The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1918-01-11

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age who knew something about farm
ing, and to do many other things. At
ter the food production bill was pass
ed on August 10, an allotment of near
ly 100000 was made to extend and
develop the work of the department in
this direction. Only recently the de-
partment had conference in st. Louis
of its farm labor representatives and
of state agencies cooperating with
them to consider the work which had
been done up to that time and to for
mulate more efficient plans for the fu-
ture. Some hint of the activities of
the department along this line is CIV
en- in my annual report for 1917.
Some persons seem to be promoting
the suggestion that farmers as a class
should be exempted from military SER
vice and that no person from this class
should be permitted to serve in the
army, and criticism has resulted be-
cause it has not been acted upon. 1t
would be unfair to the farmers of the
nation even to entertain the thought
that they would be willing to have the
rest of the population do allthe fighting
in this struggle in the defense of our
rights and for world freedom. The
farmers themselves as whole would
resent the intimation. If farmers
were exempted as a class, obviously
others would feel the injustice of such
action. 1t is unlikely that any respon-
sible body of opinion would sanction
the proposal.
/ If we put our minds to the task and
attempt to deal with it in a construct:
i've way, there are many things which
can be done to furnish relief. The de-
partment of agriculture, of course,
will continue to do everything in its
power to aid in the solution of the diff
i ficult problem. The most promising
lines Of effort seem to embrace the fol-
lowing:
First-A systematic survey of the
/ farm-labor situation in order to ascer-
tain the possible needs of farmers to
determine ways of meeting them.
The department, before the beginning
of the next crop season, through its
agents stationed in the various states
and in cooperation with the department
of labor and the state councils of de-
Tense, will make survey.
Second-The promotion of fuller CO.
operation in the utilization of labor
among farmers in the same commune
ty.
Third-The further development of
machinery for assisting in the trans
fer of labor from the sections where
the seasonal pressure has passed to re-
gions where additional help is urgently
needed.
Fourth-Making available labor
which heretofore has not been fully or
regularly utilized in farming opera
tons, including boys of high school
age who have had experience on the
farm.
The farm labor representatives of
the department will continue to devote
all their time and energies to these
tasks and they will keep in close touch
with appropriate state and other .agen-
c,E-7,.i-s --uoa--a 20 .o1
agricultural purposes, so far as possi-
BILE, by replacing them with women and
by diverting labor from relatively non
essential enterprises are matterswhi
j demand serious consideration. Con-
scrltlon Of labor for industrial purpo-
SEES, OF course, necessarily would pre-
sent many difficulties. Powerful in
tiuences are operating, however, to
bring about the release of labor and
capital from less essential enterprises
and their diversion into more urgent
undertakings. These will become in
Increasingly compelling as the situa-
ton develops. They will be aided by
the growing realization on the part
Of the people generally of curtailing
expenditures on nonessentials and of |
redirecting labor and capital into vital
industries.
SlXth.-Steps to see that any able |
bodied men who are not now doing !
l.
full and useful days work, shall be |
fully and regularly employed. This, of
course, is matter primarily for con-
slderatiOn by state and municipal au-
thorities.
Seventh-The largest possible pro-
duction and fullest possible use of
farm-labor saving machinery. The de-
self in securing priority for raw mate
sef in securing priority for raw mate
rails used in the manufacture of farm
implements, and also in securing favo-
rable consideration at the hands of
transportation committees to provide
facilities for moving the materials to
the manufacturers and the completed
products from the manufacturers to
the distributors and also to the farm
ers. Both those dealing with priori
ties Of materials and those dealing
with priorities Of transportation have
evinced a complete willingness to as
sist. This is indicated by the fact that
the priorities committee Of the war in