The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1918-07-24
FARM LABOR MEN ADOPT
PLAN FOR HARVESTING

Birmingham, Ala, July 24-Farm
help specialists from the southern
states, in the Department of Agricul-
lures harvest labor coference held in
Birmingham, adopted the following
as an outline of the campaign to be
waged until all of the South's big cot
ton and food crops have been gather
ed:
Cooperation between farmers and
city people, to be brought about
through coordination of all agencies
furnishing potts OF contact, with crop
and other agricultural programs to be
worked out as the combined result
OF community effort
Use of all feasible labor saving de-
vices and improved farm machinery
Intelligent direction and conserva-
ton of labor to eliminate waste and
maintain highest efficiency.
Rearrangement, so far as possible
OF the system of farm management
so as to keep labor employed profit
ably the whole year.
Provision for better living condi-
tlons on farms to make workers more
efficient and better satisfied.
Cooperation in exchange of labor
and implements between farmers.
Recognition that the work of the
farm labor specialist is primarily an
extension effort and should be orig
inally and intimately connected with
the agricultural extension service in
each state, so that other branches of
the extension service may be brought
into closer cooperation with farm la
Dor work.
The farm help specialists also
adopted a resolution urging the i'm
portance Of stabilizing farm labor by
providing houses and more privileges
Tor tenants and laborers, and calling
for consideration of definite plans to
eliminate losses caused by shifting
workers.
The specialists have returned to
their states to resume their work OF
helping souther farmers meet the con-
ditions caused by the transfer of tens
OF thousands of men from the farms
to the army and war industries. 1t is
expected that they will center their
efforts, this year at least, on mobiliz-
ing able bodied city men to help out,
at usual wages, at periods of greatest
need for farm help.
Prof. G.. |. Christie, who taught in
the Alabama agricultural school at
Auburn, and who as assistant to the
Secretary OF Agriculture represents
the Department in farm labor mat
tiers, emphasized, in a talk to the spec
ialists, the importance of increasing
efficiency i'll the use of man power.
Speaking OF the thousands of "one-
mule farms" in the South, he said that
present conditions demand that all
men capable OF managing farm opera
tons should direct larger working
forces of men. mules and machinery.
Emergency help secured through
boys. women and men of the cities is
of great value" he said, but this la
Dor will not serve in the larger man.
aeemcnt OF the land Canada. from
Its comparatively small population
has sent 100000 of its best men to the
war, and two of three have been
from the farms. Despite this Canada
IN 1917 produced per cent more
toodstuffs than in any previous year.
What Canada has done the United
States can and must do
The specialists sent to the Secretary
OF Agriculture, David F. Houston, a
telegram telling OF the increased
paintings of food crops in the South
and the probability Of its safe har-
vest.