REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 29 



in many directions. It was clearly impossible to make exemptions by 

 classes and to admit no farmers to the Army. Still, it was highly 

 important that agricultural production be increased. Military fail- 

 ure could arise no less from shortage of foodstuffs than from shortage 

 of ammunition or man power. The task was presented of making 

 the labor remaining on farms more effective, of securing fuller co- 

 operation among farmers, and of utilizing on the farms urban and 

 rural labor not heretofore fully or regularly employed. Past experi- 

 ence made it clear that labor might be transferred from certain com- 

 munities where the seasonal pressure had passed to others and where 

 the need was immediate. It was known, too, that there were hun- 

 dreds of thousands of boys in rural districts and villages who might 

 render useful service, and that the army of boys and girls organ- 

 ized in agricultural clubs might be enlarged and its members em- 

 ployed in additional directions. It was assumed that there were 

 more than 2,000,000 boys between the ages of 15 and 19 years in the 

 cities and towns who were not engaged in productive work vital 

 to the Nation, that many of these had had contact with rural life, and 

 that their services might be utilized on the farms, especially in the 

 harvest season. 



The Departments of Agriculture and Labor and other agencies 

 immediately after the outbreak of the war undertook to furnish assist- 

 ance. The War Department itself held definitely in mind the thought 

 of lightening the burden as far as possible by not calling to the 

 colors those essential for leadership and direction. Under the pres- 

 sure of the first draft it was difficult to work out satisfactorily 

 the underlying principle of selection. For the future a system of 

 classification was adopted which embodies the following features of 

 special interest to farmers and agencies dealing with agriculture: 

 The selectives are classified into five gi'oups, indicating the order 

 in which they will be called to service. Skilled farm labor is in 

 class 2, highly specialized agricultural experts in agencies of the 

 State or Nation in class 3, and heads of necessary agi'icultural enter- 

 prises in class 4. The operation of this new arrangement should 

 remove many of the difficulties previously encountered and, in reason- 

 able measure, meet the demands of the situation. 



It was realized that after all was done there would be need of 

 additional labor in many sections. The Department of Labor there- 

 fore undertook to study the available supplies in towns and cities 



