New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-17
Will Ask Congress for Power
to Recruit Paid
Rural Army
Volunteer Measure
Presented in House
Agriculture and Labor De-
parments Plan
Cooperation

Washington. April l6. - Secretary
Houston. Of the Department Of Asri-
culture, will ask the Congressional MILL
tary committees to incorporate IN the
pending military legislation a provision
which will enable the government 10
draft men for service on farms. This
was assured to-day when the speciai
departmental committee reported re-
turns from $500 crop estimators
throughout the country, showing a
serious shortage Of farm labor. win
the planned increased production Oh
food staples, this labor shortage wouid
be multiplied greatly, and, officials de'
clare. would become a positive menace
% tho entire food-raising programme
now being formulated by the govern
ment. H.,
II is not known what Secretary nous
ton will recommend. but it is strongly
animated that Congress will be asked
20 give the Council of National De
fence or the Secretary OF War speo'''1
authority to mobilize an army OF iar'n-
ors sufficient to handle all crops
To Mobilize Farm Labor
Roth the Departments of Agrieul',
rro and Labor will be closely co-reia'eu
:, tho work Of moving this farm laooi
.,nnlv 20 the places where 1t Is most
oadod More than 10000 contributors
Of crop information and various sup
elementary agencies will keep the gov,
-nuor. acquainted with the demand
for farm help. ..
Tho Denartment of Labor, through It's
.n.r.v employment zones, will supple
~. Tho Department of Agriculture
orc.rization. It is likely that the req
20, labor exchanges, located IN Nc"
YORK Boston, Newark, Philadeipn'a
po1.ir,ore Norfolk. Jacksonville Ne"
naienS Galveston. Cleveland, Chlcago
,,;nnoanolis. st. Louis. Kansas IVY
nan,-o| i',.r Helena. Seattle, Portlamo' oal
Veancisco and Los Angeles. VIII serne
.r,,i,ing stations for the agricuiU'
al 90 orr,v and for an industrial army
iTi Tho ia6or problem is considered ps
..arroent officials to constitute the
sos. s"n irnnortant phase Of the war pro.
usr,o ,..o, There is already gtea'
sr+oge Ia, Of skilled labor in the snip
S.Gi5;no industry and many others l. ne
D1i..;f of National Defence mas uhoef
Coousidoration a plan for great IN
,oI.r;aI reeerve. TO be recruited WIZ
uuIit ut.;IiaJ artisans Of all kinds to man the
nocassarv war industries. III Is p,ahleu
ll:,'" r3embers of this industrial army
BADGE or pin TO designate them as ~ -
paus yrorkers and 10 relieve them OF
NV lae rossible charge Of "slackers'
Military Industrial Reserve
1t bowever. the plan Of the Depart
u,ar, NJ Agriculture Is incorporated ~
.ho military legislation, 'he plopos.'
;rdrstriaI reserve would become n" ~
.ivo organization under mIIltaiy a
,boritv and military pay Iis "otr0 ,T
greatly simplify the LABOR pIooLLe', 80; o,';
cisls point out. by preventing .He a. '%r,
oa.'o; ,,;,e to the better paid war lhdus-
'p3oor-osenta,ive McCormick, OF M
- ;rtroduced to-day bill ior VOL
mnteer agricultural army during 'ne
49, boeed on the plan WORKED ouI %
,hn war; p%y niyersity OF illinois, approved by
,bo conference OF agricultural e"peI "a
tne g. toItr Touis last week and indorsed by
Secretary Houston. ohoro Mill.
II would enlist volunteers apove mn;
49,. occ men Of military age but physi-
Iii, unfit for service, ana ooys wv
Gan!teen faIIg er' Il physically fit for farm work
tou' to eor,;ce on private farms and oa
,,oyernment o operated farms.
rVem York Legislature dPpropTl'
otrs 100000 for Agricultural Con'-
mission one hundred Mayors m
session here urge food economy. On
pcco T.