The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-09-21
FARMERS AND.THE DRAFT.
Special Cure to Be Taken to Defer
Agricultural Workers.


Agricultural Workers.
Working. under rules OF the war
department for executing the new
draft law Of September 12, special
provision is made informing the dis
trict boards in regards TO farm labor
requirements in order that necessary
food production may be maintained.
A. plan has been agreed .upon by the
War Labor Policies Board, Provost
Marshal General, Secretary Of Agri-
culture and Secretary of. Labor to~p put
into deferred classification such per-
sons in the new draft as are neces-
sary in agriculture, industry and 9TH
err occupations. Three advisers are to
be associated with each district draft
board for the purpose OF presenting
facts relative to the supply of neces-
sary workers within these occupa-
tional groups, namely, (a3 Necessary
skilled farm labor in necessary agri-
cultural enterprises deferred class
III co. Necessary assistant associate,
or hired manager of necessary agrs
culture enterprise Deferred class
IID CO. Necessary sole managing
controlling Or directing head Of nee
essary agricultural enterprise (de-
ferred class W. e' : -
The language charaeterizing these
three districts groups means that q.
skilled farm laborer must have the
knowledge and the ability to do
skilled farm work, that he must labor
six full days in each and every week.
And when he is recommended By his
employer as a ski13ed 1aboref 'te is
expected by the government to work
six. full days and toll longer hours,
and when he fails to do this hefs.Then
regarded more essential for the ARMY
chan he is for agricultural work. Un-
der class (b) a necessary ASSISTANT
associate or hired manager OF ~neces-
sary agricultural enterprise must
have the ability and the experience to
manage farm without the presence,
of the owner Under class (cf nee.
essary sole managing controlling Or
directing head Of necessary agrfcnl-
tural enterprise must have the know1-
edge of intelligent management OF &
farm; he must be sole director and
owner. Must make many times more
than he consumes. Must have sonic
thing to paarkJ the year round, The
language characterizirlg the three
groups has not a uniform iriterpreta>
.ion, and under these groups only do
agricultural workers come up for
consideration by the district boards.
Yet they are to be regarded as nee
essary in their districts where they
live Only the further duty of the
Cnited States farm demonstrators are
to get facts regarding a shortage and
a surplus of farm laborers, how many
acres of 'tillable lands Idle because of
done in order that where there a-e
workers not sufficiently necessary in
one district to entitle them to de-
fcrred Classification they may he trans
ferred to other districts in which they
are needed. We are to canvass the
county and get facts only regarding
agricultural workers. We are to send
their names to the district board only
as information so when they fsaInnc
deferred classification on agricultural
enterprise the district board Will have
something to refer to. We are re-
quired to fill out questionnaire max
ing duplicate copy of the specific
numbers that come UP under the
three groups already mentioned.
The kind of agricultural workers
are: General farmers, fruit raisers.
stock .raisers, dairynen, pouitrymen,
gardeners or truckers, nurserymen.
other agricultural pursuits.
I will be glad to confer with any
farmer that had laborers affected, by
the registration Of September ,l2. We
are urged to tell them Of their rights
under this new ruling. Friday, Sept.
~ | will be at Rembert from. 9 q. N.
to l o. M. At DalzelI from 2.30 p. m.
until 5.sG p. m. Saturday, Sept -21-
l will be at R. w Westberrys Office
on Liberty Street all day Syn
day, 22nd l viii speak at Pis-
gah Hill Baptist church on what
is required under the new registra-
ton: Monday Sept. % I will be at
Congrpity from 1870 a. m. to 2:S0 p
m. I will be at Mayesville from 4.36
.. m. to 7.s0 p. m. Sept. "a I viii be
at Shiloh from 1890 3. m. to 1880 p
m. September Is I will be at Rriva-
teer from 1890 a. m. to 12.38 p. m,
at Manchester from 2.30 p. m. to $50
p. m. I will be at the above named
places WITHOUT fail and the farmers
may avail themselves of their. rights
under this new rllling BIZ meeting me
and informing me Of their laborers
that were affected by the draft and
giving me facts as to shortage and
surplus BY so doing you viii, be rem
dering a distinct service to the dis
trict boards and to the whole country
But the information should be prompt
before the classification Of registrants
begins. Once a skilled farm worker
who might probably be more useful
in agricultural than in the army Is
placed in Class I, either because he Is
ot the time Of registration in some