davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-02-08
NEED FOR LABOR ON FARMS
Country Warned That Serious condl.
tlons Are Likely to Follow Short
age That Now Exists.

Famine threatens the world unless
there is offered relief to the present
shortage Of labor on American farms.
A statement addressed to the Amer
lean people and presented to ,Presi-
dent Wilson, members of his cabinet,
congress and war boards, issued by the
National Board of Farm organizations,
points out that the crop shortage fore
cast in addresses to President Wilson
on January % and February has now
arrived. Certain remedies are sug-
gested to alleviate conditions.
"The question of raising food enough
to keep the world from famine is first
Of all question of relieving the pres
ent shortage of labor on American
farms" says the statement.
'Before we went to war the farms
of America were short 100000 men.
The demands of the war have now
raised this shortage to at least 3,000,-
600. 1t is certain that the industrial
draft on farm labor will continue. The
spring season Of 1919 will, therefore,
find American farms practically
stripped of competent farm labor and
this at time in world history when
the American farm is the one guaran-
tee against world want"
Remedies suggested include women
to supplant men in industries to re-
lieve the latter for work on farms ;
organization of groups of voluntary CO.
operative farm workers in commune
ties to assist in the production and in
the harvesting of farm crops; inten-
sive training of boys in accordance
with the plan of the U. S. boys work
ing reserve and the assignment by the
United States employment service of
limited service men to work on farms.
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-02-08
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
.EmpIoyment MANAGEMENT.

The University of Washington has
4 stslsslsltea q course in employment
azddzsltenag cement under the direction Of
Stephen T. Miller, dean of the school
of commerce. This course is intended
to serve particularly the shipbuilding
and lumber Industries. The underly-
ing idea is that an employment man.
ager should be the connecting link be-
tween the management of business
and it's employees, and the duties Of
the department lie solely with the per-
sonnet and all that concerns them; the
hiring, discharging, transferring, pro-
noting and following up the worker,
and everything in the line Of welfare.
These courses were being given as q
war emergency measure and so are
limited to six weeks, and about ten
hours day for six days in the week.
It is intended to continue the course.
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-02-08
Demand for Labor Falls off.

From 4,052 jobs open short time
ago in war industries, the demand for
labor for both war and nonwar indus
tries has dropped to 2,812, it was stat
ed at the New York offices of the Uni
ted States employment bureau Also
applications for work are falling off.
In announcing the creation Of a dl-
vision of labor absorption to canvass
large industries for their labor needs
Henry Bruere, federal labor director,
declared any attempt at this time to
readjust the present war scale of
wages to a prewar basis would be "a
vital mistake and highly injurious to
the public veal"
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-02-08
WHY
1t Is Necessary to Use
Wheat Sparingly

Relocation of some of the restric-
tons on wheat is by no means equiv
alent to general assurance that pros
poets Of good harvest have done
away with the need Of continued con-
servation. A resolution passed by the
allied food controller representing
France, Italy, Great Britain and the
United States makes 1t clear that
economy must be practiced for long
time to come, for the food problem
cannot be administered on the basis of
one year of war. In addition to elm
mating waste it is necessary to in
crease production.
The department of agriculture, in
urging the farmers to plant more
wheat, is helping the cause of the
allies. This is the opportune time for
emphasizing the Importance of re-
serve supply Of wheat. Increase of
acreage is one way Of obtaining wheat
for the emergency, and the govern
ment cannot put the question too
strongly to the farmers "a billion bush
els In 1919 will not allow an unreason-
ably large reserve stock. And while
the farmers are blowing and sowing,
the rest Of us can help by using corn,
rye and other cereals-npt a pound of
wheat should be consumed if a substi-
tute will meet the needs of the family,
for even if the end Of the war were
in sight, normal conditions in the food
markets cannot be restored In one or
two years.-Providenc Journal.
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-02-08
YOUNG Children in canneries.

