Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-20
Monpower
Continued From First PageD

meet home front and lease-lend re-
quirements.
The Russians, Senator Bankhead
went on, are begging for food" in
sisting that half Of each cargo sent
to them should be food.
Senator Bankhead noted selective
service had drawn 1000 workers
from farms and more than 100000
others left agricultural pursuits in
i941 and 1912, most of them attract
ed to industrial plants by higher
wages. He cited the average
monthly pay for agricultural work.
ers in January as S62 against
s209 40 he said industrial workers
would average with 48-hour week.
Allows for Added Million.
Computing the 1943 strength of
the armed forces at 100000, Sena-
tor Bankhead said allowances also
must be made for an additional
100000 men who would "be re-
quired to replace men in our armed
forces who are eliminated through
casualties and attrition.'
Nothing could be more dangerous
or more destructive to our war effort
than placing burden upon our
people which they are unable to
carry" he asserted. TT might re-
suit sooner or later in negotiated
peace without requiring uncondi-
tional surrender by our enemies"
Earlier, it was indicated that SOL
diers and school children eventually
would join forces in helping plant
and harvest crops in areas facing
serious farm labor shortages.
President Roosevelts approval of
plan to use military personnel
| to relieve acute manpoWer short
ages on farms was reported by
| Chairman Fulmer of the House
| Agriculture Committee.
The President made it plain, how
ever, that he believed older school
children should play a major role
in the food production job, just
as they have in Russia
Mr.. Fulmer, returning from a
White House conference yesterday,
| said he believed there was no need
! for farm manpower legislation in
view of the Presidents attitude on
the use of soldiers.
Could Ask for Soldiers.
Farm officials in manpower- short
age areas could request the COM
mandant of the nearest military post
to assign a specified number of men
for farm work Mr.. Fulmer ex-
planned. The matter could be ham
died through executive order of the
| President, with the understanding
! that the troops would be engaged in
agricultural work for only a short
/ time.
1T would not interfere in any way
with their training" he said, and
the President agreed that it would
be very helpful The soldiers used
would be returned to their stations
as soon as their work was finished
The farmers using them would pay
into the Treasury the prevailing pay
of farm laborers doing similar work
and the soldiers would receive their
| iCS dldI nIHiy pay.
In effect. the soldiers would be
assigned temporarily to farm work
as part of the war effort"
Army Opposes Plan.
The War Department previously
had been reported opposed to any
plan for using soldiers for farm
work. Secretary of Agriculture
Wickard disclosed this week that the
Army had turned down his request
for the use of soldiers to help har-
vest the Dakota wheat crop last
year.
Mr.. Roosevelt himself had indi-
Gated at his press conference yes
terday that he was backing the
Army firmly in its controversy with
some congressional elements over
the question of limiting the size
of the armed forces.
He told reporters the size the
Army should be at the end of 1943
was decided last August by the die
tates OF military necessity, and the
decision had not been changed. He
was concerned over the food produc-
ton outlook. he acknowledged, but
he said he believed young people of
high school age could do lot to re-
lieve the farm labor shortage.