Washington telegraph., 1918-10-18
AGRICULTURAL AGENT
TO ASSIST DRAFT BOARD
l have just received the fol-
lowing letter. Those interested
should read carefully:

| lOWlHB leJJef. nose interested
should read carefully:
Little Rock, Oct. Is.
'To County Agents:
"At a meeting of the supervising
force of the Extension Division, to-
gether with the Adjutant General and
the agricultural representative of the
Advisory Borad, who is to sit with
the District Exemption Board, the
following resolution was unanimous
ly adopted:
Moved and seconded that the
County Agent be instructed to inves-
| tigate cases of farmers who have not
made claim for deferred classification
and to ask exemptions for those
whose production of essential crops
and live stock seem to justify and
that where possible he furnish supple
mentary evidence in support of claims
for deferred classification made by
farmers, who, in interest of food pro-
duction, should be kept on the farm" Z"
"You will be called upon from time
to time for information in certain
specific cases. This should be fur
nished the District Agricultural Ad-
visor in confidential manner and
with the greatest possible prompness.
1t will be impossible for the dvisor
to know all of these facts and you. as
County Agent, are the authorized gov
ernment representative who should be
ready at any time to secure the nte-
essary information, either directly or
through your organized Community
Council of Defense.
The Local Boards have authority
over exemptions on account Of de-
pendence only; they are, however, re-
quired to submit recommendations to
the District Board in all claims for
deferred classification. on account of
agricultural grounds, and with your
intimate knowledge of local condi-
tions you can doubtless render valua-
Bile assistance in furnishing informa-
tion and making such investigations
as will assist them in making COM
prehensive recommendations
at is suggested that you sit in
counsel with the Local Boards where
possible in order to facilitaSe matters
in arriving at proper decisions before
making recommendation TO the Dis
trict Advisory Boards. You are here
by instructed to give this matter, ii
need be, your undivided attention."
Yours very truly,
w. C. Lassetter, Director
c. W Watson, State Agt
v ~ \ above
letteE, / wish to state some
1 facts as set out by the War De-
partment.
Deferment may be granted to
three groups of agricultural
workers: Necessary skilled
farm labor in necessary agri
cultural enterprises. 2.-Nec.
essary assistant, associate OF
hired manager of necessary ag
ricultural enterprise. 3-Nec
essary sole managing, controll
! ing or directing head of neces
z sary agricultural enterprise.
The chief questions arising
will be whether the particular
enterprise is necessary" ant
whether the particular lahore
s is necessary" to the enterpris
and skilled"
The War Department says
o "A particular enterprise is nee
g essary only when it is shown
that it is producing an appre
ciable amount of agriculture
produce over and above what
necessary for the maintenanc
II of those living on the place"
AS applied to the farm labor
' er the word necessary" mean
that he is actually and con
pletely engaged in agricultul
: to such extent that his removi
4 would result in direct, substal
Il tial, material loss and detr
\ ment to the effectiveness of tt
] enterprise, and that an avail'
} BILE supply of persons comp
4 tent to take his place does NJ
/ exist. Further considerable
! must be given to the laborer
, length of service, his stud
4 training and experience in Il
particular enterprise.
IL The word skilled" as a
piled to farm laborers has bee
set forth by one authority
4