El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-12-12
BUY FARMS FOR
SOLDIERS URGED
Secretary of Labor Would
Have the Farms Fully
Equipped, He Says

Washington, D. C.. Dec. Colo
nization by returned soldiers and sail
ors Of large tracts of land under the
direction and with the aid OF the
federal government is recommended
as a solution Of many Of the labor
problems arising from rehabilitation
by secretary Of labor Wilson in his
annual report. made public today
{ The government should. in the opinion
! Of Mr. Wilson, establish and equip in
dividual farms. which would be linked
into community groups.
The war has demonstrated the pa
triotism and loyalty OF American Ia
/ Dor, the report says, and in the con-
! tinuance OF the spirit OF sacrifice
an the part OF employer and employe
shown during the war, secretary Will
son believes lies the hope for the fur
Their attainment and development dur
/ ing the days OF peace Of that de-
mocracy for which We have taken up
arms"
The right Of collective bargaining.
long recognized by the department Of
labor, secretary Wilson declares has
been more widely established by rea-
son of the war. He adds that If the
principles upon which that agreement
was founded can endure the stress
greater success viii attend their ap-
plication during the calmer periods
OF peace"
Continue War Labor OBard.
To solve the labor problems arising
from reconstruction, Mr.. Wilson rec
ommends the continuation Of the la
Dor adjustment agency Of the ma
tional war labor board. Agreements
have been effected between labor and
employers through this agency, the
report says, by which certain princi-
pies have been above further dispute.
Agricultural areas should be pur-
chased by the federal government and
added to the public domain TO provide
land for the carrying out Of the pro-
posed colonization program for re-
turned members Of the military
forces, the report asserts It is pro-
posed that administration Of the pro-
gram be directed by a board consist
ing of the heads Of the agriculture,
interior and labor departments.
Legislation needed to carry out the
plan, secretary Wilson believes, /
should include these provisions:
The possibility Of cOmmerciaIized I
speculation must be eliminated.
Colonists must be given access. not |
only to land but to farms; not to the /
bare soil. but TO fully equipped agri- |
cultural plants ready 20 operate
The farms themselves must be |
welded together into genuine commu- /
mites, by provision for roads, schools !
and markets. under the general su-
pervision OF the federal government. |
To Care for Other Men.
Arrangements have been completed, /
says the report. 10 care for demobfI- !
lied men who do not care TO take I'D
farm work so far as possible through 4
the United States employment service,
a branch Of the department.
The report reviews the expansion Of
the department of labor from an or
Sanization Of four bureaus, TO one OF
Is bureaus and two boards. in re-
Spouse to demands arising out OF the
war During the fiscal year. which
the report covers, mediation and con-
division handled cases in
volving 1,O42,3f1 workmen directly
and 1875, So indirectly.
Recruited 1-SOO,593 for War.
The employment service recruited
lot war industries during the year
], S00.593 workmen.
The bureau Of naturalization ad-
mitted to citizenship during the year
a total Of 1918 persons, a decrease
under 1917 OF 1891.