The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-01-05
FARMING INDUSTRY weakened BY
LOSS OF SKILLED LABOR TAKEN
BY GOVERNMENT IN FIRST DRAFT

the suggestion that farmers as a ella SIS
should be exempted from military SER
vice and that no person from this
class should be permitted to serve in
the army, and criticism has resulted
because it has not been acted upon. 1t
would be unfair to the farmers of the
nation even to entertain the thought
that they would be willing to have the
rest of the population do all the fight
ing in this struggle in the defense of
our rights and for world freedom. The
farmers themselves as a whole would
resent the intimation.
If farmers were exempted as class
obviously others would feel the injus-
tice Of such action. It is unlikely that
sanction the proposal.
If we put our minds to the task and
attempt to deal with it in construc-
tive way, there are many things which
can be done to furnish relief. The De-
partment of Agriculture, of course,
will continue to do everything in it's
power to aid in the solution of the
difficult problem. The most promis-
ing lines of effort seem to me to en-
brace the following:
First: A systematic survey of the
farm labor situation in order to ascer-
tain the possible needs of farmers and
to determine ways of meeting them.
The department, before the beginning
of the new crop season through its
agents stationed in the various states
and in cooperation with the Depart
ment of Labor and the state councils
of defense, will make such a survey.
| Second: The promotion of fuller CO.
| operation in the utilization of labor
among farmers in the same commun-
! ity.
Third: The further development of
machinery for assisting IN the transfer
of labor from sections where the sea-
sonal pressure has passed to regions
where additional help is urgently
needed.
| Fourth: Making available labor
which heretofore has not been fully
or regularly utilized in farming opera
tons, including boys of high school
age who have had experience on the
farm.
The farm labor representatives of
the department will continue to de-
vote all their time and energies to
these tasks and they will keep in close
couch with appropriate state and 9TH
er agencies.
Fifth: The releasing of men for ag-
ricultura1 purposes, so far as possible,
by replacing them with women and
by diverting labor from relatively
non-essential enterprises are matters
which demand serious consideration.
Consumption of labor for industrial
purposes, of course, necessarily would
present many difficulties. Powerful
influences are operating, however, to
bring about the release of labor and
capital from less essential enterprises
and their diversion into more urgent
undertakings. These will become in
creasingly compelling as the situation
develops. They will be aided by the
growing realization on the part of the
people generally of curtailing expendi-
lures on non-essentials and of redi-
recting labor and capital into vital in
dustries.
Sixth: Steps to see that any able
bodied men who are not now doing
a full and useful days work shall be
fully and regularly employed. This
of course, is a matter primarily fol
consideration by state and muncipa
:, authorities.
: Seventh: The largest possible pro.
duction and fullest use of farm labor
saving machinery The department
has actively interested itself in secur
ing priority for raw materials used il
, the manufacture of farm implements
and also in securing favorable consid
Grafton at the hands of transportation
, committees to provide facilities fol
:. moving the materials to the manufac
turers and the completed product
from the manufacturers to the distri
butors and also to the farmers Botf
those dealing with priorities of mater
ials and those dealing with prioritie
of transportation have evinced a com
G plete willingness to assist.
. This is indicated by the fact that tn
;, priorities committee of the War In
: dustries Board gave raw material
= needed for farm implements a posi-
. ton of preference over all articles ex
cept those urgently required for mill
i tary and naval purposes, and that tn
- transportation committee took steps t
secure the prompt movement of tn
raw materials and of the manufactur
:, ed articles. This matter is still re
= ceiving the earnest attention of tn
= department with a view to see VIVA
:, further action can be taken to max
certain that an adequate supply wi
be available at reasonable prices.
f. If there are any other fruitful an
= practicable lines of effort which wi
a aid in the solution of the problem
= they should, of course, be followed
- The department has been in constaI
touch not only with Representative
farmers and farmers organization
= but ALSO has had frequent contact wit
the state commissioners of agricultur
&c and the experts Of the Immigrant CO
leges. 1t receives many hundreds {
letters daily containing all sorts {
= suggestions from any parts Of til
- country. AS has been indicated, it hs
~ special machinery throughout the III
ion for the purpose of receiving sue
O gestions and furnishing assistance.
Many plans are proposed which al
80 utterly impracticable, but any COZ
- structive suggestion always has RI
ceived and will continue to receiV
the most careful consideration. TT
whole subject, involving industry {
h we'll as agriculture, is being given SCI
i ious attention by the Council of M
tional Defense through its variol
agencies which are actively at woT
1T along many lines to formulate col
N structfve plans.
D. F. HOUSTON,
~ Secretary of Agriculture.
NJ