Children from seven to sixteen years
of age have been employed in Gamer
les during the last season, according to
Investigations of the childrens bureau
of the labor department. Many of
them were evading school laws and
have been employed at irregular hours.
In some cases they lived in crowded,
unsanitary camps. In 270 canneries
visited in Maryland and Virginia 1904
children under fourteen years were
found at work.
During the last sessions of their Leg
islatures Maryland and Virginia so
amended their child labor laws as to
include canneries. When, however, the
federal law was declared unconstitu-
tional, before the canning season open
ed, the employment of children, the in
quiry showed, was continued.
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-02-08
COUNTRY FACES
LABOR PROBLEM
May Be Difficult to Adjust Condi-
tons That viii Follow Wars
Ending.
EIGHT HOUR DAY INVOLVED
Probability That Effort Will Be Made
to Lenethen Hours Of Work or Re-
duce Wages Has Aroused Feeling
Barr Makes Statement.

The statement by Samuel Gompers
at the recent Pan-American labor con-
ference, that labor after the war would
brook no reduction in wages and no
frightening of the eight-houf day, has
aroused much discussion among those
who believe that the problem Of labor
and capital is to be one of the serious
issues which the United States must
face.
William Ell. Barr, president Of the
National Founders association, whose
remarks at the associations meeting
are believed to have prompted Mr..
Gompers' announcement, has issued
statement declaring that Mr.. Gompers
has misinterpreted both the spirit and
intent Of his remarks. Mr.. Barr was
credited with believing that longer
hours and reduced wages constituted
the only means enabling American
manufacturers to cope with industries
of other nations after the war.
Mr.. Barr says the broadening of
human vision, the desire for better
things in industry and the hope for
permanent advancement" have not
passed by the manufacturers, who are
unquestionably, he adds, more deeply
concerned in working out the great
common industrial problems than are
those individuals and organizations
whose principal efforts are confined to
vituperation and reduction Of output"
Manufacturers do not intend to enter
upon a wage controversy at time
when all possible constructive energy
should be utilized for cooperation, Mr..
Barr declares; and he adds that no
precedent exists to answer question
whether "the country can maintain its
industries and secure its share Of the
world trade on an eight-hour workday
basis" He believes questions of work
Ing hours should be solved in accord
ance with peace conditions ''and in a
sensible business way" He says that
If American manufacturers can main
tain their Industries and furnish en-
ployment to all classes Of workers on
an eight-hour basis, the situation
/ would be welcome. But If not, he
thinks the result would be a common
calamity, with the worker the chief
sufferer. And he believes the same
conclusions apply to wages.
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-02-08
WAR HAS STIMULATED POETS
How the World catacIysm Has Been
Responsible for a Wonderful
Production of Verse.

There has emerged one new and re-
markable feature In our literature DUR
ing the war-the wonderful production
Of verse and the desire of the pub
lie for it, remarks Chambers Journal.
Pain is endured, passions are Wrung,
dormant senses are quickened and
beauty in strange places is re eived.
The essences of life are discovered.
So the human spirit has crawl for
new forms of expression, emane pated
from the old, dull molds, something to
convey the peoples moods, Their &C.
stasies, griefs and sorrows, their heav-
emily hopes. So those who had, per-
haps, scarcely glanced at the Poetry
of their tongue betook themsely IS to
the poetic form to state their new
emotions. Not for an age has so much
poetry--and good poetry among it,
been produced, and never so mUcl, Of
, it bought and read.
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-02-08
How They Catch Fish IN india.

A writer in Manchester Guardian
contributes an interesting para graph
on one method of keeping the pot"
supplied with fish:
"Our soldiers in India have adopted
a remarkable method of catching fish
for the pot An ordinary marble
necked empty bottle, such as is uni
versally used for lemonade ard kin
dred summer drinks, is obtained, and
little quicklime is put, into il. A
small quantity Of water is then added
and the bottle shaken up. The gas
which generates in consequence forces
the marble up into the mouth of the
bottle, which thus becomes eff octively
sealed. Tt is now thrown out into the
river. The white color OF tn liquid
within the bottle (Which is furiously
effervescing all the time) aroqses the
curiosity of the fish, which swim from
all parts, so to speak, to investigate
1t. Before long the pressura of the
gas generating in the bottle becomes
SO great that the bottle bursts dnd the
flying fragments of glass cause great
slaughter among the denizens Of the
river. Used in this way, pint-size
bottle will account for quite an inn
posing number of fish,"
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-02-08
How to Utilize sparrow.

