Imperial Valley press., 1918-01-21
CHINESE WANTED
|FOR CAL. FARMS
California Development Board Calls
Upon Congress to F::-:3 W@ys anG
Means for the Borrowing of Ce-
lestials in Thousands for Fields
Awaiting Planting Hands.

San Francisco, Jan. 21.-Facing a
threatened decrease in production,
owing to the scarcity of farm labor
and under the spur of the nations ap-
peal to California to double it's pro-
duction of foodstuffs, the California
Development Board has gone on rec
ord as favoring the importation of ex-
perienced Chinese farmers for the
duration of the war only.
Some weeks ago the California De-
velopment Board appointed Farm
ers' Committee to investigate the
farm labor situation. Visits were
made to various sections of the
state. Correspondence was had with
the many farmers organizations
commercial bodies and with many in
dividual farmers. Without exception
the admission was general that more
farm labor was an absolute necessity
even to maintain the normal produc-
ton of the state. To increase produc-
ton was, with the present force, out
of the question. From various locali-
ties it was ascertained that some
would plant no greater acreage than
they could cultivate and harvest with
in the force of their own families.
A letter received from farmer in
the upper Sacramento valley is typi-
cal. He says: Normally l plant one
thousand acres of wheat and run cat
tie on several thousand more acres.
employ from ten to sixteen men the
year round. Last season l was COM
pelled to get along with two men and
a boy and few tramp laborers that
work two or three days at time, then
quit, go to the nearest saloon, drink
up their wages and tramp to the next
job. | have six small children, and my
wife could not secure domestic help
at any price and had to do all the
housework and cooking herself. | am
willing to produce to the capacity OF
my land, but l must have labor"
The question of conscript labor was
taken up, and the committee failed to
find a farmer who was willing to ac-
,cept conscripted labor that probably
never saw field plowed, team har-
messed or seed planted. Nor did they
care to depend on labor that would
have to work under guard.
Filipinos, where they have been
tried, have not proved satisfactory in
the heavy work of California ranch,
and their deportation at the close of
the war would be serious problem,
extremely doubtful of execution, as
the islands are the property of the
United States.
A few favored Mexicans, but the
average Mexican brings family of
consumers with him, he cannot be de-
ported, and the latest advices are that
many of the Mexican laborers now in
this state are returning to Mexico un-
der the belief that thceir government
will cut up the large land holdings
into small farms.
The Santa Clara valley alone lost
three thousand of its young men by
the first draft, and more will go in
the second and successive drafts, and
there is no labor in sight to take their
places. The cities may fill their clari-
cal positions with women, but on the
farms blowing, seeding, planting,
harvesting, stoclraising, etc, require
muscle and Drawn in which the state
is woefully lacking, and what remains
is being taken to meet the paramount
military requirements Of the nation.
The executive committee of the Cal
ifornia Development Board met Mon
day to consider the report of its Far
mers' Committee and thoroughly dis
cussed the question from all angles.
In view of the fact that our fields and
orchards are being drained of its
strong young manhood to make up a
national army that must be fed and
clothed, and in view of the further
fact of the demands of our Govern
ment and the increasing demand of
our European allies, the committee
held that farm labor was a prime ne
cessity, and recommended by the fol-
lowing resolution that the offer of our
Chinese ally to loan experienced far
Yners for the duration of the war only,
be accepted. A complete copy was
elegraphed to the President.
nNnIIInIT Ilnr nE