The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-09-20
FARMERS AND THE DRAFT

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the district boards in regard to farm
labor requirements in order that nee
essary 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 war
by remaining in civilian occupations
than by entering the Army. Accord
inkly, three advisers are to be select
ed for each district board-one for
agriculture, one for labor, and one for
other occupations. The agricultural
adviser will be appointed by the board
upon the recommendation of the Sec
rotary of Agriculture. The advisers
are not members of the board but may,
when invited, attend its meetings.
How Agricultural Adviser Will Aid
The duties of the Agricultural ad-
wiser will be to furnish to the board
facts relative to farm-labor require
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 neces-
sary farm laborers, managers or ope-
rators. 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 De-
partment of Agriculture. 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 sore
ly 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 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 registrants for considera-
ton. Reasonable time will be given
for the purpose of obtaining informa-
ton and supplying the affidavits re-
quired. If local board determines to
consider a case for deferred classified
ton because a registrant is engaged
in necessary occupation, notwith-
standing no claim for deferred classifi-
cation on that ground has been made,
it shall endorse the recommendation on
the questionable of the registrant and
forward it to the district board having
jurisdiction. The district board will
thereupon consider the case and pro-
coed to classify the registrant, not
outstanding the fact that no claim
for deferred classification by or in re-
spect of the registrant has been made
Claims in Behalf of Necessary
Employees
. A further duty with which the ad
wiser is charged is to confer with EN-.
ployer of necessary farm workers, and
to instruct them as to their right un-
der the regulations to file claim fol-
deferred classification in respect Of
any registrant who has failed or re.
fused to file claim for deferred class
ication in his own behalf. This, ir
the opinion of the War Department
is a very important matter. The ap'
parent injustice of placing many reg.
istrants in Glass | is often due to the
fact that employers have failed u
make claims for deferred classification
on behalf of necessary workers. 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 draf
age have made for them just claims
for deferred classification.
One important explanation is made
in the new Selective Service Regula
lions in connection with the expires
sion skilled farm laborer." The ques
tionnaire provides deferred classified
ton for the necessary skilled farm
laborer in necessary agricultural en-
terprise." The new regulations pro
vide that in Glass II shall be placed
any registrant found to be engaged II
a necessary" agricultural enterprise
and found to be necessary to such en-
terprise in the capacity Of farm la
borer-''especially fitted for the worl
in which he is engaged" This quoted
phrase constitutes an explanation O.
what is meant by skilled" as applied
to farm laborer. The expression viii
make easier the determination of thu
status Of many registrants.
War Service in Right Place
The purpose in the appointing Of ad
> visers is to place men where they cal
do most to help win the war. Thes
advisers will be able to help great.
the district boards to keep in agri
culture the necessary workers. Thes
workers, whatever may be their in
! clination to enter military service
should stand ready to serve in any ca
pacity which they can contribute mos
: toward a speedy ending of the wal
y In order that this may be done
J frank statement should, in each cast
) be made to the boards. 1t is believe
: that it will frequently require as niue
courage on the part of many men t
remain in their civilian occupations a
!; to waive deferment.
This effort to keep men in industr,
= ,atbo,. tbar IN cand thay,a IN tho % mr.