Evening star., 1920-03-21
FARM LABOR SHORTAGE
TO REDUCE 1920 CROPS
But Secretary Meredith Believes the Food
Supply Will Not Be Threatened.
Planters Fear Drop in Receipts.

sible because those who remained on
the farms worked harder. put In long
er hours and because the old and
young Of both sexes went into the
fields to do their full share in this
most necessary service. These condi-
tions will not obtain next summer.
for the need. however grave. Is not
so great. And Secretary Meredith be-
lieves that the decreased production
need not cause the nation any sleep
less nights.
! Look for Jobs In Cities.
; An interesting opinion Is ventured
| by Leon NJ. Estabrook. chief of the
/ bureau OF crop estimates, who be-
lieves that the young men who went
employment in the cities rather than
| returning to the fields. The Depart
ment of Agriculture has collected no
statistics on this matter. but Mr.. Es-
tabrook says many things indicate
such to be the case.
Though the migration from the
farm to the city has been going on
for years. the war has accelerated
it," said he. Young men who were
satisfied on the farm went into the
Army; they were lifted out of their
familiar surroundings; many were
sent overseas. and when they got
back they chose the excitement Of the
cities rather than return to the quiet
Of the country.
1T has complicated a situation al
ready serious. and many farmers in
putting in their crops this spring are
wondering how they are going to har-
vest them this fall. for labor Is more
in demand at harvest time than at
any other period of the year. Last
year many farmers paid as high as
SO day to a man who would run
tractor. Harvest hands in many cases
were paid So day.. The profits in
farming are not enough to bear such
a heavy strain, but that does not
business. They are going ahead as
best they can, and with good crop
weather a normal harvest may be ex-
pected.
Farmers' PROFITS Small.
"The city dwellers should realize
that the farmers did not make undue
profits during the war. On the aver
age they drew considerably less than
manufacturers who did government
work on the cost-plus plan. The
farmers did more overtime work than
any other group Of men in industry.
and they did not receive time and
half for it. Many of them made
more money than they had made in
previous years, but it must be re-
membered that they worked harder
than they ever worked before"
officials of the Department Of Agri-
culture say that the young men and
women who leave the farm for the city
are not going unbidden. but that the
movement is stimulated by advertise
in rural papers. These advertisements
set forth the wages paid. in many cases
a figure with which the farmer cannot
compete; they tell of recreation rooms,
opportunities for advancement. summer
vacations with pay and other desirable
features. and the direct result has been
that the dearth Of labor that was for
merly felt only in the farming COM
munities around the large cities has
spread until every section Of the
United States has been affected.
But what the farmer lacks in avail
able labor he is making up. 30 far as
possible. with improved machinery and
modern methods. Like other business
men. he is meeting business emergencies
with the best remedy that comes to hand.
And as the farmers and their families
represent more than 40 per cent Of the
consuming public they are as much in
terested as any group In reducing the
cost of the necessities of life.