Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1918-07-27
Hugh Sproat, Head of Idaho
Wool Growers, Writes of
Outlook to National Wool
Growers.
YOUNG. MEN MUST
FIGHT FOR NATION
Old Ones Not Able to Stand
the Work. Minor Railway
Employees are Disobliging
and Impolite.

/
An article by Hugh Sproat. presi-
dent of the Idaho woolgrowers as
sociation in the July number OF the
National Wool Grower points
pessimistic future for the western
wool industry. Mr.. Sproat claims
excessive loss OF lambs on account
of the shortage of competent help
and claims that local boards and
councils of defense are not giving
fair treatment to the vol and mutton
producers. Interviews with mem
bers OF the Elmore county local board
and with prominent sheepmen around
Mountain Home do not uncover such
a condition as Mr., Sproat describes
Members Of the local board dis
claim any politics and claim that all
men drafted have been given their
classification strictly according 10
the terms of the law, that farmers
of certain classes have been exempt
ed, because the law and the rulings
of the provost marshall general
granted them exemption, and that
others we're listed in class AL be-
cause their showing for industrial
exemption was not such az to en-
title them to the exemption. Sheep
herders and camp tenders are cIassed
as unskilled labor. not by the local
board, but by the provost marshall
general
The two men whom Mr.. Sproat
especially mentions as having been
taken from his forces, were Rex
Sproat and Robert Thompson, both of
whom had been given deferred tenn
porary classification on Industrial
grounds and were called to the train
ing camp in the June draft
Taking chance on being called
hard'names, want to protest against
the action of many local boards. de-
fense councils, etc, In classifying as
unskilled labor our foremen in the
large stock interests In this Western
country. Men are unquestionably
needed but ii seems that the livestock
interests are not getting the conider-
alton they deserve. When men OF ten
to twelve years experience with live
stock are classified as AL and dry
farmers, who neither own Liberty
Bond or War Savings Certificate
and who waste more wheat by plant
ing than they get at harvest time,
are classified in III and w, the re-
mark Of a prominent business man
that many boards seem TO be trying
harder to make friends than soldiers
seems especially pertinent.
We are asked to produce wool and
meat, to buy Liberty Bonds and War
Savings Stamps, but the men we most
need are taken from us. had the
unfortunate experience of losing
two men | could least afford to lose.
wanted to keep one of them until
September first until got my lambs
shipped and the outfit cut down so
that could handle It, was told by
the secretary of the local defense
council that the Federal Employment
Bureau had $50 men all listed and
guaranteed by former employers and
that | could easily replace my men.
have not found a man yet to replace
one of them, and believe without any
exaggeration that have lost 10 per
cent OF my lambs through careless
ness, due to losses and mixups. which
have not been able to handle as
they should have been handled
Nor do think mine is an isolated
case venture the assertion that az
a general thing our losses will aver
age double the usual percentage and
our expenses are something fearful.
with wages from SIS to $l25
month"; have heard of the latter
price being paid where the grower
could not help himself--and with al
other expenses out of sight. ! for me
fail to see where the business can
survive. not due to expenses but to
losses and the unfortunate labor situ-
alton.
| have talked with many Of the
larger growers--th those lucky enough
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