Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-03-18

furloughs from service prior to actual
call to the cc!crs TO the men so great
- needed In the production OF this
years crop.
Furieughs for Farmers.
This Is not, however, the only ex-
pedient that is to be adopted to con-
serve the supply of labor appurtenant
to agriculture and to mobilize all
means for increasing the harvest for
the agricultural seasons of 1915 There
Is now pending before congress bill
authorizing the secretary of the war
to grant furloughs, with or without
pay to men in the army to enable them
to engage in Industrial and agricultural
pursuits. The purpose Of this bill Is to
relieve serious situations in particular
Instances in which men who, arc the
main stay of farms have been indicted
into the service either thru voluntary
enlistment or selection and whose serv-
ices during the present emergency In
agriculture are needed. These furloughs
will be granted after consideration OF
the individual case in which they arise
and when the military situation is such
that they can be granted without too
great disruption and disorSanizaion OF
the army or OF any particular organiza-
ton Of the army.
AS to further means to protect agri-
culture new regulation has been pro-
mulgated authorizing agricultural stu
dents in their senior year in land grant
colleges to enlist in the enlisted re-
serve corps Of the quartermasters de-
partment provided their class standing
Is such as to place them in the upper
third of their class. BY this means It
will be possible to defer the draft call
of such young men in order to enable
them to perfect themselves as agricul-
turalists and thereafter to protect them
in such services as 1t may seem that
they should perform in the best in
terests of the nation.
The whole industrial and agricultural
situation is being subjected to very
comprehensive study in order to dis
cover any means that may be taken
to protect and augment the labor sup
ply appurtenant to industry and agri-
culture without precluding the prompt
and orderly progress of our military
plans. 1t is confidently believed that
great progress can be made along this
lire and that more effective measures
than any yet devised can be put into
operation to attain the desired END.
War Of Mechanics.
1t must be emphasized that this Is a
war Of mechanics. The need of the
several armed forces for men highly
skilled in technical and mechanical pur-
suits is greater than in any former war.
Yet this need for. specially skilled men
finds the nation under a necessity for
Increasing it's production in almost
every line Of industry Withdrawals Of
men from industry must be made and
these Withdrawals must take men who
might otherwise be deferred on account
of their special qualifications and skill.
The necessary numbers of such skilled
men will be obtained in one Of three
ways. First, men already in the mill
tary service who have such special
skill will be taken from the line regi-
ments and assigned to the staff organi-
cations and departments where their
skill is needed. Second, men classified
by the selection boards, even tho they
may have been placed in a deferred
classification, will be withdrawn with
great care and particularly from the
industries Of the nation for special
service in staff corps and departments.
Third, young men of draft age with
certain educational qualifications will
be indicted into the service and sent to
universities colleges and technical and
secondary schools to be Instructed in
technical arts until they have required
such proficiency as will justify their
assignment to the special units that are
being organized in considerable num-
Der M
In accordance with this plan, the pro-
vost marshal general has already called
upon the states for some 10000 skilled
artisans and, will shortly call upon
the states for 10000 young men, gradu-
ates Of grammar schools, who will be
sent before the first, of April to various
technical and other schools turnout the
United States for a two months course
of training. Regularly thereafter, an
be sent thru educational and other
Il tanning institutions for this purpose.
To sum up, it may be said that there
will be no sudden withdrawal of great
numbers Of men from the ranks Of in
duStry and agriculture during the COM
ing summer but that men will be drawn
in relatively small groups turnout the
year in such a way as to create the
least possible interference with indus
try and agriculture. Men in deferred
classes as well as men in class will
be selected in small numbers either on
account Of their special technical quail.
fications or for the purpose Of sending
them to schools where they will be
given an opportunity to acquire such
qualifications.
AcGLEs WIN FIELD MEET.
GrinnslI Is Second, Iowa Third and
Drake Fourth.
Special to Times Republican. :
Iowa City. March 1s-IoWa. univer-
sity took third place in the quad
~ ~ 70 rr Sav