The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1918-09-26
FARMERS AND THE DRAFT.
Special Caro- to be Taken to Defer
Agricultural Workers.


Washington, D. c.. Sept. 17-Un-
der the rules Of the War Department
for executing the new drsft law,
special provision is made for in form
ing the district boards in regard to !,
farm labor requirements in order
that necessary food production may
be maintained, says q statement is
sued by the Department of Agricul-
ture. The statement continues:
In the new draft the district boards
are charged with the duty of putting
into deferred classes those persons
who are more likely to further the
war by remaining in civilian occupa-
tions than by entering the Army. Ac-
cordingly, three advisers are to be
selected for each district board-one
for agriculture, one for labor, and
one for other occupations. The agri-
cultural adviser will be appointed by
the board upon the recommendation
of the Secretary of Agriculture. The
advisers are not members OF the board !
but may, when invited, attend its |
meetings.
How Agricultural Adviser Will Aid.
The duties of the agricultural ad-
wiser will be to furnish to the board |
facts relative to farm labor require
ments. not only of his own district,
but of the whole country. He should
be the repository of all facts having
relation to the deferment of agri-
cultural workers. whether these be
necessary farm laborers, managers or
opertors. He will be expected to ad-
wise the district boards as to shortage
or surplus Of necessary farm workers
for any given district, as we'll as for
the entire nation. Such information
will be supplied to the advisers by the
Department OF Agriculture. This will
make it possible to have necessary
workers transferred from districts in
which they may not be necessary to
other districts in which they are sore
ly needed.
The adviser may also, concern him
self with individual cases that come
before the district board. He will have
the right, under certain conditions,
to examine the Questionnaires and
other records in the files of the local
board for the purpose of ascertaining
whether persons entitled to deferred
classification have actually claimed it.
In case he finds the names of such
|registrants for consideration. Reason
able time will be given for the pur-
pose Of obtaining information and
supplying the affidavits required. III
local board determines to consider
case for deferred classification be-
cause registrant is engaged in a
necessary occupation, notwithstand-
ing no claim for deferred classified
tion on that ground has been made,
it shall endorse the recommendation
on the QUESTIONABLE of the regis
trant and forward it to the district
board having Jurisdiction. The dis
trict board will thereupon consider
the case and proceed to classify the
registrant. Notwithstanding the fact
that no claim for deferred classifi-
cation by or in respect Of the regis
trant has been made.
Claims in Behalf of Necessary EN-
plOyecS.
A further duty with which the ad-
wiser Is charged Is to confer with
lonLloyers Of necessary farm workers,
and to instruct them as to their right
under the regulations to file a claim
for deferred classification in respect
Of any registrant who has failed or !
refused to file a claim for deferred
classification in his own behalf. This,
in the opinion of the War Depart
ment. is very important matter. The !,
apparant injustice Of placing many
|registrants in Class 1 is often due to |
the fact that employers have failed
to make claims for deferred classifi- |
cation on behalf Of ecessary workers. !
1T Is to avoid q repetition of this trou-
BILE that farmers should see that all !
of their necessary employees, wh.eth-
er sons or other laborers. of the draft
age have made for them just claims
for deferred classification.
One important explanation is mad, !
in the new Selective Service Regula-
tions in connection with the express,
sion skilled farm laborer." The
questionable provides deferred clas-
sification for the necessary skilled |
farm laborer in necessary agricultural
enterprise" The new regulations pro-
vide that in Class II shall be placed
any registrant found to be engaged
in necessary" agricultural enter
prise. and found to be necessary to
such enterprise in the capacity OF