South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-11
City Must Help in
Solution ofFdrm
Labor Problems

q . . .
II soldiers are willing 10
serve in the trenches. 10 dig
bitches. build railroads and
. risk their lives, many civilians
car well afford 20 spare a part
Of their time to serve in the
burrows and in the harvest
ields.-Secretary Of Agricul-
ture.
e
by David \. Houston. Secretary of
Agriculture.
Some time ago l issued a state
ment concerning the farm-labor
1 problem. IL was pointed out that
there will be farm labor difficulties
TO overcome this year as last and
that in certain sections. especially
in the neighborhood Of large indus
trial centers, the difficulties will be
acute. The lines of effort were in
dicated along which the depart
ments of agriculture and labor.
through representatives in various
states cooperating with the agricul-
tural college and other agencies,
are working TO furnish assistance.
Briefly restated, these agencies are
doing the following things: (a)
Making a survey Of the farm labor
situation in each community with a
view to discover possible SURPRISES
Of labor i'm order TO be ready 10 as
sist in furnishing labor wherever it
is needed; CD Assisting again in
shifting labor from community 10
community and from state to state.
as in past years; (c) Promoting
fuller cooperation among farmers
in the same community; Cd Max
ing 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 employed in farming opera
tons; (e) Making every effort to
see that there is no obstacle in the
way Of the production OF a larger
supply Of farm machinery and its
fuller use as a supplement TO hand
labor.
Last year. in spite of all the diff
iculties, the farmers planted the
largest acreages in the history of
the nation, harvested record crops
Of most important things except
wheat, and succeeded in greatly in
/ creasing the number of live stock.
Since last year skilled farm labor
has been given deferred classified
ton and the secretary of war has
asked for power to furlough SOL
diers of the national army if their
training permits, so hat they may
return 10 their farms and assist. II
is believed that the farmers of the
nation can, by effective organiza-
ton and cooperation. with such as
~sistance as can be furnished, again
overcome labor difficulties and pro-
duce large quantities of foods, feed
stuffs. and live stock.
Communities Must be Ready.
There is an opportunity now for
urban people sympathetically and
constructively TO study the farm
labor situation and TO render as
/ s~istance. In many towns and cities
there are men who have had farm
ing experience. who are a~ble-bodied.
and who would doubtless be willing
to serve the nation in the field Of
agriculture at this time. Especially
for the seasonal strains of planting,
c~ultivating, and harvesting, II will
not be too much TO ask such men
to aid the farmers in the necessary
undertaking of maintaining and, if
possible. experimenting, the food
supply in order to feed the armies
and 10 sustain the civilian popula-
ton behind them. II soldiers are
willing to serve in the trenches. TO
dig bitches, build railroads INT risk
their lives. many civilians can we'll
afford TO spare a part Of their tirle
to serve in the burrows and in the
harvest fields. If il appears that
the farmers Of a community or re-
gion are not able to secure the nee
essaIy labor by the usual methods,
then the leaders in the town or city
Immediately dependent upon that
region should organize. establish
touch with representative farm
leaders. and see if they cannot as
sist in solving the problem. In so
doing they VIII not only aid the
farmers of the nation but they will
vitality contribute to their own we'll
being and TO hat of their cOmmun-
ity.
The farmers are willing TO do all
that they humanity can. but, where
their labor supply cannot be fur
nished from the ordinary sources it
must be recruited from those whose
very sustenance depends upon the
farmers. The soldier and the farm
er are eager TO do their full share.
the soldier is taking the chances OF
losing his life and the farmer is
risking the labors of a year on the
chances 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.
The departments Of agriculture
and labor viii render every possible
aid. but each community knows its
own problems. and urban people. es-
peCially business men, could coop
ar.+a affap+f~a1v- with the farmers