The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-06-26
Draft Board Busy Rounding Up Those
Who Have Not Reported For
Work In Fields
THURSDAY BE LAST
DAY FOR CLOSING
To Mark Final Drive In Force; Work TO
Continue By Splitting Man Power
Each Day

Announcement was made today by
the local labor draft board and the
Council of Defense that the cotton
situation can be handled without the
closing of the business houses and Of
fices, after Thursday These places
are expected to close Thursday and
make that day the biggest drive of
the entire campaign. After Thurs
day, the work VIII continue by taking
half the man power out Of the bust
ness places one day and half the nex:.
Alger Melton, of the Council of De
fense, stated this morning that it is
indeed gratifying to note the hearty
cooperation afforded the council and
the labor draft board by the busi-
ness and professional men and their
employees. There are a few slack
ers | understand said Mr. Melton,
"but these are few and far between
and will be rounded up. The beau
tiful part Of it is that these men have
gone into the field and done their
best, whether much or little"
Unless men who have not enlisted
in farm work that is being carried on
unaer the direction of the council of
defense report to the farm bureau or
captains in charge of the gangs by
this afternoon long lists of names
will be submitted the council in the
next few days and necessary steps
t9ken to investigate delinquencies.
This was the verdict returned this
morning by G. M. Hollingsworth and
Arthur Ersland at the farm office
when rolls Of reported slackers had
grown to several dozens Many prom
inent men of the city will be includ.
ed on this indictment, it was stated
this morning Volunteers came in
less willingly Yesterday afternoon
and every crew was diminished con
siderably, the bureau reports.
This afternoon and tomorrow will
complete the work in the cotton
fields provided a good force of men
can be mobilized for the attack
Mr. Ersland has Issued calls today
for three hundred men or more to
work this afternoon and hopes to
raise an army for the finish of nearly
four hundred Everyone who regis
tered or who is included under the
councils farm work decree must bo
out for the wind-up of the work.
Some have filed complaints on che
grounds that they have weakened
under the strain of the past three or
four days and should not be forced
to complete the week in the fields
"We arc willing to exempt those who
will produce doctors certificates for
physical disability but others who
have not been exempted must come
out for their quota of work Because
a man has worked one or two days
does not put him out of the farm la
boring class and we must have at
least three hundred men out Wednes-
day afternoon and four hundred
Thursday if the work is to be fin
ished."
Several big cotton fields in Grady
county have not been touched by re-
lief parties, according to telephone
reports that came to the farm bu
reau today.
The committee in charge Of ar
ranging 70. cars and transportation
have been working overtime and pro
vided over a dozen cars that could
! not be filled Tuesday, it was stated
Ample transportation will be fur
nished for all men who come out fol
duty the rest of this week.