Evening star., 1943-08-06
uses and States
To Control Flow
0fFood Workers
Region Plon Designed
To Assure Professors
For Critical Areas
BY JAMES BIRCHFIELD.


BY JAMES BIRCHFIELD.
A plan to permit Interstate re-
cruitment and transfer OF food pro-
cessing workers. while at the same
time protecting labor supplies in
local areas, was announced today by
Leo r. Werts, director of region 4
of the War Manpower Commission.
which includes Maryland, Virginia,
West Virginia, North Carolina and
the District.
A survey of the State indicated
meanwhile, that Maryland crop
failures caused by the drought may
amount to millions, with the East
ern Shore area bearing the brunt
of losses in perishable market and
canning crops. In the Frederick
area, where canning operations are
only about Is per cent of normal,
1t was feared that canning may
have to stop altogether soon.
Under terms of the plan, approved
by the Governors of the four States,
recruiting of food workers will be in
the hands of the United States En-
ployment Service, and all orders for
these workers. both local and inter-
State, will be channeled through
USES Offices In the various States.
AT the same time. 1t was said, en-
ployers In New Jersey, Delaware and
New York, who-usually recruit labor
from Southern States, have been re-
quested to transmit their needs to
USES officials. They have been as
sured, 1t was said, that their needs
will be given consideration after
labor requirements in the region
have been supplied.
Gov. Broughton of North Caro-
lima, VINO officials said, has urged
officials of other Southern States
and those north of Maryland also
to enter into the agreement.
Provides Clearance Screen.
The program, which will attempt
to regulate the Interstate flow of
essential workers and provide nec-
essary labor for food processing op-
erations as they develop, will be
governed by the following princi-
piles:
No worker will be transferred from
an area where he is engaged or Is
about to be engaged In essential
| work.
Appropriate agencies within each
State will designate areas from
which labor may be recruited for
out-of-State placement.
The obligation of State authori-
ties to conserve their labor supply
is recognized and their right to lay
| down conditions Of recruitment and
| placement will be accorded,
All Interstate recruitment will
be done by the USES, for processing
labor, or the Extension Service, for
farm labor, after proper clearance
through the Governors Office or his
representative.
To Check Unauthorized Recruiting.
Authorities of one State who ask
agencies of another State to re-
cruit labor will accept the obligation
OF using all reasonable effort to pre-
vent employers within their State
from engaging in unauthorized re-
cruiting activities.
Local needs within States will be
safeguarded, it was said, by request
Ing employers who usually utilize
labor from the designated areas to
file with the USES orders for work.
! ers within designated period. In
addition, recruiting campaigns will
be conducted to supply labor first
| for jobs within the State, and Sec
ond for jobs without the State bor-
| der.
Measures will be taken to assure
the return of workers to their
States as soon as jobs for which
| they were recruited are completed.
it was said, and in order to assure
the return of workers, statements
of availability will be issued only
for such periods as will elapse be-
| tween the time of recruitment and
the beginning of the first employ
ment in the home State for which
the worker is thought to be neces-
| sary.
Must Pay for Return Trip.
Employers, furthermore, must
agree to use "every reasonable" eff
fort to see that workers secured
under the program return to their
homes and must provide trans
portation costs for the return trip.
| At the same time, it was said, the
| ruthless methods of labor recruit
ing by "often irresponsible" repre-
| sentativeS of Northern firms can
be abolished by controlling the flow
of labor into essential industries in
! these States.
At Frederick, corn pack estimates
were revised downward by packers
who placed operations at 10 to 25
per cent of normal because of the
| lack of rain.
| The Gamers stated that much OF
! the corn crop was beyond saving,
even should there be some rains now.
Gamers at two plants reported
they were waiting to see how much
"tapering off" would occur after the
early crop goes through the process
ing machinery. while some Eastern
Shore canneries are reported to
have Cancelled their contracts be-
cause of inability to get vegetables.
One of the men remarked that "if
there is no rain, we might wind up
next week"
Grave concern, meanwhile, was
expressed yesterday by agricultural
leaders in Queen Anne County
over the number of farmers who are
selling their equipment and acreage.
Twelve sales of stock and equip
ment, involving farms with total
acreage of 3,060 acres, have been
announced for this month.
The sales will include 374 milk
cows, in addition to young cattle
and draft animals, agricultural
equipment and implements.
Agricultural leaders say that most
of the farmers "are quitting because
they do not see their way ahead"
THE shortage of labor" said one
farmer, 'is terrific"