Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-04-19
Raps U. s. Labor Policy.
Baltimore Sun of April 18th.

Some very plain statements concerning
unsatisfactory conditions in carrying on
Uncle Sans war work in Maryland. came
out of the first Coordination" meeting of
all State war agencies with the Maryland
Defense Council. held yesterday at the
Merchants Club.
Particular light was thrown on the farm
labor situation by Robert Grain. in one of
those "hew-to-the,core" talks of his which
spared no feelings and garnished no &C.
cusations with soft words. Mr. Grain at
tended the meeting to tell about the thrift
stamp campaign. and he did. But he also
"let loose" when the question of farm
labor came up.
Mr.. Grain said he didn't want the De-
partment of Labor to come in and help
the farm-labor situation here. for, he said.
the kind of help they would bring would
be coffin after the crops are dead.
THE only thing the Department of La
Dor is able to talk about is an eieht-hour
labor Anybody who talks about an eight
hour day on the farm ought to be shot at
sunrise. It's up to the Governor of this
State and the Defense Council to 60 to
Washington and tell them they've got to
stop enticing men from the farms for war
work. No use to talk about wages. The
farmer can't compete with Mr.. McAdoo;
he gets appropriations too fast.
I'VE don't want the Government stick
ing its nose into the farmers business"
said Mr.. Grain. THE farmer is able to
take care of himself and he will do it and
he'll also take care of the food supply of
the country. But he can't when the Gov
eminent steals his labor. For every man
drafted for military service from Charles
county. 100 have been enticed from the
farms to work at Indian Head. Quantco
and on other Government operations. We
have got the horses. got the cows. got the
harness and the plows-but Washington
is stealing the men. That's all there is to
It,"
As to conscripting men for farm labor.
Mr.. Grain said no farmer wanted men from
the outside conscripted. what the Gov
eminent wants to do is to conscript the
men already on the farms and make them
stay thers-not take them away to stand
around and look at each other on big con-
struction jobs-usine four or five men to
lift 2 by piece Of timber as I've seen
them doing"
Mr.. Grain also told Governor Harrington
the enforcement Of the compulsory work
law in the counties was a Joke, and said
he'd furnish the Governor with names and
photographs of rs negroes in Charles coun-
ty who are loafing. The Governor said
he'd take the matter up today. and urged
Mr.. Grain to send him the names. Mr..
Grain said he'd do 1t gladly.
There were represented at the meeting,
at which Gen. Francis E. Waters. chair
man Of the Defense Council. presided. all
of the State war agencies Defense
Council. the Red Cross. the Food Admins
tration. the Liberty Loan. the Trift Stamp
organizations. the Fuel Administration, etc.
Elliott Smith. Of the State section of the
National Defense Council. came from Wash
lngtOn to tell of the results of the co-ordi-
nation plan in other States.
| Mr.. Grain, who leads thrift stamp work
in Maryland. stated that his organization
is not getting the assistance it should from
the banks. The banks he said. seem to
take the position that the thrift stamp
proposition is solely for the poor man.
when 1t isn't. He added that there were
100000 persons in Baltimore city who
could and should take the limit OF $1,000
in war savings stamps, but only few
have come forward. This. said Mr.. Grain.
was due to the banks concentrating on the
Liberty Loan and leaving the thrift stamps
alone. He also pointed to the lack of
money to finance the thrift stamp cam
paign. and said those who could give for
this purpose don't seem to be coming for
ward in great numbers.
Charming Rudd speaking for the Liberty
Loan committee, said that a drive was of
such an intensive nature that its workers
could not take part in other moves. Mr.
Rudd declared that there are too many
bankers in the Liberty Loan work. and
that it's about time other professions and
business show an equal interest
X. Brent Keyser spoke for the Red Cross
and explained his activities. Mr.. Keyser
also showed by figures of subscriptions to
the Red Cross that the little fellow" Is
| just aching to give his or her money for
worthy purpose.
/ This brought up a discussion Of cam
paigns for subscriptions for useless. or
comparatively useless, objects. II resulted
in a motion by Mr.. Maltbie. acting Food
Administrator. to empower the State Coun-
Gil Of Defense to take up this question
Immediately and lay plans whereby all
organizations or association planning
drive for subscriptions must apply to the
Defense Council for approval
( The work Of the other State agencies
were then explained. and instances shown
\ where the work overlaps and where much
energy and effectiveness is lost There
was offered a tentative suggestion Of
concrete and permanent organization for
the coordination Of all State work agencies.
This suggestion will not be thrashed out
until the second round-table meeting takes
place next month.
Those at the meeting were Governor
Harrington. General Waters. Elliott Smith,
W. H. Dec Wright, Richard Dallam. Chan
ming Rudd. Robert Grain. 7. b. Symons,
Robert F. Roberts. T. Scott 0ffutt. Richard
L. Clark, DR.. John II. Latane. X. Brent
Keyser. VIM. H. Maltbie. Judge Hammond
Urner. Stevenson A. Williams. John X.
Shaw and Lynn X. Meekins.