That the despised English sparrow
is a really delectable food bit and can
be used in various ways as a war
emergency dish is being demonstrated
at Hagerstown, Md.
A resident Of the west end Of the
city is authority for the statement that
sparrow potpie, stewed, broiled or fried
sparrow makes splendid meal, if one
can get enough sparrows, but he says
this is not difficult. His plan is a dead
fall made of several boards nailed to-
gether, a string attached to a trigger
and boy at the end of the string.
Sprinkle some food under the boards,
and when the sparrows gather to feed,
pull the string. Repeat the operation
until you have a dozen or more spar
rows, and you have sufficient for a
good-size potpie.
The resident is catching and eating
sparrows to conserve beef and other
meat and at the same time help get
rid Of an intolerable nuisance.
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-02-08
Why New Fence System is Used.

The old method Of supporting fences
by placing heavy, rigid posts every few
feet, declares Evening Wisconsin, has
been shown to be wrong in prin-
ciple. The new system of supporting
fences is to make them on the prin-
ciple Of a fiddlestring. A fiddlestring
is fastened at both ends. Anything
that hits it at any point produces
stresses on the string that are trans
mitted to the terminals.
The new fences have solid terminals
40 rods apart. Between them the
wire is stretched tightly, and, to pre-
vent 1t from sagging, then, flexible steel
supports, anchored Is inches below the
surface of the ground, are used. When
sudden shock comes against one Of
these bowstring fences-such, for ex-
ample, as bull charging the fence,
the flexible supports bend in an even
curve from their point Of anchorage
and allow the strain to come on the
terminals.
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-02-08
Form 1900 Labor Boards.

About 1900 community labor boards
are now organized and functioning as
part Of the United States employ
ment service. With the exception Of
Alaska and New Mexico, which have
not yet reported, every state in the
Union has two or more community
boards active in supervising the re-
cruiting and distribution Of labor in
their communities.
Out of a total of fifty states, count
ing Alaska and the District of Column
bia, thirty are ON record as having
completed their full number Of
boards. Approximately 1900 boards
will be- the final total, it is expected,
and from the speed with which the
work is progressing it is expected the
goal will be reached within three or
four weeks.
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-02-08
How Bells Tone is changad.

Bells may have tones which, while
thoroughly agreeable to the mqnufac-
turer, are not so pleasant to t,iose who
have to listen to them. A remedy for
such q condition is des srihed by
James p. Noble in Popular Mechanics.
BY drilling two holes in the side of a
bell the tone will remain perfectly
clear but will be quite cIaEged. If
a slot is then cut betweca tie two
holes still another change of tone is
effected. BY driving a metal rod into
one of the holes and trimming it off
flush with the internal and external
surfaces the tone may again be
changed. Filling up the second hole
with plug will further alter the
sound. Then if a wedge is cut and
driven into the slot the tone of the
bell will be restored to normal.
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-02-08
why a Tooth Aches.

The ache comes when the tiny nerve
at the heart Of the tooth is exposed to
the air. When the tooth begins to
decay, it starts to do so generally
from the outside, and after the de-
caying process has gone far enough
it reaches the nerve in the tooth, which
aches when exposed. The ache is the
signal which the nerve sends to the
brain that there is an exposure and
is cry for help. From Book Of
Wonders" by Permission Of the Blu
reau of Industrial Education. Wash,
ington, D. @.
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-02-08
Opposes Wage Reduction.

In announcing the creation IL
division of labor industries for their
labor needs, Henry Bruere, federal la
Dor director for New York state, de-
clared that any attempt at this time
to readjust the present war scale of
wages to pre-war basis would be "a
fatal mistake and highly injurious to
the public veal" workers insist" he
said, "that the present standards must
be maintained until readjustment in
the present cost Of living warrants cut
ting them down. prices will continue
relatively high as long as we are feed
ing Europe"
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-02-08
Jobs for Returned Yanks.

