Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-02-12
AGRlcuLTURlSTS OF STATE MAKE
PLANS TO CONSERVE SKILLED
LABOR.
WILL REVIEW DRAFT
LISTS AND ASK REVISION
Claim Made That Many Farmers Have
Seen Incorrectly Classified and
Should Have Been Placed IN Defer
red Lists-crowder Quoted to Show
Rules Are Violated.

Z
possible shortage in crop production in
| 1918. farm organizations have launched
final effort TO gain exemption from
immediate national army service OF
skilled farm laoo-ers in Iowa.
J. F. NiccolIs. Of Winfield, Iowa,
chairman Of the executive board o.
the Iowa division ut the Farmers
union, last night announced that some
success already had attended the eff
! fort
All farmers that come under the
classification of skilled farm la.borers
who have been placed in Glass l Of the
questionable classification are the
! ones affected.
! They are requested 10 send imule-
! diately 10 George Mckelvey, of Column
bus Junction. Iowa, their serial and
order number, together with affidav1is
supporting their skilled farm laborer,
claim,
Prompt Action Necessary.
This information must be in Mr..
NICK elvey's hands within a day or two
IN order that he may send Il on to
Washington before Feb. IS, virtually
the last day for appeals from local and
district boards classification.
Mr. McKelvey has been appointed
by Charles Barrett, chairman Of the
federal board OF farm organizers, TO
take charge Of the appeal work in
Iowa McKelvey IS state organizer
for the Farmers union.
The appeals will be transmitted d.
rectly to Provost Marshal General
Crowder. with whom the matter al
ready has been taken up. and he will
Will take them up with the district
boards.
It Is contended that the farmers. IN
many cases. have not been classified
within the intention Of the provost
marshal general, and that many have
been placed in Class l who should
have been placed IN Class 2, or even
Class 8.
Provost Marshars Ruling.
The provost marshal called attention
to his ruling for the various classes,
as set forth in the selective service
regulations. as follows:
Tn Class / shall be placed: Any
regstrant not found TO be engaged IN
a necessary agricultural enterprise,
or, If found to be engaged in such en-
terpr!se, not found TO be necessary
to the effective operation Of the enter
prise n any capacity recited IN rules
Xxx. XXI or xxM
'.H.!e Xxx II Class shall be
placed: Any registrant found to be
engaged In a necessary agricultural
enterprise, and found to be neces-
sary' to such enterprise in the capacity
Of skilled farm laborer.
"Rule XXI. In Class shall be
placed: Any regtstrent found to be
engaged In necessary agricultural
enterprise and found 70 be necessary
70 such enterprise in the capacity OF
an assistant associate or hired man.
ager OF suoh particular enterprise or
Of 8 substantial and integral part
thereof
Rule XII pertains to classification
No. 4. IN which sole directing heads
Of agricultural enterprises that are
necessary are placed"
Situation On Iowa Farms.
It was pointed out By Mr.. N!ccolls
that, according to latest census fg-
ures, there are 317,oi4 farms in Iowa
Of an average acreage Of 1863, with
farmers totaling only 216s43. 1t is
from this number Of farmers that the
skilled farm laborers," IN many cases,
he said, have been drawn
Fed eral officials have been inter
viewed in the matter and a. Proves.
Marshal General CrowdeTs suggestion,
the appeal system Will be invoked in
an effort to gain deferred classh ca :
ton for the men now in the hrst class.
This, the federal officials, includ!n g
Food Administrator Hoover. pointed
out, should not IN any sense gain the
appeIlation Of 'slackers" for the men
affected as It Is just as vital--if not
more so-that our fields produce the
maximum Of foodstuHs. az Il Is that
We produce a maximum army.