The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-01-05


without the added complications
which arise from the unrest and ap-
prehension created by the utterances
and writings of misinformed and, in
some instances, of mischievous per-
sons. Not few statements are be-
ing made which not only are not con-
ducive to satisfactory solution but
which, on the contrary, are respon-
sible for additional unrest and misdi-
rection of effort
This is one of two or three subjects
to which the department has given
more thought than to any others, not
only since this country entered the
war but for many months prior to
that time. There has been before the
farmers the question of retaining
sufficient number of year-round skill
ed laborers and also of meeting the
urgent needs at the planting and har-
vesting periods. In very many sections
Of the union difficulties in both direc-
tons have been experienced. This
has been particularly true of COM
munities where there has been great
industrial activity incident to prepara-
lions for the army and navy.
Farmers in the neighborhood of CT
| ties where there has been great redi-
rection of labor and capital, and also
where the environments and other spe-
cial enterprises have been under way,
have been greatly embarrassed. OBJ
viously, a nation cannot engage in a
struggle such as the one which this
country is making in defense of its
e., i
without disturbances of many kinds,
especially labor. without inconven-
fence, and without calling for sacri-
fees from every class of society. Mere
complaint will serve no useful pur-
pose. Constructive thought and ac-
ton alone will help.
In some respects, the situation may
not be quite SO acute another year.
Naturally, the disturbances are much
more violent Immediately after a
great shock has been given the indus
trial system. This nation had been
organized on peace basis. When it
entered the war, it was necessary not
only to create vast additional facilities
and machinery but also to provide on
an enormous scale for the operation
of the new establishments and Of
those previously existing. Many ship
yards had to be expanded and others
had to be created. Large environments
had to be built and built quickly. In
every direction there were urgent de-
mands for great expansions. Further
more, it was necessary to have an
army, and this necessarily caused ad-
ditionaI labor drains and dislocations.
In hA ~ n
impossible to work out a satisfactory
to the national needs.
However, it is well to recognize that
the situation will continue to be diff
cult and that a satisfactory solution
will require the best thought of the
nation and hte fullest and most COM
plete cooperation of all agencies. TIC
this end, all plans which give any
promise of real results must be care
fully examined and put into effect sc
far as they are feasible.
That the department and other
agencies of the government fully ap-
preciate the seriousness of the situa-
; ton is indicated by the action taker
: to attempt to furnish relief. Ever
under the pressure of the first draft
the War Department held definitely
in mind the thought of Tightening the
. burden so far as possible by not call
= ing to the colors those essential fol
leadership and direction. With the
fuller time at its disposal, that depart
ment, which has recognized from thu
beginning the necessity of not unduly
> disturbing any essential industry, ha!
. worked out a system of classification
, of the men subject to the draft which
i contemplates the placing of skilled
farm labor in necessary agriculture
enterprises in class 2. assistant or as
sociate managers of necessary asricul
tural enterprises in class 8, and head
- of necessary agricultural enterprise
in class 4. The operation of this new
D.. arrangement should remove many o
!. the difficulties previously encounteret
. and, in reasonable measure, meet tn
!. demands of the situation.
Several months before we entere'
the war, the government was givin
= the farm labor situation definite at
- tention. In former years, the Depart
"a ment of Agriculture, in cooperate,
II with the Department of Labor, sough
II to render, and did render, assistanc
to farmers in a number of states i
securing seasonal labor. In conjunc
n ton with state agencies, these depart
r. ments have effected the transfer Q
8, considerable numbers of laborer
from communities where the load ha
passed to others where the need wa
v. urgent. This was done especially i
0. the years of large production and, i
some cases, from 10000 to 10000 Ia
borers were transferred to particula
Q. states.
IS, After the entry of the United State
N into the war, the thought of the De
- partment of Agriculture, in connect
ton with the Department of Labo
~ was very definitely directed to tn
a problem of farm labor. The matte
IL was thoroughly discussed at the cor
florence held in . St. Louis on April
and 10 with the agricultural represeI
Il. tatives of the various states. 1t We
d" also referred to in my letter to til
Senate of April IS, 1917.
One of the first steps taken by til
IS Department Of Agriculture was to s,
lect and station in each state, in touc
whit he state agencies, the best avail
able man the department could 81
- cure CD to make surveys of farm l;
~ Dor conditions; (2) to bring abo1
,eu fuller cooperation in the utilizatie
of labor among farmers in the san
community; CD to assist in shiftir
n labor from one community or OF
nd state to another; and ca to bring il
n to service kinds of labor not heret
n fore fully or regularly employed
farming operations, such as the DO,
of high school age who knew som