Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-05-25
RESOLUTION.

Production Committee Of said COUNTY
and that said meeting was called 70
the purpose Of deyising ways an
means for procuring more farm labor
, ers 20 assist In tho irrigation. cultlva
zion ard harvesting of the farm crop
Of said Lincoln County.
And whereas after hearing report
from numerous wen posted farmer
from said county ana after fun am
complete discussion Of the subject. /
was the sense Of said meeting that
very great and grave danger IS nov
threatening not only the crops Of Lin.
coin County bot also the crops an owe
Z Southern Idaho BY reason OF the fac
that there are not sufficient farm labor,
ors available for the proper handline
u the crops In question; that 1args
number Of the farmers Of this county
are al the present time suffering for a
lack OF Help and that as soon as irri
cation season gets under way It Will
1 be- utterly impossible for many Of the
crops to be saved without additional
help That owing to the scarcity OF
farm laborers their wages have been
rapidly increasing and many Of the
farm laborcrs are taking advantage Of
the absolute necessity Of the farmers
to secure exhorbitant wages. much IN
excess OF the amount the farmers are
Justified IN paying for such help. and
that there Is constant demand for
stiil further Increase In said wages.
That by reason OF said conditions there
Is a feeling Of unrest on the part Of
the farm laborcr for fear that he may
not be obtaining as much money as
some other farmer In another part Of
the community is paying. Under such
nunctuating prices It Is a common oc-
currcnce for the farm laborers to leave
his employer without notice. in the
almost certain belief that he can OBJ
tain at least as much If not more from
someone else
The more serious result of the above
condition is that the substantial farm
ers who have a considerable area under
cultivation are placed upon such I'M
certain basis that they dare not go
farther along the line OF additional
food production. and that altho the
farmers OF this community have loyal
ly answered President Wilson's and
Governor Alcxander's call in using
their utmost endcavor to obtain a large
food production during the war, their
energies along this line will prove a
detriment rather than a benefit unless
some action Is taken to relieve the
scarcity OF farm labor in this vicinity.
II was also the sense of said meeting
that steps should be taken by the
Federal Government to aid the farming
vicinity OF the country. and especially
the irrigated section of Southern Idaho
In procuring men TO work on the farms.
and altho no recommendation was def
initely made two plans were suggested
at said meeting. one being that a draft |
Of the iele men OF the country be made |
for farm laborers TO be organized and |
under the direction of the Federarl |
Authorities, and that their wages I
should be fixed at some reasonable |
igure; that anyone so drafted who re-
fused 20 so work should then be draft
"a into the army and sent to the front.
rhe second suggestion was that sufiic-
ent number OF Chinese be imported I
nto the country TO supply the temper
Try shortage of help during the period
II the war.
II was the further sense Of the meet
ms that the farm labor conditions OF
he country are gradually growing
worse and win continue to grow worse
IS more and more men join the army.
nd unless relief Is given along these
ines IL win be impossible for the
IN Southern Idaho to perform
nc fun amount OF service along the
mes Of food supply that they might
therwisc be able to produce.
WHEREFORE. BE 1T RESOLVED. II
hat our representatives In Congress be
10 take any action which in
heir Judgment they might deem TO be
o the best interest for the purpose of
recurring and adequate supply OF farm
,horcrs for Southern Idaho. and that
he Governor and the other State offic-
Ills OF Idaho be requested to assist in
ny movemen; aions this line that may
D thcm seem practical
Re II further resolved that copy OF
his resolution be sent 10 each OF our
enators and Representatives In Gen.
ress and copy to the Governor OF the
tate OF Idaho.
Hoard OF County Commissioners.
by J. W. LUNDIS. Clerk.