The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-07-30
LABOR. BUREAUS
PLAN CALLS FOR
CONTIN UED Use
OF LOCAL OFFICE
United States Employment
System Will Cover
Whole Nations Needs

A. L. Barkman of Kansas City, in
charge Of the tenth employment di-
vision of the United States depart
ment of labor, including Kansas,
Nebraska, South Dakota and North
Dakota, will exercise the power Of
assistant director general Of the
United States employment service,
respecting the harvest labor supply,
according to information received
by L. H. Patten Of Fargo, state di-
rector Of the United States employ
ment service Of the United States
department Of labor.
The Importance Of the United
States employment service cannot
be overestimated, in the opinion Of
those engaged in the work. AS the
armed forces grow, the industrial
forces must be maintained at four
times the size Of the fighting army.
Through the United States employ
ment service, the government has
taken over the task of recruiting and
distributing the labor supply Of the
country. The labor problem, pc
culiar to North Dakota, is that Of
securing an adequate supply Of
laborers to assist with the harvest
ing and threshing.
Five Special Offices.
In order to handle the labor situa-
ton in the best possible manner,
during the harvest and threshing
seasons, there will be five additional
United States employment offices
operating in North Dakota. Besides
the regular offices established at
Fargo, Grand Forks, Devils Lake,
Jamestown, Oakes,~ Minot, Bismarck
and Dickinson, there will be special
representatives at Wahpeton, Rugby,
New Rockford, Mayville and Lang
don. These offices will cooperate,
distributing labor throughout the
state to localities where it is most
needed and bringing in the surplus
labor from Kansas and other states
throughout the country to help in
the North Dakota harvest fields.
Special Women's Section.
The Fargo office, which is now
on the farms in the vicinity, has
increased SO greatly since it's in
auguration that the department is
considering establishing larger quar-
tiers for it, withNan extension includ-
ing a separate women's department.
Mr.. Patten stated today that he
anticipated no labor shortage in
caring for the North Dakota harvest.
Men are being sent out Of Fargo,
Cakes and Wahpeton at 81 per day,
which is the same wage being paid
in South Dakota. In Richland, Sar-
gent and Dickey counties the harv-
est is already under way.
49, No Loafine,
= year." said Mr.. Patten. 1.-THE coun-
ell Of defense has ordered all able
bodied men to engage in productive
work, and cooperating with the
North Dakota Bankers association,
has compiled a farm labor reserve
list, which includes all men in the
towns and cities who wish to rem
der what services they can in car
ing for the crop. The slogan, Spend
your vacation working on a farm,
has proved popular and hundreds of
business men throughout the state
have registered for farm work
during vacation, and their united
efforts will have an appreciate eff
feet in reducing a possible labor
shortage during the harvesting and
threshing seasons.
May Train Boys.
Mr.. Patten stated that the depart
ment particularly wished to encour-
age this move, for farm help may
prove very scarce in another wear,
as the manhood of the country con-
tinues entering military service, and
dependence in caring for the crops
will have to be placed on the farm
labor reserve and the boys working
reserve. Plans are now under way
for boys training camps to be held
next year, in which boys will be
trained to do all manner of farm
work, including hooking up O. team.
handling farm machinery and the
like. * 4
The department of labor of the
United States employment bureau is
placing on record all public service
reserve lists, including all men who
have filed for skilled work, such as
carpenters, mechanics, plumbers and
machtnists, with view towards
holding examinations for positions
70 in government work. However, this
will not be taken up until after the
grain has been taken care of, but as
soon as that is accomplished. the
government recruiting will be very
extensive.