The labor standard., 1918-04-15
Secretary of Agriculture Points Out City's Part in Food
 Production.
CITlzEKS MUST HELP CUT
if Soldiers Are Willing to Risk Thetr l, Lives Civilians Can Well Afford to : Spare Time to Serve in liar
 vest Field.
By DAVID F. HOUSTON,
 Secretary of Agriculture. r

secretary Of A9TiCuil0FS.
 Washington-Some time ago | fs- sued a statement concerning the farm labor problem. It was pointed out that there will be farm labor difficulties to overcome this year as last and thatefn certain sections, especially in the neighborhood of large industrial cen ters, the difficulties will be acute. The lines 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: (a) making a survey of the farn-labOr situation fp, each community with view to disc0v7 CT possible surpluses of labor, in Orde1 to be ready to assist in furnishing la bor wherever it is needed; (b) assist ing again in shifting labor from con- munity to community and from state to state, as in past years; (c) promoting fuller cooperation among farmers in the same community; (d) making available, so far as possible, high school boys in rural districts who have had experience in farming and who are not normally regularly or fully. enn- plOyed in farming operations Gel mak.s ing every effort to see that there Is n0s obstacle in the way of the production of larger supply of farm machinery, and it's fuller use as supplement to hand labor. .r.%... x, if
 = National Army May Help. .:..
 Last year, In spite of all the difheake ties, the farmers planted the largest acreages in the history of the natiOn,i harvested record crops of most impOr-s tant things except, wheat, anda s6e- ceeded in greatly increasing tic num- Der of live stock. -<s Since last. year. skilled farm labor has been given 'del of war has asked for power to furiough, soldiers of the National army if their training permits, so that they may re- turn to their farms and assist. It is believed that the farmers of the nae;. ton can. by effective organizations and co-operat ti0n, with such assistance taH can be furnished, agains oyefcoBaek las Dor difficulties and produce large qasanx titles of foods,- feedstuffs and ltE& stock, ss
 There is an opportunity now for UT ban people sympathetically and com constructively to study the farm-lahoE situation and to render assistance: In many towns and cities there are men, who have had farming experience, ewhA are ablebodied, and who would doubt: less be willing to serve the nation2ir the field of agriculture at this time Especially for the seasonal strains of planting, cultivating and harvesting. 1t will not be too much to ask such. men to aid the farmers in the necessary un- dertaking of maintaining and. if pOs- sible. supplementing the.ffoodi supply in order to feed the armies andetO sns- tain the civilian population behiad them. ' <@ .stE. -% -
 !, Civilians Should Help.
 If soldiers are willing to serve in the trenches, to dig ditches. build raif- roads and risk their lives many& civil. ians can we'll afford to spare aspart of their time to serve in the furroWs and in the harvest fields. If it appears that the farmers of community or region are not able to secure the nee essary labor by the usual methods! then the leaders in the town or city dependent upon that re- zion should organize, establish touch with representative farm leaders, and see if they cannot assist in solving the problem. In so doing they will not only aid the farmers of the nation, bat they will vitally contribute to thefr own well-being and to that of their 
 The farmers are willing to do all that they humanly can, but where their labor supply cannot be furnished from the ordinary sources, it 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 iis taking the chances of losing his life and the farmer is risking the labOrs of a year on the chance of the seasons both incur risks. Very many civilians are equally eager to do their share, but may not appreciate the opportunity to serve in the field of agriculture.i,.
 The departments of agriculture aRf7 labor will render every possible eaid, but each community knows its own problems, and urban people. especially business men, could cooperate esfec- lively with the farmers and als0s ran- 3er rnnch asSfSfancp .,