The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-01-07
The Farm Labor Problem
(By David F. Houston, Secretary OF
Agriculture

lBy DaVl0 r. HOUSTON, SecretdIS VI
Agriculture
The farm-labor problem has pre-
sented, and continues to present,
many difficulties. 1t is sufficiently
difficult without the added complica-
tions which arise from the unrest
and apprehension created by the ut
terances and writings of misinform-
ed and in some instances of mis-
chievous persons. Not few state
ments are being made which not on
ly are not conducive to a satisfac-
tory solution, but which, on the
contrary, are responsible for addi-
tional unrest and misdirection Of eff
fort
This is one of two or three sub
jects to which the department has
given more thought than to any 9TH
ers, not only since this country en-
tered the war. but for many months
prior to that time. There has been
before the farmers the question of
retaining sufficient number of
year-round skilled laborers. and al
SO of meeting the urgent needs at
the planting and harvesting periods.
In very many sections of the Union
difficulties in both directions have
been experienced. This has been
particularly true Of communities
where there has been great indus
trial activity incident to prepara-
tions for the Army and Navy. Far
mers in the neighborhood of cities
where there has been great redirec-
tion of labor and capital, and also
where the cantonments and other
special enterprises have been under
way, have been greatly embarrassed.
Obviously, nation can not engage
in a struggle such as the one which
this country is making in defense of
it's rights and for freedom in the
world without disturbances of many
kinds, especially of labor, without
inconvenience, and without calling
for sacrifices from every class of
society. Mere complaint will serve
no useful purpose. Constructive
thought and action alone will help.
In some respects the situation may
not be quite SO acute another year.
Naturally, the disturbances are much
more violent Immediately after a
great shock has been given the in
dustrial system This Nation had
been organized on peace basis.
When it entered the war it was nee
essary not only to create vast addi-
tional facilities and machinery, but
also to provide on an enormous
scale for the operation of the new
establishments and of those previ-
ously existing. Many shipyards had
to be expanded and others had to be
created Large cantonments had to
be built, and built quickly. In every
direction there were urgent demands
for great expansions. Furthermore,
it was necessary to have an Army,
and this necessarily caused addi-
tional labor drains and dislocations.
In the haste of the first draft it was
impossible to work out satisfac-
tory classification of labor with ref
erence to the national needs.
However, it is well to recognize
that the situation will continue to
be difficult and that satisfactory
solution will require the best thou
ght OF the Nation and the fullest and
n. ,.1<f ..sssssu Iesa co- nDerati Ion. ~ al
agencY6s. To this end an
which give any promise of req
suits must be carefully examined
put into effect so far as they
feasible. -
That the department and o!Aie
agencies of the Government RHoH
the seriousness of ths-
uation is indicated by the action -
ken to attempt to furnish relief
Even under the pressure of the first
draft, the War Department held def
initely in mind the thought Of light
ening the burden so far as possible
by not calling to the colors those
essential for leadership and direc-
tion. With the fuller time at its dis
posal, that department, which has
recognized from the beginning the
necessity of not unduly disturbing
any essential industry, has worked
out system of classification OF the
men subject to the draft which con-
the placing of skilled farm
labor engaged in necessary agricul-
tural enterprises in class 2, assis-
tant or associate managers of neces-
sary agricultural enterprises in class
3, and heads of necessary agricul-
tural enterprises in class 4. The
operation of this new arrangement
should remove many of the difficult
ties previously encountered and, in
reasonable measure, meet the de-
mands of the situation.
Several months before we entered
the war the Government was giving
the farm-labor situation definite at
tention. In former years, the De-
partment of Agriculture, in coop
Grafton with the Department of La
Dor, sought to render, and did rem
der, assistance to farmers in num-
Der of States in securing seasonal Ia
bor In conjunction with State ag
encies, these departments have effec-
ted the transfer of considerable num-
bers of laborers from communities
where the load had passed to others
where the need was urgent. This
was done especially in the years of
large production and, in some cases,
from 10000 to 10000 laborers were
transferred to particular States. =
After the entry of the United
States into the war, the thought Of
the Department of Agriculture, in1
with the Department of
Labor. was very definitely directed
to the problem of farm labor. The
matter was thoroughly discussed at
the conference held in st. Louis on
April and 10 with the agricultural
representatives of the various
States. 1t was also referred to in
my letter to the Senate Of April is,
1917.
One of the first steps taken by the
of Agriculture was to
select and station in each State, in
touch with the State agencies, the
best available man the department
could secure Cd to make surveys of
farm labor conditions; CD to bring
about fuller cooperation in the
of labor among farmers
in the same community; CD to as
sist in shifting labor from one COM
munity or one State to another; and
(4) to bring into service kinds of la
Dor not heretofore fully or regularly
employed in farming operations,
such as boys of high school age who
knew something about farming, and
to do many other things. After the
food production bill was passed on
August 10, an allotment of nearly
100000 was made to extend and
develop the work of the department
in this direction. Only recently the
held a conference in st.
nf re 10 a