88 OUTLINES OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS 



12. Do state labor departments have jurisdiction over agricultural 

 labor ? Would more activity in this direction be desirable ? Explain. 



13. Explain the advantages and shortcomings of private labor 

 exchanges as a means of distributing the farm-labor supply. Look 

 up the work done by public agencies in your state; by the United 

 States Bureau of Immigration. Is such public activity extending? 



14. Describe the Japanese "contract" system of handling agricul- 

 tural labor. What are its good points ? its evils ? Do you know of 

 the same system being used by other classes of workers ? 



15. Could Italian, Greek, and similar labor groups be utilized 

 without the intervention of the padrone? Are there abuses in the 

 system as now operated ? Could they be removed by requiring all 

 padrones to be supervised by state agents in a manner similar to that 

 used by some states with private employment agencies ? 



16. Is women's labor in this country increasing or decreasing? 

 Is there a proper and wholesome field for women's labor in farm 

 work ? for labor other than that of the women and girls of the farm 

 family ? 



17. Is there harmful use of the labor of (a) American women, 

 (b) immigrant women, (c) negro women, in agriculture today on a 

 large scale? 



18. If so, could our labor laws be so framed as to reduce the evil ? 

 as entirely to eliminate it ? Why ? 



19. Is there a type of child labor in agriculture which is normal 

 and beneficial? Some which is improper and harmful? Give par- 

 ticulars. 



20. Describe the child-labor conditions in your own section and 

 what action if any is taken to safeguard the child. 



21. Explain the worst instance of child labor with which you are 

 acquainted and outline the measures which would be necessary to 

 cope with cases of this sort. 



22. Show the relation of the question of child labor to the educa- 

 tional system. What effect does this have upon the future labor 

 supply ? 



23. Are there any distinctly agricultural workers' unions in the 

 United States today ? Are agricultural workers being absorbed into 

 other general labor organizations ? What ones ? 



24. What is the general labor philosophy and policy of the organi- 

 zations which are getting a foothold among rural workers ? Is it a 

 correct and wholesome effort to improve the condition of the worker 

 through proper and feasible means ? 



25. Does labor organization take hold on regular or itinerant 

 workers in agriculture ? To what extent has it appeared in your 

 section ? 



