The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-09-16
Farmers And The Draft
Special Care to be Taken to Defer
Agricultural Workers.

der the rules of the War Department
for executing the new draft law, ,spe-
cial provision is made for informing
the district boards in regard to farm
labor requirements in order that
necessary food production may be
maintained, says a statement issued
by the Department OF Agriculture.
The statement continues:
In the new draft the district
boards are charged with the duty of
persons who are more likely to fur
ther the war by remaining in civilian
occupations than by entering the
Army. Accordingly, three advisers
are to be selected for each district
board-one for agriculture, one for
labor, and one for other occupations.
The agricultural adviser will be ap-
pointed by the board upon the rec
ommendation of the Secretary of Ag-
riculture. The advisers are not mem
bers of the board, but may, when in
!
The duties of the agricultural ad-
wiser will be to furnish to the board
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 agricul-
tural workers, whether these be nee
essary farm laborers, managers or
| operators. He will be expected to
advise the district boards as to
| shortage or surplus of necessary farm
workers for any given district, as
well as for the entire Nation. Such
information will be supplied to the
advisers by the Department of Agri
culture. This will make it possible
to have necessary workers transferr-
ed 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-
tions, to examine the questionnaires
and other records in the files of the
local board for the purpose of ascer-
tanning whether persons entitled to
deferred classification have actually
claimed it, In case he finds the
L., fIO
for them claim for deferred classi
fication with the district board,
which, in turn, may require the local
board to certify the QUESTIONABLE
and record of any such registrants
for consideration. Reasonable time
will be given for the purpose of OBJ
tanning Information and suppl ying
the affidavits required. If a local
board determines to consider a case
| for deferred classification because a
lregistrant is engaged in a necessary
occupation, Notwithstanding no
claim for deferred classification on
| that ground has been made, it shall
endorse the recommendation on the
QUESTIONABLE of the registrant and
| forward it to the district board hav-
| ing jurisdiction. The district board
will thereupon consider the case and
proceed to classify the registrant,
Notwithstanding the fact that no
claim for deferred classification by
or in respect of the registrant has
been made.
A further duty with which the ad-
wiser is charged is to confer with en-
ployers of necessary farm work, 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 a claim for Deferred
classification in his own behalf. This,
in the opinion of the War Depart
ment, is very important matter. The
apparent injustice of placing many
registrants in Glass l is often due to
the fact that employers have failed
to make claims for deferred classifi-
cation on behalf of necessary work
ers. 1t is to avoid a 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 classifica-
ton.
One important explanation is made
! in the new Selective Service Regula-
ton in connection with the express
sion skilled farm laborer." The ques
| tionnaire provides deferred classifi-
cation for the necessary skilled
farm laborer in necessary agrlcul-
tural enterprise" The new regula-
tions provide that in Glass 2 shall be
placed any registrant found to be
engaged in a necessary agrlcul-
ltural enterprise, and found to be
necessary to such enterprise in the
;capacity of farm laborer, especial
ly fitted for the work in which he is
engaged" This quoted phrase con-
stitutes 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.
The purpose in the appointing OF
advisers is to place men where they
can do most to help win the war
These advisers will be able to help
greatly the district boards to keep IN
agriculture the necessary workers.
These workers. whatever may be their
inclination to enter military service,
should stand ready to serve in any
icapacity in which they can con-
tribute most toward a speedy ending
of the war. In order that this may
be done a frank statement should, IN
each case, be made to the boards. Ii
/ &c fhat will frpunpOtlN re-