Evening journal., 1918-11-08
WORLD famine
A REAL DANGER
Executive VIII Have Charge
Of Farm Labor Supply
in State
CIVIL ENGINEER
NAMED CAPTAIN

Faced with the prospect OF the un-
dermanning Of the farms next year,
through the operations Of the draft and
the demands for labor from the war
industries. plans are now being .f0rmu-
lated for the creation Of complete
farm-supplylng organization with In
each State IN order that recruiting and
placing OF men for raising crops may
be carried on IN an intensive manner
as soon as spring opens.
This plan provides for the appoint
mont IN The different states OF an OF
fetal 10 be known as assistant 20 the
Federal director I'm charge OF farm
labor. This executive Will supervise
all matters relating TO farm labor un-
der the supervision Of the Federal d.
rector. To complete the organization
special examiners Will be attached 10
branch Offices OF the service for work
In recruiting labor OF this character.
According to this program, which has
been worked out by the Farm Labor
section OF the Employment service, the
labor so recruited Will be used first
within the State within which II Is
raised, then outside the State wherever
lt may be urgently needed.
As outlined by Herbert Hoover, Ma
fional Food Administrator, the task be-
fore American farmers next year Is one
only of duplicating this years crops,
hut OF producing so as TO increase food
exports 20 our allies virtually 100 per
cent. IL Is no exaggeration to say that
fhe lives OF civilians in the reconquered
areas depend on Americas farm labor
supply. Moreover, this is a problem
4. mnuHn
comes soon or late.
part-Time Workers Essential.
Professional farmers, It Is generally
conceded. could not have harvested the
country's crops this year but for the
cooperation OF part-time workers.
Business and professional men ana
women worked in the fields at all spare
moments. The assistance OF boy work
ers. OF whom 10000 were enrolled IN
the United States Boys Working Re
serve unit Of the Employment Service,
has been an invaluable aid in meeting
farm labor demands.
Al present much anxiety Is felt over
the ability Of farmers TO plant the 40
600 600 acres OF winter wheat which
the Department Of Agriculture fixes as
fhe minimum Of safety. The shortage
Of labor already evident in getting IN
the potato and corn crops FOR this fall
is some indication OF the serious SIT
nation that will be met next spring
when even less professional farm labor
will be available.
I'm preparation for the creation Of an |
onerating farm service in every state, |
ne Employment Service has sent |
60 all Federal directors |
inouiring The facilities already deVel- /
oped for giving assistance to recruit
ing work. a.
Federal directors are requested TO |
-,ate what systems they have for mo-
hilizing farm labor and whether the /
central and local Offices each have
nractical man who devOtes all his time /
In farm labor problems. Other inior-
nation sought inquiries whether the
SOLO or state Council OF Defense mas
an Organization devoted to farm needs
nd where such is the case, how they
are functiOnlng.
The answers to those questionnaires
are being studied as received IN prep
ration for the spring drive. u Is the
,one and intention OF the Employment
.erviee 10 have by that time Well
.o,inned farm service organization IN
Very state. capable Of meeting enect-
ially and promptly the enormous de,
uands failure to cope with which VIII
mean world famine.
Unless at least a normal food crop is
.,ised next year absolute famine VIII
.sce The world. The 1918 crop was
% Oo0 600 bushels short Of 1917 produc-
ion. The situation is so serious as TO
naEe IL the duty OF every Employment
service officer to interest himself IN the
meslion OF farm labor supply.
To protect domestic hat manufactur-
.rs Who have agreed to the war pro
ram for conserving materials. the War
Industries Board has placed a pan on
be imuortine OF special styles OF mems
md boys' felt hats. No foreign models
nav he brought into the country that
In not conform 10 domestic Styles
hapes. cOlors and weights
In taking this stand the War INDUS
RES Board considered 1t UNFAIR thae
american manufacturers working 10
onserve materials should be subjected
q competition from outside sources
which they were unable TO meet,
The War Industries Board has issueu
riders prohibiting felt mills for the pc
iod Of the existing emergency from
felt for use in pianos.
his action was taken because or the
act that for an indefinite perlod 70
ONE. all felt-producing machinery ID
ne country viii be needed in the Ilan-