The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-24
SOLDIERS RETURNING
TO WORK On FARMS

Washington. D. c.. March 23.--That
large numbers of returning soldiers and
sailors are seeking work on farms Is
the statement made by Assistant
Secretary G. I. Christie. representative
of the United States department OF
agriculture on the council of the
emergency committee on employment
for soldiers and sailors, before the
first meeting OF the council yesterday.
He told how department representa-
tves In the rehabilitation camps are
, - .-7- - * & .-',eSrts'X A-iis't1
to find Jobs.
The creation of the emergency COM
mittee was made necessary because the
United States employment service,
lacking funds. was forced to curtail it's
machinery to about Is per cent of nor
NAL and to close most of its branch
offices. To meet the need and with
the concurrence of the secretaries of
war and labor, Grosvenor II. Clarkson,
director of the council of national de-
tense. appointed committee under
the craftsmanship of Colonel Arthur
Woods, formerly police commissioner
of New York city and now special as
sstant to the secretary of war.
Other members of the committee are
Franklin d. Roosevelt. assistant secre-
tary of the navy; r.. n. Hurley, chair
man OF the United States shipping
board: Nathan p. Smyth, department
OF labor: G. l. Christie, assistant secre-
tary of agriculture; p. S. Cutler. chief
Of the bureau q foreign and domestic
commerce; Matthew woii American
Federation Of Labor: Elliott Goodwin.
general secretary of the chamber Of
commerce of the United States; s.. p.
Bush. Industrial board of the depart
ment of commerce.: Il. J. Ayers. de-
part'nent of the Interior: John II. Hol-
lowell, OF Boston; and Grosvenor r.
f'larlSson. director of the council OF
Lational defense.
Approximately 100000 men went
from the farms into military and
naval service. With at least that
many jobs. therefore. on the farms of
The country to be allied. the question
OF the readjustment of soldier and
sailor farmers to farm Jobs is enc Of
the large problems before the com
mittee. In discussing IL before the
committee, Assistant Secretary Chris
tie said:
"Report from the farm help
rnent of agriculture Indicate that large
Dum bers of returning soldiers and
sailors are taking up work on the
farms. During the last two years the
labor shortage on the farms has been
such that these young men are well
coined by the agricultural people and
are given every opportunity and en-
couragement to take UP agricultural
work.
Through the states relations SER
vice of the department Of Agriculture.
and the extension service Of the aCri-
tultura1 COLLEGES. agricultural repre-
scntatiyes have been placed In the
dem Civilization camps where they are
comforting with the soldiers and CIV
ing them needed Information ms 10
openings and opportunities in agricul-
ture. This is resulting in many thou
sands Of young men returning n tie
land to follow the occupation In which
they are interested and for which they
have been trained
1T is true that some Of the men who
left the farms for the army will not
return to the land THIS il neither
unusual nor unexpectea In the natu-
raj course of events many thousands
OF young men 1efs the farms during
peace time for industry. the profess
sions. and work in general In the
cities Many Of these men who would
have left the farms for such work
have been taken into the army. and
that they now choose to remain in the
city In not 10 be taken as any indica-
ton that all young men are leaving
agriculture for city life, Reports from
farm help specialists. county agents.
and other agricultural people indicate
that the large majority OF men who
came from the farms and who are
given any reasonable opportunity are
again taking up this work. IL is
found, too. that the large body Of men
who left the farms to take up war
work In connection with the building
OF environments. war industries, etc
are returning TO the farms in large
numbers
Farmers are offering good wages,
in many cases partnership in the
farm business and are building suit
able homes and supplying better liv-
ing conditions. All of this is appeal
ing to men who have experienced
hardshtps in the city as result OF
poor living conditions, high cost of
living, and other unusual expenses
Fora number OF years farms have
been short of labor. Much work has
$3.50 asiowaa tn 4s-a .Hsaogr, Tya,*K IS
now an opportunity for farmers 10 get
a supply of labor which can be used
in placing drains. building fences.
clearing lands. repairing buildings.
and in other ways making improve
ments and placing the farm In the
condition in which they wish to sec IT,.