The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-06-05


to Some Of Them.
prepared by the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture.)
There is an after-the-war song run
ming something like this:
H Hoy yOq going to get him
After he's seen
Paree?"
The problem is one that the United
States department OF agriculture is
successfully attacking, not by ''back-
to-the-farm" propaganda, but simply by
informing soldiers of definite Opportu-
mites to enter or return to agrfcul-
tural work. Already such opportuni-
ties have proved TO be all that was nee
esSary to induce many soldiers, sail
ors and marines to join Or rejoin the
peace-time army of food producers.
At the rehabilitation camps agri-
cultural representatives are comforting
with soldiers about opportunities for a
job in agricultural work. The infor-
nation they give the men is definite
Each rehabilitation camp discharges
men from certain states These rep
tural jobs open in those states. These
lists are classified into different types
Of farming, so that the soldier can
quickly be connected with the partic-
uiar job he wants or is best suited to
fill.
Opportunities Shown.
If a soldier wants to work on stock
farm, the lists will quickly show all
the opportunities open in the state to
which he intends going. And the lists
contain similar information about gen.
eral farming, grain farming dairying,
fruit and truck farming. Lists are al
so kept of farms for sale and for rent.
and farm owners who want partners.
Full descriptions of all opportunities
are obtained so that the soldier can
fntelligently decide on job or an in
vestment. When a soldier intends go
ing TO a state some distance from the
camp where he is discharged he is
given letters Of Introduction to the
county agent. The county agents have
lists of agricultural opportunities in
their counties similar to the lists in
the army camps. The county agent can
usually place a man on a farm with
out delay.
Many soldiers have saved some of
their pay while in the army. They
now want to start in the farming
business for themselves. The govern
ment helps them decide where they
can best make q start with their linn
tied capital, and ofttimes helps them
secure credit for buying farm equip
ment. Local f1nanciers are sometimes
willing to extend the soldier credit on
his character and good intentions
rather than on any collateral he might
be able to put up.
Getting Soldiers Interested.
In the barracks of the army camps
are placed attractive posters which call
attention TO the presence in camp of
a representative of the United States
department of agriculture. These pos
tiers ask pertinent questions and state
facts about different occupations that
remind the soldier who is soon to be
discharged that the farm is a mighty
good place to be if he is suited or
trained for farm work.
Do you want a farm job? Have you
ever considered owning a farm? Would
you like to rent a farm? Can you
drive a tractor? Do you want to buy
q farm? These and many other Ques-
tons are asked. No rosy pictures are
painted of a life in fOwery beds of
ease on the farm. Straightforward
facts and figures are presented. The
government does not want to send any
soldier to the farm unless he is fitted
to succeed there.
In some camps farmers Institutes
are held. Experts in farm work lecture
and answer questions. These insti-
tutes run a week with q different pro-
gram every day. When a new bunch
of soldiers come in the work is re-
peated. One camp reported that $50
TO 400 soldiers attend every meeting.
The camp libraries assist by placing
agricultural books and papers in the
lecture halls.
Results of the Work.
show that many q soldier who would
have drifted to a city goes back to the
farm. In one camp, before the agri-
cultural representative had informa-
ton about definite jobs and farm OPP
portunities, so per cent of the farm
boys went to cities to get job. After
he had the information only per cent
Of those with previous farm expert
ence chose the city.
There was a shortage Of farm labor