Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-11-23
URGED TO IMPORT
AS|AT|C LABOR
Intelligent UnioniStS Won't OBJ
ieCt; Food Production Can
Be Doubled

SACRAMENTO, Nov. 23.-wood.
choppers have been known to ride
about in six cylinder automobiles. de-
clining all proffered work. and hay
balers in parts OF the San Joaquin Val.
ley, after running wages up to ten
dollars day, went on strike for more.
Nj. +. Tarpey OF Fresno told delegates
to the California Fruit Growers Con.
yention in an address today. He urged
the importation of Asiatic farm labor
for the period of the war, asserting
that production could be doubled, and
the places OF the men who went to
war would be held. pending their re.
turn. He expressed dought that labor
unions would persistently oppose such
a plan. because, he said, high per.
centage OF workingmen's wages goes
to pay for food which will become
more expensive If it becomes scarcer
We cannot, and | hope we never
will, expect our women to take the
place of men on the farms and where |
else are We to procure our help?" Mr.. |
Tarpey said
Our boys do not take kindly to
farm work. The high school in the |
neighborhood in which live has grad.
uated a large number of boys during
the past five years and II is a lamet.
able fact that none of these graduates
returned to work with their fathers
upon the farm. And this is a com.
munity where proprietary farmers
largely predominant and where every
farmer has an automobile, singing ma.
chine and bath and mothers and sis.
ters of the boys do their washing and
mending."
From 100000 to 25O.OOO Chinese, Mr..
Tarpey said. already are at work in
France, and he quoted Ng Poon Shew,
editor of Chung Sal Vat Pc, Chinese
newspaper in San Francisco, as say
ing that China could spare "any num-.
Der of millions" for the work, subject
to deportation when no longer need.
ed.
The farms, he said, were now drawn
upon to supply city vacancies caused
by the draft although they already
faced labor shortage.
Farm work is. as n fact demon.
, strated, the least inviting to our youth,
the least followed from choice" Mr..
Tarpey said, Our farm help must be
sought from some other source.
"My only guide to a solution Is the
experience of England and France and
other European countries actively en-.
gagged in war. Import for the duration
. of the war a sufTiciency of dependable
farm laborers to do farm work only.
e Even our present abnormal produc-
+ tion OF food products can be easily
+ doubled by such a course and were
it trebled there will be need for It
all.
with the conditions facing us and
}, with the example OF France and Eng
8, land before us-and England Is re
n. ported to have several hundred thous
y and Chinese now working in thei
'e fields-would 1t not appear the par
5. of wisdom for this government to pro
y vide for the importation OF n SUN
C. cieny OF Chinese or Japanese farm
laborers to do our farm drudgery dur
p. ing the war, with the express agree
| sI,N 10 NnT mi M
J: other line OF industry and that they
are to be returned home at the enc
of the war?
n, "The decent Labor Unionist whit
relies upon his work TO provide hi!
r. needs is Just as capable OF reasoning
0. out conditions as anybody else. and HI
e, will know that hands to provide fooC
re- during the war, and to be sent out o
@, the country after the war will be mos
helpful to him In every way and cal
not effect him iniuriously in any way
AS food is the prime necessity o
of life. and as food must be raised ol
teh farm. sufficient hands TO produce
i' that food must be forthcoming.
" "An adequate supply OF farm la
~ Dor affects no mans earning powe
- injuriously: It insures a suflciency o
NJ food at moderate prices; II gladden.
5" and brlghtens every home and quick
he ems and expands every human indus
try.
~ "Can We produce n suGlclency TO
- both ourselves and all our allies
u, " Most certainly we can to the full Q
~ our own and their requirements. 70
20 we have the lands, the water, the cl
mate and the disposition"