The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-04-29


Some years ago in order to provide
income during the winter and work
for their farmhands, they went into
the business of raising flowers under
glass, and have been quite successful
They employed eighteen hands, and
the FSA took six of them, two mar
ried men and four with families, for
work on the Eastern Shore.
'The great argument they used, "
said Mr.. Weber, "was that by taking
one of these jobs, a man could secure
immunity from the draft. | doubt if
this is right, for l have heard that
some of these men have been called
back by their local draft board"
"The agents of the FSA claim that
they do not solicit labor" Mr. Weber
continued. "but one of them came
here, talked to two of my men and
carried them back to town with him.
| never saw them again. That looks
pretty much like solicitation to me-"
The FSA announced that it would
/ take nobody from Garrett whose work
was essential in his own community,
yet | was told of case where it made
a strong bid for a man who was re-
garded as essential.
/ This incident was told me by Ben.
jamin F. Knepp who farms, and also
keeps a small crossroads store at the
Red House, ten miles south of Oak
| land, near the West Virginia line.
Since his brother is incapacitated, he
has to work two farms.
"The man have in mind is hard
working fellow" said Mr.. Knepp. "He
bought a small piece of land out of
his savings, but it was not enough to
keep him busy.
During the school year he is the
ianitor of our school. That only occu-
pies him for an hour or two day, and
the rest Of the time he helps out by
telling timber, building fences and
so on. He is always busy. During the
summer he works from farm to farm
wherever needed.
"A short while ago he came to me
in a state of great agitation. Ben,
do have to take this job on the East
ern Shore?' he asked me. Seems the
FSA agent had reported to him that
if he didn't go voluntarily, he would
be taken. You do not have to 60 |
told him, and he has not gone"
at seems to me-" concluded Mr..
Knepp, that these agents are going
round Just like a bunch of high-pres-
sure statesmen"
Gets Other Side OF Story
In order to get the other side of the
story, interviewed Kenneth R. Wag-
aman, FSA representative for the
district, at his office in Cumberland.
eve have no agents in the field"
said Mr.. Wagaman. "Any interview
ing that has to be done, | do. There
has been no solicitation, no undue
pressure. We simply let the men know
that there are those jobs on the East
ern Shore if they want them"
But there is shortage Of farm la
Dor in Garrett, too" l said.
"That's right, but there is a short
age Of tenant houses also. Suppose a
farmers son has gone into the army
and he wants to hire a man. If the
man has a family the farmer has no
place to house them"
Need Greatest In Kent
Glow many have gone?" asked.
1--WE have sent about thirty men
from Garrett and Allegany counties
to Kent county, where the need is
greatest. And some to work in the
broiler industry in Delaware. The
greater part were men with families.
We pay their transportation and also
haulage of their household goods The
man goes first in order to settle HIM
self before sending for his family.
mot all of them are satisfied with
their new jobs, of course. In that case
we place them in another job, After
two trials, if they are not satisfied, we
feel that we have done all we can for
them. They have to pay their own way
back.
$50 far as | know, only two men
have returned. | looked up their his
tories and found that they were men
who had never worked for long in any
one place"
Getting In Touch With Them
How do you get in touch with the
right men," asked.
Through three sources" said Mr.
Wagaman. First we took list of 900
names from the selective service qucs-
tionnaries and wrote each man. Sec
ondly, through newspaper publicity.
United States Employment Service
who send jobseekers to us"
Mr.. Wagaman then told me of some
cases where the FSA project had
proved of benefit to all concerned.
These were laborcrs from over the
line in West Virginia.
Family In Distress
"Whcn was in Kcyscr, w. Va"
he said, "a little family came to see
nc. There were father, mother, a
baby in arms and ono able to walk. 1t
turned out that they had walked eight
miles into town carrying both chill
drcn.