Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-09-13
FARMERS AND THE DRAFT.
Special Care to Be Taken to Defer
Agricultural Workers.

Special Care to Be Taken to Defer
Agricultural Workers.
Washington, ID. c.. September IL
Under the rules of the war department
for executing the new draft law, spe-
cial provision is made for informing
the district boards in regard to farm
labor requirements In order that nee
essary food production may be OBJ
tanned, says n statement by the de-
partment of agriculture. The state
ment 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 occupa-
tions than by entering the Army. Ac-
cordingly. three advisers are to be
selected for each district board-one
for agriculture. one for labor, and one
for other occupations. The agricul-
tural adviser will be appointed by the
board upon the Recommendation OF
the secretary of agriculture. The ad-
visers are not members OF the board
but may, when invited, attend its
meetings.
How Agricultural Advisers Will Aid.
The duties of the agricultural ad-
facts relating 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
related to the deferments Of agricul-
tural workers. whether these be nee
essary farm laborers, managers or op-
orators. He will be expected to advise
the district boards as to shortage
or surplus of necessary farm workers
for any given district. as we'll as Nor
the entire Nation. Such information
will be supplied to the advisers by the
department of agriculture. This will
make il possible to have necessary
workers transferred from districts In
which they may not be necessary to
other districts in which. they are
sorcly needed.
The adviser may also concern him
self with individual cases that come
before the district board. He will have
the right under certain conditions, to
examine the questionnaires and other
records in the files Of the local board
for the purpose Of ascertaining wheth-
er persons entitled to deferred classi-
fication have actually claimed 1t. In
case he finds the name Of such regis
trants he may file for them q claim for
deferred classification with the district
board, which, in turn, may require the
local board to certify the question
naire and record Of any such regis
trants for consideration. Reasonable
time will be given for the purpose Of
obtaining information and supplying
the affidavits required. If the local
board determines to consider a case
for deferred classification because a re-
gistrant Is engaged in a necessary oc-
cupation, Notwithstanding no claim for
deferred classification on that ground
has been made, 1t shall endorse the re-
commentator on the QUESTIONABLE Of
the registrant and forward 1t to the
district board having Jurisdiction. The
district board will thereupon consider
the case and proceed to classify the
registrant, Notwithstanding the fact
that no claim for the deferred classifl-
cation by or In respect Of the regis
trant has been made.
Claims In Behalf Of Necessary
Employees.
A further duty with which the ad-
wiser Is charged Is to confer with en-
ployers of necessary farm workers and
to instruct them as to their right un-
der the regulations to file q claim for
deferred classification in respect Of any
registrant who has failed or refused to
file a claim for deferred classification
in his own behalf. This in the opin-
ion Of the war department, Is very
important matter. The apparent in
Justice Of placing many registrants In
Class I is often due to the fact that
employers have failed to make claims
for deferred classification on behalf
Of necessary workers. It is to avoid
a repetition Of this trouble that farm
essary employees, whether sons or
other laborers.cf the draft age lave
made for them just claims for deferr-
ed classifi cation.
One important explanation Is made
in the new selectivs service regulations
in connection with the expression
skilled farm labor" The question
naire provides deferred classification
for the necessary skilled farm labor
er In necessary agricultural enterprise"
The new regulations provide that in
Class II shall be placed any registrant
found to be engaged in a necessary
agricultural enterprise and found to be
necessary to such enterprise in the ca
pacity Of a farm laborer-"especially
fitted for the work In which he is en-
gagged" This quoted phrase constitut-
es an explanation Of what Is meant by
skilled" as applied to farm labor. The
expression will make easier the deter
miaation Of the status Of many regis
trants.
War Service In the Right Place.
The purpose in the appointing Of ad-
visers is to place men where they can
do most to help the war. These ad-
visers will be able to help greatly tho
district boards to keep in agriculture
the necessary workers. These workers
whatever may be their inclination to
enter military service. should stand
ready to serve in any capacity in which
they can contribute most toward
speedy ending OF the war. In order
that this may be done a frank state
ment should, in each case. be made to
the boards. It Is believed that it will
frequently require as much courage on
the part Of many men to remain in
their civilized occupations as to waive
deferment.
This effort to keep men in industry.
rather than to send them to the camps
and the trenches, ohould not be abused
60 as to permit the Stacker to escape
military duty. The necessities for
raisinS an army are paramount
Every man that can be spar.d will be
needed and needed badly to bring the
enemey to his senses. The adviser
should be assisted In every possible way
by every legitimate agricultural inter-
est to find the men that can be spared
for military duty. but also to keep
tenance OF q proper food supply.