Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 July 1903 — NEED 100,000 MEN. [ARTICLE]

NEED 100,000 MEN.

Wanted ts Gather the Harvest In Great Wheat Fields of the West. From the big wheat counties of Kansas conies a cry for help. The farmers cannot harvest their grain crops, unless nn army of laborers comes to the rescue. Railroads, press and public have been appealed to, to bring in the helpers. Within the next fortnight 28,000 men will be required to gather the wheat after the machines and get it into shock ready for the thresher. To make the harvest expeditious 50,000 men are necessary. Farm labor lias been put at a wage premium to attract helpers, but even with this inducement there is grave danger that not enough men will be obtained to gamer and save the whole of the crop. There was a similar dearth of harvest hands last year, but this year the need is greater than ever.

Appeal after appeal has gone out from the employment bureau. The agricultural press in some instances has agreed to publish free of charge any sources of supply from which laborers may bo obtained. The great railroad systems traversing the western wheat belt have made special low rates to transport men from other States and from populous centers to tlie places of greatest need. Some good has resulted from this, but the deficiency is still alarming. Farmers are freely offering $2.50 a day and board. In places where the need is most acute wages considerably in excer® of those quoted are offered. Kansas is not the only State hampered by a dearth of farm laborers. South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Montana and the great wheat sections in western Canada are in similar straits. An army of more than a hundred thousand men Would not be a whit too larga to care for the crop. It is a race between the various sections as to which shall offer the best inducements to get the men. This (problem is becoming graver every year. Th* era of prosperity and the good wages have taken laborers away from the farms and drawn them to cities. 1