The department of labor announces
that the community labor boards Of
the employment service are to be used
to replace soldiers and civilian war
workers. These boards have been d.
rected by Secretary Wilson to send
weekly reports of local conditions for
the guidance of the war industries
board and the war department. He
asked members of the 1900 boards to
continue their services until all SOL
diers have been brought back and prop
erly placed In industry.
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-02-08
PARACHUTE is NOT POPULAR
Why Aviators Have Pronounced
Aversion to What They Call
"Going Over the Edge"

"'Going over the edge Is the act
Of stepping out Of the basket of
military balloon from 1000 to 5000
feet up, dropping into space, trusting
to the parachute to open and check the
descent" says Henry Woodhouse in
Everybody's Magazine.
"When an aviator-allied or BOche
makes a dash for kite balloon and
fires incendiary bullets into it, the OBJ
server or observers-some balloons
having two-hasten to go over the
edge. The friendly anti-aircraft guns
often help to remove any passing
doubt as to the advisability of taking
the step by their volleys-fred against
the plane, of course, but as the plane
is so close to the balloon that shrap-
mel seem to burst only a few feet
from the huge gas bag, the pilot goes
over the edge. n
"Airplane pilots with many air
fights to their credit say that they
would prefer to fight half a dozen
Boche aviators single-handed over the
German lines. with the German four
inch antiaircraft batteries popping
shrapnel at them at every opportunity,
than to go over the edge
The balloon man compares the
SLOW and safe descent of his para
chute with the meteoric dash down
ward of the crippled airplane and
claims that the balloon service is the
safer Failing to settle that point,
both he and the plane pilot agree that
the air service is the best branch of
the service, in which every red-blood-
ed young nam agrees"
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-02-08
British Workers plan Union.

Progress is being made with big
scheme for amalgamating all the Brit
ish engineering and shipbuilding trade
unions. The scheme of amalgamation
is so far advanced that it is expected
to be referred to the individual unions
for Endorsement within the next few
weeks.
If the plans go through as expected
the new body will have a membership
of more than half million.
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-02-08
SUDDEN DEATH OF REV.
GEO. w. MIZE

Geo. W. Mize. aged A dropped dead at
o'clock Friday evening, corner Cay and
Vine Wv He was riding bicvcle near the
corner when he fell from the wheel, and
was taken into a store where he died in a
few minutes, Funeral service was held at
the home of his brother John w. Mize
Sunday afternoon the remains being laid
to rest in New Gray Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, two daughr
ers, ahd onesbrother.
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-02-08
3. w. 3. In New Mexico.

Incomplete returns from New Mex
leo regarding boys working reserve
members who have been engaged in
agricultural work in that state during
the past season show that $50 boys, not
counting the days worked at home,
have worked in actual service 1857
days, earning total, exclusive Of
room and board, of $111,19S.9S.
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-02-08
How Chemists Enrich World.

A platinum substitute lately tested
in Amsterdam was an alley Of SO per
cent Of gold with IL per cent of plati-
mum. This material, called "platino,"
withstood sulphuric, hydrochloric and
nitric acids, and other reagents used
in chemical work and was unaffected
by heating for half an hour "a a smoky
petroleum-gas flame. 1t proved equal
or superior to platinum in ware for the
chemists laboratory, except for the
large loss by corrosion when used In
contact with a mixture Of sulphuriR
and nitric acids. - -------.1l
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-02-08

