Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-31
LABOR PROBLEMS ARE
DISCUSSED BY FARMERS
Winter Session OF State Institute
Opens ut Murphy's
Hotel.
CONSERVATION is OUTLINED
DR.. Gross Urges Farmers to Plant
All Possible Grain and Look to
Government for Supply OF Farm
Labor for It's Harvest

The first meeting Of the Virginia State
Farmers Institute for the winter scs-
sion was held yesterday at Murphy's
Hotel auditorium by agriculturis,s
from every part of the state. Mayor
Ainslie was, unfortunately. unable 10
be present and TO deliver the address
OF welcome. and the meeting was call
cd to order by President Hathaway at
1890 o'clock
interest was lively among the
visitors and ccntcred chiefly around
the question OF labor necessary to pro-
duce the extraordinarily large amount
Of foodstuffs now III demand. Or. Gross,
OF the United States food admnistra-
ton was In the city yesterday with
the sole purpose Of addressing the as
sembiy on that topic. His remarks
were optimistic In regard 10 the farm
outlook of tho future, and in the course
Of tho talk he advised the farmers to
follow closely the suggestions offered
from. time 10 time BY the national food
administration.
The latest suggestions by that body
TO the people OF this country embrace
the conservation Of wheat. pork and
sugar. The audience gathered that
the present ''mcntIess" and wheat
lNsS Gays are To tc more StrlnRenliy
enforced than they have been in the
are concerned. Two whole days in each
week and one meal on another day
are to he "whcatless." that is. the food
servers must eliminate wheat bread
from their bills Of fare. Two other
days arc to be wholly without pork.
and the public, in general. will be ask
ed 70 be still more sparng in the use
OF sugar.
The speaker. incidentally, gave a
sketch of Mr.. IIoover's life from boy
hood to his present activities concern
ing the food situation. Farm labor,
which subject was by far the most
vital TO the audience. was touched upon,
although Mr.. Cross gave no acco Mt Of
any effort in the Capitol TO relieve the
situation. He asked. however. on be-
half Of the administration, that the
farmers OF Virginia plant all the grain
possible now and to look 10 the gov
ernrneat for supply OF farm labor
next fall He was certain that such a
supply will be forthcoming.
MUST PROVIDE LABOR
TO HARVEST CROPS
The morning session was closed with
n few remarks b. Senator Lupton upon
the question. He stated that he was
assured TINT there was at present no
real attempt In Washington TO make
adequate collection and disposal OF the
crops. IF food is 10 be the means Of
winning this war. and I believe II Will
he, the farmers must be given the
means 20 produce" he said. Therefore
he advocated a concerted action on the
part Of the State farmers to advise the
national committees in regard 10 this
problem.
Another matter OF vital importance
TO farmers of Virginia and other States.
namely. government regulation OF
prices charged for produce. was treated
II; length b. w. L. Hathaway, presi-
dent OF the convention.
INTERESTING FEATURES
OF To-Dhf'S PROGRAM
The committee on resolutions con-
vened yesterday and will offer It's de-
cislons to-day for the approval Of the
members. To-day's program is as fol-
lows:
Morning session.
g:45-rhe farm labor problem Ground
tablc): Leaders--E. X. Eyerly United
states Department of Agriculture; T.
". Lawson, farm help agent. Rich
moud.
Ic:3o-Econo,nic Use OF Farm Ma
chinery Ground table,: I.cader-Jesse
NJ. Jones. division extension work
Elacksburg.
ll:l5-Incrcnsing Crop Production BY
tsc .: Fertilizers: Or. j. b. Weems
chemist. Department OF Agriculture
Richmontl.
Address,. G. Bigelow. presi
dent More sheepMore Wool .Associa-
,ion of United States
diourn.
Afternoon Session.
e:oo-lnsreasing the Corn Crop: A
r. Bellwood, Chesterfield County. Dis.
cussion.
2:i5-Growing Tobacco Probably
! y. c. Discussion.
3:$o-Peanuts as a Money crop: *
y. Ellis. county agent, Waverly. Dis
cussion.
4:l5-Potatoes on Every Farm;
Professor T. {. Johnson. truck station
Norfolk. Discussion.
5:Go-EGsiness session. Reports 0!
committees.
Night Session.
Patriotic meeting addressed by Col
oncl Thomas branch McAdams and Or
Douglas s.. Freeman. in the auditorium
OF Murphy's Hotel.
Il. T.. Chandler. OF the Christian
Science Church. has asked that the fol-
lowing clause be added TO the bill:
If the injured employee prefers
Christian Science treatment ne shall
have the right to choose il, and 4 prac-
titioner Of the system and reasonable
compensation for the same shall be
paid under the provisions OF this act"
Man shoots tItmseif on Train.