Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-11-07
SOLVE HARVEST
LABOR PROBLEM
Story Of How Kansas Farmers
Fought and 0vercame Diff.
cu|ties This Year.
CITIES and TOWNS HELPED
Faced by Big Shortage Of Farm Hands
and War Calling More Men Fed.
eral, State and City Forces
Unite In Saving Grain.

Kansas farmers this year faced a
harvest labor problem as serious as
any In the country, 1t is believed by
officials Of the United States depart
ment Of agriculture. The story Of how
Kansas fought its difficulties and over
came them demonstrates the high spir.
It Of patriotism in the country districts,
the willingness Of the cities and towns
to help out in emergencies. and points
the way for other states to meet sim.
liar problems next year.
Seven million acres Of wheat called
for harvest help. The army and wal
industries were taking increasing num-
bers Of men from the state. Railroad
fares had been raised, impeding the
movement Of workers. A shortage of
from $4,000 to 100000 men during the
harvest season was indicated by a Ia
Dor survey made early in the year by
the county agents in cooperation with
the schools.
The problem was up to the state
farm help specialist Representing the
department Of agriculture and the ex-
tension division of the state agricul-
tural College,, the United States de-
partment Of labor, the county agents
and the farm bureaus. They received
cooperation from chambers Of COM
nerce and business mems clubs. The
farm help specialist visited IS of tho
105 Kansas counties and discussed the
labor situation with farm and town
people at county meetings. Later at
eight district meetings delegates from
the farm bureaus and other farmers
organizations from every county rec
commended wage scales for the districts
and that labor be paid by the hour In.
stead Of the day. At a state meeting
As cents an hour was decided on as a
fair wage
Recruiting Town Men.
Late In May the farm help specialist
developed a method Of recruiting town
and city men for help in the fields.
Work was started under a proclama-
ton by the governor through the coun.
ty and emergency agents. Working
with the chambers OF commerce and
retail merchants associations definite
records were obtained Of approximate.
" 10000 men In over 500 towns and
cities who were willing to answer tho
harvest call. Headquarters at Wichita
and 20 local Offices were opened by
the department Of labor to recruit men
from outside the state. In firm blu.
reau counties the agents In nearly ev-
cry case accepted tho responsibility
Of reporting the labor needs Of the
county to the federal labor Offices and
Of distributing the harvest hands after
their arrival. In Cheyenne and Raw.
Inns counties this meant that the agents
had to organize q transport system
that brought the harvest hands In from
the main line railroads by automobile,
I'M average distance Of about 80 miles.
Assistance In this work was given by
the agricultural agents Of railroads.
The result was TINT Kansas LOST
zone Of it, wheat crop. All Of the
grain has been safely harvested and
ID helping to turn the scales In the bat.
u Of food resources.
Theusands Of Helpers Obtained.
Although complete data are mo-
available from all counties, a definite
record Of 4S,A71 men being placet
through the various cooperating agen
cies has been obtained. OF this mum
bar more than $4,000 were handled b
the local lnbor Offices Of tho depart
ment Of labor and more than 300
were town men who went out 10 har
vest through the federal labor once
IN Ksnsas City and St. Joseph, Mo
and Kansas City, AtchlsoA and Leaver
worth. Kan. Siyty.p2ns counties tn