The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-03-21

to keep experienced labor on the farms.
Farmers and farm hands who are &C
tually working on the farms will not be
called to colors in the next draft, &C
cording to advices now received by the
local board. 1t is unfortunate that this
rule was not applied to the first draft
as well. The feature which seems to
present new thought by the authori-
ties in Washington is that the regula-
ton providing for this exemption will
not attempt so much to differential be-
tween skilled" and "unski.led' labor
as it will to distinguish between those
who are actually accomplishing some
thing and those who are merely identifi-
ed in some way with farms. Ridiculous
results, when the attempt has been
to classify farmers and farm hands in
accordance with their skill, by District
Boards and others, has undoubtedly
shown that this method of procedure is
not altogether feasible, and that the
real gist of the matter is that he who
is actually doing a days work on
farm is giving material assistance in
the production of crops, whereas, he
who merely owns or lives on a farm,
and possibly does few ticks of work
part of the time, no matter how skill
ed he may be is not the man who
should receive the advantage of the ex-
emption rule. The rule is laid for the
benefit of the country-not the indi-
yidual. The general effect of the new
exemption rule will be to exempt from
military service those who are actually
doing days work on the farm every
day so long as they keep at work, and
when they leave the farm and the work
the exemption will raise.
This is real step and will g long
way to solve the problem of regular
farm labor. But it has not solved the
farm labor problem in its entirety by
any means. While it was rather diff
ficult to get in crops and cultivate them
last year, and would prove more diff
cult this season but for the new ruling,
this of itself has not been the matter
of the gravest concern. Crops got in
some how last year-and in great abun.
daDeeH And, although the farmers ex-
perienced some trouble in getting the
labor to do the general cutivating, etc. :,
to bring those crops to maturity, the
real stone wall appeared when it came
to harvest. Harvest labor is mostly
temporary and transient. The problem
of securing that labor for the 1918 sea.
son must still be handled.
Farmers organizations and others
should continually keep this feature be-
fore the authorities. Some drastic pro-
vision must be made to acquire harvest
labor for this season. 1t is the harvest
ing of the crops that is causing the real
concern. Those who will escape mill
tary service by the new exemption rule
are not the harvesters, they are the
regulars. Something should be done
INV " ooo0lC LllC ldEH GTS VINO
are about to begin planting that thew
will be able tie harvest their crops when
they mature, otherwise many who have
or anticipate the means to plant and
cultivate may feel rather dubious about
planting more than they are reasonably
sure they can gather. Last year, the
real seriousness of the farm labor sit-au
tion did not present itself till 1t came
time to git in the crops. Then, though
farmers might have been able to plant
and to cultivate, they found that they
could not get the temporary or transit
ent labor which is necessary to get in
the hay and wheat, thresb cut off corn.
husk, ETC., etc.
The new draft rule is good. 1t helps
70 solve in great measure the general
farm work problem. But it goes but a
little way in taking care of the harvest.
1t might be contended that the bar.
vest will be taken care of when the
time comes. We certainly hope so and
believe so, but it is of prime Importance
that the farmer be given some assur.
ance that it will be taken care of he
fore he plants his crops. The matter
should be attended to now. It should
not be put off.