Evening star., 1918-02-10
Government Aid
in Farm Labor.

In the great war Wofk Wnlch con1ronts
US. Perhaps no department has done
more than the Department Of Agricul-
.ure in helping to urge the farmers OF
the country to increase their produc-
ton. and in a thousand and one ways
which are never given to the public.
One of the problems which faces the
American farmer the coming summer.
as. indeed. the past summer. is that Of
farm help. Officials of the department
are giving especial attention to this
matter. now in preparation for the COM
ing summer. g. ." si 49,
Under the government plan for the
organization Of farm labor provision is
made for nationwide cooperation in
the solution Of the farm-help problem.
The harvesting situation last autumn
was handled, in SO far as the United
States governments services were con-
cerned. through the existing employ
ment service of the Department Of La
bor. which, it is expected, will continue
to handle such problems OF mass mob
worked out as it has in the past
The new plan is based on close CO.
operation on the part of the Depart
ments of Agriculture and of Labor with
the state committees of national de-
fense charged with labor matters. with
the state agricultural colleges. with the
county agents. and with county and To-
cal or township labor committees or
representatives to be established in
every locality
The Department of Agriculture will
represent the federal authorities in de-
termining farm-labor needs and in as
sisttng In organizing all available farm
labor in rural districts. The Depart
ment of Labor will devote its attention
to organizing labor In urban commu-
mites and industrial regions. and will
co cooperate with the farm-labor forces
where necessary bv obtaining extra Ia
Dor from the populous centers
The plan provides for strictly local
be adjusted locally. The fundamental
unit of the organization is the com
munity man." who. with the assistance
of such committees as he NAV appoint
canvasses his own neighborhood. finds
out what farmers need help and what
men are available for supplying the
local need, and effects such adjust
ments as can be made locally. If, after
all local adjustments have been made,
there remains either deficit or sur
plus of labor. he reports to the county
man." whose business it is to effect. ad-
justments between the several COM
munities in his county. The county
man man in turn reports any deficit or sur
plus to the state man." who canvasses
the situation for the state as a whole and
reports to the Department of Agricul-
ture, which, in close cooperation with
the Department of Labor, is charged
with. the distribution Of mobile labor
for the country as a whole.
Thus each unit in the system acts as
clearing house for it's own territory,
reporting to the units higher up only
when 1T needs help or has help to Of
FER The plan provides that supplement
tai reports shall be submitted by each
community man whenever changes in
the local labor situation make desirable
further adjustments that cannot be
met with the material at hand or when
surplus of labor develops which he
cannot use.
A great many retired farmers. of
whom 1t is estimated there are 700, ,o0O
IN the country. may be available for
emergency service under this plan for
farm labor mobilization. The plans con-
template also the drawing of emergency
labor from the cities under the imme.
d!ate direction of the Department of
Labor the effective mobilization of col
iege students and school boys, IL neces-
sary. the assignment Of volunteer wom-
en- and girls to rural tasks connected
particularly with feeding and caring
FOR extra labor. or with farm canning
or drying of surplus perishabIe prod
ucts. In other words the plan contem-
plates supplying assistance not merely
for field operations, but to farm women
during their seasons Of heaviest do
mestic duties.