Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-30
TO SECURE LABOR
ON FA..MS THIS YEAR
Important Conference on This Sub
ject Was Held at Dover
Yesterday Afternoon.
Special Correspondence of Every Evening

| Nptsidf correspondence pI fsNeTS ENthiHb
Dover, March 30-A conference of
unusual Importance to the farmers OF
| Delaware was held here, yesterday
| afternoon in the parlors of Governor
| Townsend, in the State House The
| governor was present, and also the various
| branches of employment including Charles
| Warner. representing the United States
| Public Service Reserve: 4. G. Benkhart,
| representing the United States Employ
| ment Service: J. y Armstrong, represent
| ing the United States Boys Working
! Reserve; NJ. O. Pence, representing the
Agricultural Extension Department of
Delaware College, and the members of
the State Board of Agriculture. The
United States government, through it's
representatives of the above-named
branches of employment service in this
State, assures the farmers OF Delaware
that labor will be supplied to them this
year, even through the busy harvest
season.
The purpose of the meeting was to
coordinate all of the forces of the Federal
government and of the State in supplying
the demand for farm labor. Mr.. Benkhart
is engaged in finding available labor IN
anv part of the United States and of
turning II over wherever there is "A demand
for it in Delaware, Mr. Warner is
charged with enrolling all available
labor within the State for the periods
when il is most needed For example
it manufacturing establishments can spare
any of their men Mt any time for a wcek
or more or through any vacation period
these men arc asked to enroll for service
on the farms during that period. or for So
much of II as they are willing to give To-
farm labor Mr. Armstrong is charged
with enrolling boys between the ages of
l6 and u Years. especially appealing tu
the schools and colleges of the state.
Hss MADE \ SURVEY,
The extension department Of Delaware
College has made a survey OF the state
TO determine how much labor will bc
required on the farms during the season
and a, what times there will bc the
greatest demand for such labor The
problem is to see that all who are enrolled
from any Of the sources named are brought
INTO touch with the farmers who are
needing help al a time that they need II
The opinion Of all present was that through
all these sources the needed supply Of
farm labor can be furnished The United
States Department Of Labor has repeated
" stated that there is man for every
job, and that II these men can bc found
and placed in contact with the Job al
the necessary work can hc done IN the
essential industries and on the farm.
The ShtpVardS with the exception of a
few skilled lahOrcrs are now amply sup
piled with all the men 70 speed up to the
utmost limit
: campaign will be made 10 secure
volunteers of Delaware men living in
towns 10 GO out 10 the farm for one or
more davs in the week This will be
presented 10 them as a patriotic duty
Every community Is asked 10 take |
care of its own labor demand as far a.
possible from The local supply.
LANDLORDS AND TENANTS
General a. r Benson, president Of the |
State Board Of Agriculture stated that |
landlords in different parts Of the STATE /
arc rcadJusting their relations ~ the |
tenant. some Of them by purchasing |
more than onc-half Of the fertilizers and !
seed and Others giving more than the usual /
share az the crops This is done because
the tenant Is required Ia furnish All tn,
labor necessary in producing the crops
and wages are much higher tins wear than
ever before, thus bringing an unusual
burden upon the tenant, while no addl-
tIollal cost haS been placed on the land
owner except the increased cost of seeds
and fertilizers.
A. a patriotic duty 1t was thought that
the landlords everywhere would be willing
to readjust these matters 50 that the
tenant shall receive 3 fair share Of tht /
results Of ms labor on the farm
Mr. Warner Mr. Benkhart Mr. Arm /
strong and Mr. VI O. Pence and the !
.hree nemberz of the State Board Of |
Agriculture organized - a permanent !
committee and will hold regular meetings /
,ventually TO become q subcommittee !
d the new State Council Of Defense |