The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-10-31
SOLVE HARVEST
LABOR lA||B||! PROBLEM
Story Of How Kansas Farmers
Fought and 0yercame Diff
cuities This Year. a
CITES AND TOWNS HElpfD
Faesd BY Big shortage Of Farm Hands
ard War Calling More Men Fed
eraI, STATE and City Forces
Unite In Saving Grain.

Kansas farmers this year faced q
harvest labor problem AZ serious as
any in the country, 1t Is believed by
Oflicials of the United States depart
ment Of agriculture. The story of how
Kansas fought its difficulties and over
came them demonstrates the high spir-
1t of patriotism in the country districts,
to help out in emergencies, and points
the way for other states to meet sim
liar problems next year.
Seven million acres of wheat called
for harvest help. The army and war
industries were taking increasing num-
hers Of men from the state. Railroad
fares had been raised, impeding the
movement Of workers. A shortage Of
from 10000 to 100000 men during the
harvest season was indicated by a la
Dor survey made early in the year by
the county agents In cooperation with
the schools.
The problem was up to the state
farm help specialist Representing the
department Of agriculture and the ex-
tension division Of the state agricul-
tural coliege). the United States de-
partment Of labor. the county agents
and the farm bureaus. They received
cooperation from chambers Of COM
merce and business mems clubs. The
farm help specialist visited IS of the
l05 Kansas counties and discussed the
labor situation with farm and town
people at county meetings. Later at
frbt III wlrk
the farm bureaus and other farmers
organizations from every county rec
commended wage scales for the districts
and that labor be paid by the hour in
stend OF the day. At a state meeting
45 cents an hour was decided on as a
fair wage.
Recruiting Town Men.
Late in May the farm help specialist
developed method Of recruiting town
and city men for help in the fields.
Work was started under proclama-
tiOn by the governor through the cOun-
ty and emergency agents. Working
with the chambers of commerce and
retail merchants associations definite
records We're obtained of approximate
ly 10000 men In over 500 towns and
cities who were willing to answer the
harvest call. Headquarters at Wichita
and 20 local Offices were opened by
from outside the state. In farm bu-
reau counties the agents in nearly ev-
cry case accepted the responsibility
Of reporting the labor needs of the
county to the federal labor Offices and
Of distributing the harvest hands after
their arrival. In Cheyenne and Raw
lins counties this meant that the agents
had to organize a transport system
that brought the harvest hands In from
the main line railroads by automobile,
an average distance of about 80 miles.
Assistance In this work was given by
the agricultural agents OF railroads.
The result was that Kansas lost
none of its wheat crop. All of the
grain has been safely harvested and
is helping to turn the scales in the bat
tie of food resources.
Thousands Of Helpers Obtained.
Although complete data are not
available from all counties. definite
record of 4s,471 men being placed
through the various cooperating agen-
cies has been obtained. OF this num-
bef more than $1,000 were handled by
tho local labor offices OF the depart
meat Of labor and more ii,an 1906
w'ers. town men who went out to har-
vest, through the federal labor Offices
in Rnnsas City and st. Joseph, Mo-.
snd kansas City. AtchisOn and Leaven-
wos1h. Kan. Sixty-nine counties that