The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-11-08
SOLVE HARVEST
LABOR PROBLEM
Story of How Kansas Farmers
Fought and 0verCame Diff
cuItieS This Year.
CITIES and TOWNS HELPED
Faced by Big Shortage of Farm Hands
and War Calling More Men Fed
erai, State and City Forces
Unite in Saving Grain.

Kansas farmers this year faced
harvest labor problem as serious as
any in the country, it is believed by
officials of the United States depart
ment of agriculture. The story of how
Kansas fought its difficulties and over
came them demonstrates the high spir-
it of patriotism in the country districts,
the willingness of the cities and towns
to help out in emergencies. and points
the way for other states to meet sim
liar problems next year.
Seven million acres of wheat called
for harvest help. The army and war
industries were taking increasing num-
beers of men from the state. Railroad
/ fares had been raised, impeding the
| movement of workers. A shortage Of
from 10000 to 100000 men during the
harvest season was indicated by 9 la
Dor survey made early in the year by
the county agents in cooperation with
the schools.
The problem was up to the state
farm help specialist Representing the
department of agriculture and the ex-
tension division of the state agricul-
tural college,, the United States de-
partment of labor, the county agents
and the farm bureaus. They received
cooperation from chambers of COM
merce and business mems clubs. The
farm help specialist visited So of the
los Kansas counties and discussed the
labor situation with farm and town
people at county meetings. Later at
eight district meetings delegates from
the farm bureaus and other farmers
organizations from every county rec
commended wage scales for the districts
and that labor be paid by the hour in
stead of the day. At state meeting
45 cents an hour was decided on as a
fair wage.
Recruiting Town Men.
Late in May the farm help specialist
developed a method of recruiting town
and city men for help in the fields.
Work was started under a proclama-
ton by the governor through the coun-
ty and emergency agents. Working
with the chambers of commerce and
retail merchants associations definite
records were obtained Of approximate
ly 10000 men in over 500 towns and
cities who were willing to answer the
harvest call. Headquarters at Wichita
and 20 local offices were opened by
the department of labor to recruit men
from outside the state. In farm bu-
reau counties the agents in nearly ev-
cry case accepted the responsibility
of reporting the labor needs of the
county to the federal labor offices and
of distributing the harvest hands after
their arrival. In Cheyenne and Raw
Inns counties this meant that the agents
had to organize a transport system
that brought the harvest hands in from
the main line railroads by automobile,
an average distance of about 80 miles.
Assistance in this work was given by
the agricultural agents of railroads.
The result was that Kansas lost
none of its wheat crop. All of the
grain has been safely harvested and
is helping to turn the scales in the bat
tie of food resources.
Thousands of Helpers Obtained.
Although coraplete data are moi
available from all counties, a definite
record of 4S,471 men being placed
through the various cooperating agen,
cies has been obtained. OF this mum.
Der more than $4,000 were handled By
the local labor offices of the depart
Eent of labor and more than 5000
we're town men who went out to har'
vest through the federal labor offices
in Kansas City and st. Joseph, Mo.
and Kansas City, Atchison and Leaven
worth, Kan. Sixty-nine counties thai