Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-07-02
Men NEEDED AT
ONCE FOR WORK
In WHEAT BELT
Harvest Fields Crying for Helm in
Gathering Grain, Says En-
ploymeRt Service.

and hence the nations greatest
Supply OF grain, are being neglect
ed because of a general scarcity of
labor on the harvest fields.
I1e cry for more help is going
up from farmers of the wheat belt
with increasing volume, and has
voiced itself in kilograms issued to
All local offices of the federal state
employment service by the federal
-olrector OF the United States en-
ployment service, of the DEPART
ment of labor The local offces
q are urged to spare their best eff
forts 20 sending men west for this
WORK as. every man who is sent
rlgnk now can be used. The gen
erai wage is so cents per hour and
board. The latest telegram. re-
cefTed june 30, reads as follows:
Fiease continue utmost efforts to
recruit and direct men for harvest
work in Kansas; white or coIored
men may report to Kansas City,
wichita, Hutchinson or Salina di-
rect Wages 50 cents pen hour,
with board. Please bring this to
notice of press" showing that the
need really is great.
circular issued June II makes
these statements:
Il can now be definitely stated
that harvest will start in south
central Kansas on the 18th and
from then on the cutting territory
viii rapidly broaden out and the
demand Tor men will increase
daily. The heaviest call for labor
will probably come about June 25,
when the central western Kansas
counties commence operations. The
north central and northwestern
counties will cut about July 1 to 4.
Thousands of men will be needed
and there is no doubt but there will
be work for all able bodied men
who desire to take part in the
harvest" Immediate action must
be taken. and many men can find
paying summer jobs in this en-
ployment if they act now.
Apply at Local Office.
Further information on this sub
ject may be obtained at the Illi-
nois Free Employment Office, 1915
Fourth avenue, Rock Hand. This
station has all of the tri-cities as
its Territory, since the Davenport
office has been closed on account
There are two misapprehensions
concerning harvest field employ
ment which are at present very
popular, and which need to be cor
rected, for the good of all con-
cerned One is the belief that any
one will be employed, regardless
of ability or experience, and the
other, that free transportation west
he, Cd ThnEn doGirnITG
securing employment. Both are
wrong. About discrimination in
hiring men, A L. Barkman, assist
ant to the director general of the
service, has the following to say:
"a considerable number of young
boys, Is, II and IS years of age, |
without farm experience, are re-
porting at the various Offices in
the wheat belt seeking harvest |
work. It is virtually impossible to |
place boys of this age and it is re-
quested that you discourage them |
from Undertaking this kind of
work. There are, of course, many /
young men of Is years who are
big and strong and can do mans |
work, but the ordinary run of boys
of the ages mentioned will have
ZEeaL III SEGuI ms "OAh
and as a rule only in an emergency
when no other labor is available"
The first inquiries of any and all !
applicants should be made to the (
nearest agency of the employment
service, because if there is any
doubt about the acceptibility of the
applicant he may be set right there
without taking the expensive trip
This
uuiry will also serve to correct the
rumor that any reduction in trans
portation rates will be made for
harvest hands. A bulletin from the
federal director to local Offices, in
this connection, says:
This office has been advised by
A. l.. Barkman, assistant to the
director general who has charge
of the employment work in the
harvest fields of the central west,
that there are a great many men
reporting to the Office at st. Louis,
Mo, from this state who say that
Illinois newspapers are publish
ing notices to the effect that men
going to the harvest fields of Kan
sas will be furnished transporta-
ton from ST. Louis to Kansas City.
"Inasmuch as there is no way in /;
which either free transportation or ;
reduced rates can be had from any
point, either going into or return
ing from the harvest fields, it is
desired that local Offices do what
ever they can to correct statements
of this nature.
Wage Scales.
For your further information 7
YOU are advised the principal
wheat growing counties in Kansas {
have fixed the following scale of 7
wages:
@Shockers, bargemen, pitchers
and helpers around stack, soc per
hour with board; stackers, Coo
with board; men with teams 20
cents per hour with board for man :
and feed for team; cooks, IS per :
day with board. Nebraska has fixed :
a similar wage In Oklahoma the :
scale ranges from so cents to so
cents per hour for the ordinary :
kinds of harvest work" :
The latest bulletin received rel 5
alive to work in the harvest fields s
of the west gives general informa-
ton by states of the present con- :
- ond I :