Humboldt Edgar B. Hawks, a young
farmer, and son Of Mr.. and Mrs. T. l..
Hawks, was killed In action in France
just a short time before the armistlce
was signed, according to telegram
received by his parents.
Bellevue.-Mrs. Joseph H. Anderson,
Of Springfield, received a cablegram
from her husband, Lieut.. Joseph H. An
derson, known at Vanderbilt as Cub
by" Anderson, stating that he was safe
and feeling fine when the war ended.
sSsss
Knoxville.-Mrs George W. Denny,
state chairman OF the woman's section,
Council of Defense, left for New York,
where she will receive further instruc-
tons before sailing for France, where
she will take up duties in the Y. M. G.
A. canteen service. Mrs. Denny Ia
known in the state as club worker.
Nashville. official report of DR..
W. e. Hibbett, city health officer, for
the week ending Nov. 30, shows a total
of 81 deaths and IS births. The death
total for the week Ia some larger than
for the preceding week, while the births
are considerably less in number. or
the 81 deaths, 80 were white and %
were colored. OF the births II were
white and Z were colored.
sssss
Fort Oglethorpe. Orders have been
received at Camp Greenleaf headquar-
ters for the discharge of 1900 enlisted
men over so years Of age. Enlisted men
to Immediately receive honorable dis
charge consist Of dental company No.
/, 1,O25 men, development battalion,
GAO men, and sanitary corps, 1876 men.
Enlisted men will be let go at the rate
of about 200 day at first, and this
number will be increased as demobili-
zation proceeds.
Chattanooga Representative OF the
various railroad mems organizations in
Chattanooga here In q mass meeting
adopted resolution addressed to Pres.
ident Wilson which requested that he
prevail upon Secretary McAdoo to re-
main as director-general of railroads
as long as the railroad systems are
controlled by ii , government. The res
olution also EN- &C lied clause asking
the president tt l&y before congress in
his next MESA. o the necessity for re-
munerating Secretary McAdoo as d.
rector general of railroads in keeping
with the position he holds and his abil-
ity. The resolution was wired to the
president and copies were sent the
Tennessee senators, with q request to
support a bill raising Mr.. McAdoo's
salary.
Washington-Unde instructions 10.
sued by Postmaster General Burleson
NO letter mail will be accepted by post
offices in the United States for deiiv-
ery to members OF the American expe-
dictionary forces without return ad'
dress on the envelope. The order was
issued at the request Of the war do
partment so that proper disposition
may be made of mail reaching France
for members Of the expeditionary
forces returned to the United States.
ssss
Smithvilla-A very interesting union
Thanksgiving service was hsld ct ths
Methodist church
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-02-08
Australia Iln 10 Date.

In the plans for the new spinning and
knitting mills at Coburg, Victoria, near
Melbourne, Australia, the welfare OF
employees hes been considered. The
buildings, which will cover $4,000
square feet, include immense dining
rooms and an, up-to-date Kitchen and
100 cottages for workmen.
The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-02-08
HOW GERMANY PLANS
N TO LOOT VESSELS
SUNK BY UNDERSEA GOATS.

SUNK BY UNDERSEA BOATS.
Altogether, the prospects are
very bright for the recovery Of
many ships, or at least Of q
large part Of their cargo, even
though they may lie in water
300 feet deep. 1t behooves us to
devise means of conducting such
deep-water salvage, for if we do
not do this work we may be sure
it will be undertaken by the en-
envy.
The Germans have not been
carrying on their submarine
warfare without a thought for
the future. Last May when the
U-boats were making frightful
inroads into allied shipping there
was an item in a German news
paper calling attention to the
rich treasure that was being
piled up in the sea and stating
that the German wrecking COM
panies were planning to recover
this treasure on a large scale
after the war. 1t was not a
matter of chance, then that
most Of the U-boat victims have
been sunk at the very tantalizing
depth of 800 feet. German sal
wage companies are making I'M
usual preparations for deep
water diving operations.
Clearly, Germany is making
great preparations for peace and
intends to be so far ahead Of
other people in salvage methods
that after the war most of the
treasure in the sea will fall to
her lot. She feels confident Of
winning on land and then she
fondly believes that the sea will
be hers as well. But we are not
asleep. We are doing some in
venting ourselves; and in con.
test of ingenuity as well as in
that of powder and steel, the
Yankee when thoroughly aroused
may be counted on to come out
ahead.-A. Russell Bond, in Sci
entific American Supplement.