The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-08-09
WE OFFER TO BOOK "THE SHOCK
TROOPS.

This "shock troop" idea has grown so
rapidly the last few days that it has forced
The Forum to turn itself into booking
office, to bring the farmers and the ''shoek
troops" together.
When The Forum employees organized
the first crew to go into the fields, there
was no reason to believe the movement
would assume the proportions it has, but
it is rapidly getting out Of hand, and a
booking office seems to be an absolute
necessity.
The Forum therefore offers its services.
Here is the plan:
We will list all "shock troops" who are
willing to take engagements in the harvest
fields and will keep this list available in
The Forum office. Any farmer who
wants their services can apply at The
Forum and he will be put in touch imme-
diately with the manager Of some one
group that is available for the days he
wantstthem.
8. The list Of organizations already formed
fnoludes The Forum own crew, Blacks
store, Madson's cafe, the Fargo BARRIERS,
the First National bank employees, and the
insurance men, the s. & G. clothing en-
ployes, and st. Johns hospital nurses.
Others are being formed almost hourly.
Some Of these organizations have made
engagements ahead, and The Forum, of
course, has no desire to interfere with
these. It merely wishes to offer its serv-
ices in getting the others in touch with the
farmers who need them. Each organiza-
ton that wishes to use The Forum 8
"booking office" should notify us, giving
the name of the manager of the troop, and
the hours at which it is available. They
should also state the terms on which they
work and what means Of transportation
they have.
With this list to work from, it will be
possible for farmers to call up The Forum
by telephone or come to the, office, and
they will be given the list of available
workers, without charge, Of course.
The "shock troops" are working under
different arrangements. Some Of them are
asking a certain price per acre, the "pot'
being turned over to the Red Cross. 9th
ers are working by the hour the usual
charge being 40 cents, in an attempt to in
crease their income to meet high living
costs. This is wholly legitimate and
praiseworthy way of earning money and
no invidious comparisons should be made
between those who feel able to donate their
earnings to the Red Cross and those who
do not. The Forums own crew, for ex-
ample, works for straight wages Some
Of them donate their earnings to the Red
s Cross and some do not, but every man is a
member of that organization and regular
contributor to it. The only question that
should be asked Of the "shock troops" is
ado they earn their money!" and there
has been no complaint yet that any Of them
have failed to do that.
The Forums plan does not interfere in
any way with the federal employment Of
flee. All Of our workers are "extras''.
They might be called amateurs as dis
tinguished from professionals, " although
these terms do not apply to the quality Of
their work. The federal employment bu-
reau handles all regular laborers. All The
Forum seeks to do is to bring farmers in
touch with these emergency workers who
are willing to give few hours or a day or
two to the work Of getting in the harvest.
And we will handle crews only, not indi-
viduals. The farmer who wants regular
laborers on whole time should go direct
to the federal office and no place else.