of Defense consisting of
of the Supreme court and ]. T. Pence
of Boise and ]. r. Boutwell, of Twin
Falls, attorneys, were asked for a
legal opinion os to the provisions and
scope of the vagrancy law and Of the
possibility of its use to remedy con.
ditions existing in various parts OF
the state. The following report OF
the committee. is commended to the
attention of all peace officers and
others in authority as a useful re-
source which perhaps may obviate
the necessity of the use of more dras-
tic measures.
STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE
f. A. Bryan, President
Joseph Hansen. Secretary
Your legal committee appointed tc
examine the statutes and report upor
the practical legal measures which
may be invoked to require slackers
idle, indolent, vagrant and unemploy
ed persons in the various communi
ties in Idaho to labor and engage II
useful employment and occupationi
and to do their part as patriotic citi
zens should do in helping to produce
harvest and save crops and aid in tn,
support of the soldiers in the service
do hereby report and recommend a
follows:
Section 1908 of the revised code
of Idaho authorizes the arrest ant
Imprisonment of any person who ha
the ability to work and will not d.
so and who is without visible mean
of living" and "every person whit
roams about from place to place with
out any lawful business" and lever.
idle person." etc.
Under the provisions OF the forego
ing statutes any person who is abl
to work and refuses to work whel
work is offered him and has no bust
ness or occupation or income ma
and should be taken into custody b.
the peace officers and dealt with un
der the law.
]. F. Ailshie. Chairman
]. T. Pence.