The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-09-13
FARM LABOR IN
SPECIAL CLASS
IN NEW DRAFTS
Provision Made for Information
of District Boards as to
Needs
ADVISORS WILL BE NAMED
Officials, Not Members of Sc
lective Commissions, will be
Councillors
ADVISORS WILL BE NAMED

Washington, D. c., Sept. 13.-Undel
the rules of the war department fol
executing the new draft law, specia
provision is made for informing the
district boards in regard to farm la
Dor requirements in order that neces
sary food production may be main
tanned, says statement issued by
the department OF agriculture. 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 wal
by remaining in civilian occupations
than by entering the army. Accord
ingly, three advisers are to be select
ed for each district board-one for
agriculture, one for labor, and one
for other occupations. The agricultur
al adviser will be appointed by the
board upon the recommendation OF
the secretary Of agriculture. The ad.
visers are not members Of the board
but may, when invited, attend its
meetings.
How Agricultural Adviser viii Aid.
The duties OF the agricultural adj
wiser will be to furnish to the board
facts relative to farm-labor require
ments, not only for his own district.
but OF the whole country. He should
be the repository of all facts having
relation to the deferment Of agricul'
tural workers, whether these be me-
cessary farm laborers. managers or
operators. He will be expected to
advise the district boards as to a
shortage or surplus Of necessary farm
workers for any given district, as we'll
as for the entire Nation. Such in
formation will be supplied to the adj
visOrs by the department OF agricul-
ture 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 sOrely needed.
The adviser may also concern HIM
self with individual cases that come
Before the district board. He will
have the right, under certain condi-
lions, to examine the questionnaires
and other records in the files OF the
local board for the purpose Of ascer-
tanning whether persons entitled to de-
ferred classification have actually
claimed It, In case he finds the names
OF such registrants he may file for
them a claim for deferred classified
ton with the district board which, in
turn, may require the local board to
certify the questionable and record
of any such registrant for considera-
ton Reasonable time will be given
for the purpose of obtaining infOrma-
tiOn and supplying the affidavits re-
Guired II a local board determines
to consider case for deferred CLASH
ficatiOn because a registrant is en-
gagged in necessary occupation, not
withstanding no claim for deferred
classification on that ground has been
made, 1t shall endorse the recommend
alton on the QUESTIONABLE OF the reg
istrant 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 classified
ton by or in respect Of the registrant
has been made.
Claims in Behalf Of Necessary En-
pIoyees.
" A further duty with which the adj
wiser is charged is to confer with EN-.
ployers of necessary farm workers,
and to instruct them as to their right
under the regulations to file claim
for deferred classification in respect
of any registrant who has failed or
refused to file claim for deferred
classification in his own behalf. This
in the opinion of the war department.,
is very important matter. The ap-
parent injustice of placing many reg
istrants in Class l is often due to the
fact that employers have failed to
make claims for deferred classified
tion on behalf OF necessary workers.
1t is to avoid repetition of this
trouble that farmers should see that
all of their necessary employees.
whether sons or other laborers, of the
draft age have made for them just
claims for deferred classification
One important explanation is made
in the new selective service regula-
tions in connection with the express
sion skilled farm laborer' The ques-
tionnaire provides deferred classified
ton for the necessary skilled farm Ia
borer in necessary agricultural enter
prise" The new regulations provide
that in Glass II shall be placed any
found to be engaged in a
necessary" agricultural enterprise.
and found to be necessary to such en-
terprise in the capacity Of farm Ia
fitted for the work
in which he is engaged This quoted
phrase constitutes an explanation of
what is meant by skilled" as applied
to farm laborer The expression will
make easier the determination of the
status Of many registrants.
War Service in the Right Place.
The purpose in the appointing of adj
visers is to place men where they can
DO most to help win the war These ad-
visers will be able to help greatly the
district boards to keep in agriculture
The necessary workers. These work
ers, whatever may be their inclina-
lion to enter military service, should
stand ready to serve in any capacity
n which they can contribute most to-
ward speedy ending Of the war. In
,rdler that this may be done frank
Statement should. in each case, be
made to the boards. It is believed
hat It will frequently require as
mach couage on the part of many men
D remain In their civilian Occupa-
ions % to waive deferment-
This effort to keep men in industry,
athef than to send them to the camps
ind the trenchts,, should net be abus-