THE FOOD CRISIS AND AMERICANISM 113 



abandonment followed. Very low rates on through 

 not local freight from the West still further 

 helped to bring disaster to the New England farmer. 



The exemption of farm laborers from the draft has 

 not been as successful as was hoped it might be. 

 From various causes, it often happens that the effi- 

 cient are taken, and the inefficient left. Why should 

 not the really efficient farm laborers in each canton- 

 ment be selected and placed in separate regiments 

 these to be subjected to intensive training from No- 

 vember ist to March ist; and on March ist, each year, 

 to be detailed for farm work under such restrictions 

 as would result in the prompt recall of the labor slacker 

 and his transfer to the Front? 



This would secure for the farms efficient help dur- 

 ing those months when skilled men are indispensable. 

 On the other hand, the possibility of an attempted 

 invasion makes at least one or more thoroughly dis- 

 ciplined army corps at home desirable. The intensive 

 training and manual labor in the open would keep the 

 men at all times fit and ready for active service at a 

 moment's notice. Hence, such a system would be of 

 maximum aid to agriculture, and of minimum, if any, 

 detriment to our war machinery. 



I have never seen so many able-bodied men on the 

 highways of the rural districts, ostensibly seeking la- 

 bor, but in reality trying to avoid it and to escape the 

 draft, as during the present season. Farmers will not 

 hire them. Not so much because of the extortionate 

 wage demanded, as because they lack both inclination 

 and ability to do effective farm work. 



The learned discussions and formidable array of fig- 



