Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 March 1918 — FARM PROBLEMS WORRY CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

FARM PROBLEMS WORRY CONGRESS

EXEMPTION OF WORKERS IS SOUGHT—MANY FORCES NOW AT WORK.

Washington, March 6.—The conscription of farm labor Jt one of the most difficult probieins with which the congress is attempting to deal. Four or five government agencies ars trying to adjust the situation. Action by the congress is exceedingly remote at this time. ■Various amendments to the selective draft law are pending in both louses seeking to make it mandatory for draft boards to regard farm work as skilled labor so farm laborers can be placed in Class 8 of the draft instead of in Class 1. At various times on the floor of the senate and house, attention has been directed to complaints from .all over the nation that farmers were unable to get sufficient help to do their spring plowing and planting because of the uncertainty of laborers as to whether they would be included in the draft.

Uncertainty of the date for the second draft is also a disturbing factor, laborers in Class 1 hesitating to take a steady job for fear that they will be called into the army in a short time. One of the most popular amendments proposed is the bill introduced by Representative Harrison, of Virginia. Representative Harrison wishes to have all farm labor declared to be skilled labor so that it can >e exempted from the draft. He has endeavored to obtain the support of the military committee for this measure, but the committee has withheld its indorsement because of the opposiliolhW' r ost MarshalGeneral Crowder.

The provost marshal-general believes the draft boards are the best ;udges as-to the necessity for exempting farm laborers, and accokd- : ingly he has refused to indorse any" »ill which would make the decisions of the draft boards on individual cases mandatory and not flexible. The agricultural department is trying to have farm laborers exempted. Pressure from many sources has been brought to bear on the department, which’ is exercising its influence on the congress. The food administration also is lending its influence, declaring that skilled producers of food are as necessary in winning the war as skilled producers of ships. Other forces in the congress also are at work along this line. In the end General Crowder may have to acknowledge superior orders and retire gracefully to avoid utter defeat. He has some good friends in the congress, however, and he will not give up until he sees defeat staring him in the face. Certain congressmen and senators who are eaught between the grindstones of their friendship for General Crowder and the selective draft on the one hand and their desire to please their farmer constituents on the other, are attempting to bring about an understanding between the food administration, the department of agriculture and the provost marshal-general. In the meanwhile the farmer . is wondering how he is going to plant a bigger crop unless he has the help with which to do it.