Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-26

)is supported In whole or IN part by
tho labor of any woman or child. shalt
DO prima facie evidence of vaXrancy.-
That such measure as that intro
duced by Senator Mapp will have the
effect OF making ever ablc-hodied per-
son not now employed seek engagement
in some cainful occupation and thereby
escape the necessity of registering UNI
der tho provisions OF the bill is con-
sidcred certain by those who advocate
the measure.
! However, the most sanguine do not
anticipate that it will so to any great
length In relieving the situation on
tho farms. In agricultural circles II ia
| generally held that the best thing
Virginia farmers can hope for now
Is an intelligent appreciation on the
! part Of the local exemption boards OF
| the fact that farming is an essential
feature OF tho war machine and take
particular pains to place in deferred
ciaSSif1cations all men on farms who
are actual factors in production.
! Numerous stories reach nichnond
daily OF farms absolutely depleted of
help and their owners being forced to
sell their stock because OF their in
| ability TO cultivate their lands.
LABOR RECRUITING CAMPAIGNS
RESULT DrsAsTRoUsLY
Speaking of the evil of labor re-
cruitins. such as has been engaged in
by representatives of large industrial
plants. b. e. Mooinaw, Jr, director OF
the division OF markets, yesterday de-
clarcd that steps should be- taken by
the Federal government to soc that
no such elaborate campaigns shall be
conducted in the future as last year
helped to strip tho State OF its work
ers He told OF one case last fall where
a largo apple grower had employed
fourteen men from the mountains of
East Tennessee to pick apples for him.
lie was getting along we'll with his
work. One Saturday night he paid
on his men. expecting them TO begin
the following Monday on the gather
ing OF his crop OF StEyman winesaps.
about two thousand barrels. worth So n
barrel. However. on Monday morning
none or the men showed up. labor
recruiter had garnered them all in
and taken them away on Sunday. Be-
tore other arrangements could he made
for saving tho Stayrnans a windstorm
came and blew practically all OF them
from the trees. enteiling a very seri.
Gus reduction in their market value
1t is understood that the Federal De-
partment of Labor is endearoring to
stop sucn labor recruiting campafcns
D" having all such operations directed
through sbe agencies OF the depart.
ment.
FARM HELP SPECIALIST
Is MAKING SURVEY
u. W. Lawson. farm help specialist.
representing tho United States Depart
ment OF Agriculture. is making a close
survey Of the labor situation in Vir-
sin'a lie is. among other things.
urging those who find the cost OF
hsinf In the cities too high 10 be met
with comfort, even with wages at the
present level. to GO back TO tho coun-
try, and offers his services To any ono
VINO desires 10 find n location on
farm IN any part OF tho State. Tie has
ms Office In the quarters Of the Division
Of Markets in the LAWS Building
Mr.. Lawson says that in other States
assistance is being secured in meet
ing the labor situation by the organi-
1 cation OF tho hoys' reserve. lie does
not favor sending small boys to the
country, but believes that good results
can NC obtained by registering for
country service during vacation time
schooiboHs in the towns and cities
from sixteen years CT age up.
IT has been suggested that these
no9s, II released from the duties of
The schoo'room around the middle Of
May, could be seasoned up and made
anle to perform good service during
! the entire crop season and generally
under such surroundings would be
nenehctal to their health. In other
Statt> hoaS VINO enlist Tor service ire
n"inG given school credit for such
work when they show certificates that
IL has been satisfactorily done
CoSyILTS' USE on FARMS
Is NOT ECONOMICAL
Suggestion has been made that in
the discretion Of the Governor the
road fore" shall be made available for
farm work. especially in rush times
IKE that at harvest, II IS believed
that IN" General Assembly will follow
inc recommendations Of the Highway
cor ssioner and make available TO,
r"aG work many OF the long tern, mon
NJ" IN the pen.,entiary. as we'll as a
much larger proportion than hereto
toro OF thos. confined in the tals OF
the state. That this force would
prove OF practical availa bility in IN.
handling OF farm work WAS considered
extremely doubtful by those who were
questioned with regard thereto
Thern are now in the road rorce
i.o5h mrn. or the 500 confined In the
p"ntientiarE, II is estimated tina; from
% 10 SO per cent ara Available for road
work. making approximately total
Of 1900 which may he used for that
purpose. That this number CT mcn
car be used with amy dcsree Of eco.
Do'-y on Tire farms unless it. were pos
sible 10 parole them 20. such work Is
declared b. men experienced IN the
handling Of the road force as ont Of
the question, while others say that
the farmers need the road force more
on N, roads than on The farms.