The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-09-19
TO SOLVE farm
LABOR PROBLEM
Men and Women From Towns
and Cities GO Into Country
to Assist Farmers.
LARGEST ACREAeE OF CROPS
How States Have Enlisted and Organ
lied Labor for Farms to Save
Seasons Food Harvest
"shoek Troops" Assist.

The cooperation Of people Of vii
lagos. towns and cities in harvesting
the farm crops demonstrates In most
forcible way the patriotism of the
American people and the active way In
which they are supporting the pro-
gram Of the government. f
Farmers planted this year the larg-
est acreage of crops In the history OF
our agriculture. Everywhere the, farm
ers have responded to the call from
the government for greater food pro-
duction and are doing everything with
In their power to give to the country
the large supply that is no greatly
needed.
While crop production has been In
creased, the farmers have been con-
fronted with labor difficulties in many
sections Of the Union. and have had
to cope with the difYiculty Of cultivat-
ing and harvesting an increased acre
age of crops with a reduced amount of
regular labor to do the work.
In order that this question might be
clearly placed before the people Of the
villages, towns and cities Of the va
riOus states, arrangements were made
by the department of agriculture, In
cooperation with state councils of de-
fense the agricultural colleges and the
U. 8. department Of labor and state
departments Of labor. to hold meetings
with chambers of commerce, business
mems associations. rotary clubs. and
other organizations Of the cities and
towns, placing before them the need
for agricultural labor and urging ac-
tion which will give adequate assist
ance. Everywhere the response has
been large and gratifying. The result
of this campaign is that many thou
sands Of workers have been enrolled
and have done much to meet the emer-
gency. There Is reasonable assurance
that, in spite of d1nculties. all the
crops will be normally harvested.
Business Men Save Potatoes.
The. potato crop of Houston and
Wharton counties. Texas, has been
saved through the aid of the business
men In local towns. When 1t Was real
lied that the potato crop would be lost
unless the farmers received help. the
state extension director, cooperating
with the farm help specialist of the de-
partment Of agriculture. explained the
situation and the business men closed
their offices, stores and banks, went to
the farms and worked with the potato
growers in harvesting the crop.
More than nine and one-half million
acres of wheat were harvested In Kan
sas. Hundreds Of towns organized
their forces and closed their stores,
offices. and other places Of business
during the day, that the workers might
go to the fields and help save this food
crop.
The mayor and board Of public
works of one C. the large middle west
ern cities closed their Offices and
worked In the wheat fields. The mayor
drove the binder while the other men
shocked the grain. On a farm adjoin-
ing a Catholic Institution in Indiana
145 priests were found assisting in the
harvest Of the alfalfa and clover hay
and the wheat and oats.
"Shock troops" have been organized
to assist the farmers in harvesting
their wheat. These sO-called 'shOck
troops consist OF business men, clerks
and lab6refs who volunteer 10 assist
in this way. These men perform their
regular work in town during the day
and at 5 O'Clock are taken in automo-
biles to the country. where they assist
the farmers. In this way the regular
business is carried on and at the same