Ripley County democrat., 1918-05-03
Secretary Of Agriculture Points
out city's Part IN Food
Production.
CITIZENS MUST HELP OUT
IL soldiers Are Wiling 70 Risk Their
Lives Civilians gan Well Afford to
spare Time To- ssve In Har-
vest Faeld.
BY DAVID r. tousIoN,
Secretary o. Agriculture.

X T ~ 9HHtH We UvNS0ARHstf4.ife7 fe7 b =.
Secretary q, Agriculture.
Washington. Some time ago ! Is
sued a statement concerning the farm
labor problem. Il was pointed out that
there will be farm labor difficulties 10
overcome this year as last and that 10
certain sections especially In the
neighborhood of large Industrial CEN
ters. the dificulfies will be ACUTE. The
Hines Of effort were indicated along
which the departments Of agriculture
and labor. through representatives IN
various states cooperating, with, the
agricultural colleges and. other agen-
cies. are working to furnish assistance.
Briefly stated, these agencies,are doing
the following things: (al making q
survey Of the farrn-labor situation In
each community with view to dIscov-
er possible surpluses Of labor, In order
to be ready to assist In, furnishing la
Dor wherever It is neededs Oh assist
Ing again In shifting labor from COM
inunity to community and from state to
state. as In past years !, (c) promoting
fuller cooperation among farmers In
the same community; (d) making
available. 90 far as possible. high
school boys In rural districts who have
had experience In farming and who,are
not normally regularly or fully en-
ployed in farming operations; te) max
ine. every effort to see that there is no
Obstacle In the way Of the production
Of a larger supply Of farm machinery
and It's fuller use ~ q supplement to
hand labor. -gr ttsRR
) 5flstIsnai Army May tasip.
Last rear a spite Of an the difIicai-
ties, the formers planted. the largest
acreages In, the history Of the nation.
harvested record crops Of most impor-
tant things except wheat. and sue
ceeded In greatly Increasing the n,fm-
ber Of live stock. Since last year
skilled farm labor has been given de-
ferred classification and the secretary
Of war has asked-for power to fsxlough
soldiers Of the National army II THAR
training permits, 90 that they may re-
turn to their farms and assist. II .is
believed that the farmers Of the nA-
tion can, BY effective organization and
cooperation. with such assistance ~
can be furnished, again overcome la
Dor difficulties and produce large guam
titles Of foods. feedstutrs and live
stock.
There Is an opportunity now for ur-
ban, people sympathetically and com
constructively to study the farm-labor
situation and to render assistance. In
many towns and cities there are men
who have had farming experience, who
are ablebodied, and who would doubt
less be willing to serve the nation In
the field Of agriculture at this time.
Especially for the seasonal strains Of
planting, oultivstlng and harvesting, It
will not be too much to ask such men
to. aid the, farmers In the necessary un-
dertaklng Of maintaining and. IL pos
sible, supplementing, the food supply
In order to feed the armies and to sus-
tain the civilian population behind
them.
Civilians shouldesieip.
II soldiers are willing to serve In
the trenches 10 dig ditches, build rail-
roads and risk their lives. many civil-
iana can well afford; to spare a part
Of their time to serve In the burrows
and In the harvest fields. Ifitappears
that the farmers Of comnipnity OF
region are not able to secure the nee
essary labor by the usual methods
then the leaders In. the towns or city
Immediately dependent upon that re.
gion should organize, establish touch
with representative farm Leaders. and
see II they cannot assist In solving the
problem. In so doing they, will not
only aid the farmers Of the nation. but
they, will vitality contribute to their
own, well-being and to that Of their
community.
The farmers are willing to do oil
that they hgmanly can. but where theii
labor supply cannot be furnished from
the ordinary sources. II must be re-
cruited from those whose very sus.
tenance depends upon the farmers.
The soldier and the farmer are eager
to do their full share; the soldier Ii
taking TIE chndtes Of losing his life
and the farmer Is risking the labora
ofa year on the chance Of the seasons
bothinctir risks. Very many civilians
ara equally. eager to Do their share,
butmay not appreciate the opportunity
to serve in the field Of agrieultprs..
The departments Of agriculture and
labor with render every possible aid,
k,st z.ox>h s5.so.asxnltp Enoxua ifa .xszs,