Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-02-15

yX7AsHINGToN, D. c., Feb. 1O.-whO is to
w harvest next summers crops?
That is right now one of the biggest
problems in the world. 1t serious one last
year. this year it will be dOubly Last year
the production of foodstuffs in Europe fell far
below normal because of the shortage of farm la
Dor, while in this country the shortage was with
difficulty made UP through strenuous and we'll
organized efforts by the departments of agricul-
are being called to the colors to resist the i'm
pending German drive, and in this country the
draft and the munitions industry have taken hun
dreds of thousands that worked in the fields last
year.
It is evident that the situation calls for the
extreme measures, and, in all of the allied
countries they being taken. England is teach
ing women to work on the farms; France is con-
templating the importation from her colonies OF
dark men, who are not able to stand the climate
on the fighting line for farm work in her south
ern provinces Our own department of agricul-
ture is hard at work the problem. 1t is be-
ginning scientifically with a survey to find out
just what is needed in the way of farm labor and
where. 1t has already a system of finding and
but these excellent organizations had all they
could do to meet the situation last year. This
year calls for a desperate remedy.
Undoubtedly important measure is to make
the American people realize what they up
against-that if labor is not forthcoming to har-
vest the crops, there will not be enough to eat
for anyone The situation could be improved II
patriotic citizens would volunteer to spend their
leisure, their vacations, in doing farm work. Some
did last year. Seven hundred Boston street car
employees put in their vacations working for Mas
sachusetts farmers Many retired farmers went
to work for their tenants. II the urgency
of this need for volunteer hired men could be
driven home through the newspapers, the need
might be met.
Secretary Houston has a number of plans for
relieving the situation In addition to survey of
the problem he intends to make fuller use of
the boys of high school age, who did such good
service in the working boys reserve last year;
he recommends that be released for farm la
Dor by employing in industry; that
the department of abor's system for the transfer
of labor to the sections where it is most needed
be extended that farmers cooperate more fully
in the use of labor; that more labor-savlng ma
chinery be made and used; that all able-bodied men
be compelled by law to do a full days work.
These are all recommendations for the i'm
provement of measures and agencies used last
year, except the last.
President Wilson has promised that soldiers in
environments will be given leave Of absence to go
home and help harvest the crops.
Secretary Houston's suggestion that the lazy
man and the man of leisure potential assets
in this situation is and interesting one He
points out that this matter for state and munic-
ipal rather than federal action. In Maryland a
law has already been passed providing that every
able-boded must do at least six hours work
per day. Such laws should certainly apply also to