The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-03-02
LOCAL COOPERATION
BEST help FOR PROBLEMS
During The War Many incOmeni-
ences Must he Suffered by Those
Who Are Fortunate Enough to Re-
main at Home.

Just for the moment, suppose we
strip the farm-labor problem of every
patriotic consideration and merely
TO emphasize 4 point look at it, indi-
vidually and as cities, from an abso-
lutely selfish standpoint.
We know the world needs of food,
brought ABOUT by the war. 1t is un-
necessary to recapitulate that situa-
ton. And the farmers are planting
and Will plant the necessary acreage
increases of food crops. But these
crops must be cultivated and harves
ted, and many thousands of farm la
bOrers are required for that work.
There is Il shortage of farm labor.
The factors causing that condition
are also understood; cessation for
three years Of the European immi-
grafton which formerly gave us an
army OF new labor each year, the at
traction to thousands of farm work
erS of higher wages in munitions
plants and other war industries, and
the response of farm workers to the
call of the cOlOrs. But, notwith
standing the shortage of farm labor,
the Nation contains an abundant
supply of man power of farm expert
ence and adaptability 1t is a CUES
tion of getting that potential farm
labor applied to the farms when and
where the need is greatest.
The farm-labor problem is difficult
one of the most difficult of our
war-a sriculturaI prOblems-and yet
there is a ready remedy at hand,
measure possible in every section
and one that will solve the local
problem in most sections 1t is sim
pie enough if You will just do it. You
can solve it-you, member of half
dozen boards Of directors or presi-
dent of the Civic League or leading
spirit in the Chamber of Commerce.
You, who persisted in the new union
depot project until the dream was
realized, or organized the movement
that cleaned up your city politically,
or put over a bond issue for boule
ward system, or headed the Red
Cross or Liberty campaign, or work
ed to get a Federal Reserve Bank es-
tablished in your city or new rail-
road built there. You are man
who does things. You can do much
in solving the farm-labor problem.
You will do it for patriotic reasons
entirely, because you know We can't
win the war without food. But also,
it is to your individual personal in
terest to do it-for to. the extent
your section doesn't produce its food
this year, to Just that extent your
section may be short of food to eat.
In most American towns. one
fourth of the men have had some
farm experience-were raised on
farms and have worked more or less
on farms. Then they moved to town
ID engaged in other activities. Ev-
Ell one of these men who is not en-
gagged in a work that contributed to
war winning should arrange to ap-
ply his agricultural experience and
ability in a way that - help supply
j ii1lssi ilssi f,7al ICED, ff1 .ery few
comm unities will the local labor
shortage be in excess of the number
of town residents of farm training
who can go to work on the farms in
that section and save the crops if
necessary. And they will do it if
their employers-theb business men of
the towns and cities, the hustlers,
the live wires, the men who put their
shoulders to the wheel in that town
and put things over, whether it was
building a skyscraper or boosting
the baseball team-if these business
men will organize to that end.
1t may be necessary, as was done
in some places last year to close
business houses or allow most of the
employees to lay off, during the har-
vest rush. That would be tempo
rary inconvenience to the business
man TO he Surp-but if is much bet
ter than having the Hun close his es-
ablishment-and loot it.
Poll your employees now, get your
Chamber of Commerce TO take ac-
ton, see that all the employers Of
your city get busy; arrange to give
leaves of absence to your employees
who have had farm experience, sc
they may help produce the food need
ed to insure victory. Get in commu-
nication with the county demonstra-