A study of farm labor practices and conditions in Montana during World War II as factors in post war
farm labor employment problems
by Dexter H Moser
A THESIS Submitted to the Graduate Committee in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
Degree of Master of Science in Agricultural Economics at Montana State College
Montana State University
© Copyright by Dexter H Moser (1946)
Abstract:
During World War II the shortage of farm labor in Montana and the nation as a whole became acute
because many men regularly employed in agriculture left the farms to enter the armed services or
industry, As the war progressed, this shortage became so serious that concerted action on a national
scale became necessary to increase food production, so necessary in war times.
Some of the high points of the wartime farm labor problems and program in Montana are: (1) On the
average, each year during the war, about 30,000 farm laborers ware placed through the farm labor
program in Montana, These workers took the places of from 35,000 to 40,000 Montana farm laborers
who had entered the armed services or war industries, (2) Crop and livestock losses in Montana were
negligible as a result of the restricted labor supply.
(3) Crops produced in Montana during the years 1943, 1944 and 1945 were valued at $518,933,000.
During this same period livestock production was valued at $513,754,000. The total value of
agricultural production during this critical war period was $1,032,687,000. It has been shown in this
study that, on the average, 30,000 hired workers out of the 35,000 workers needed in the state of
Montana to take care of its agricultural production, were placed by the Emergency Farm Labor
Program. Comparison of the above figures makes the value of the program to the state at once
apparent, (4) Agricultural production in Montana was increased during the war period, despite the fact
that the labor supply had decreased. This result emphasizes the point that the output per worker was
increased, (5) During World War II domestic and farm labor shifted to more highly skilled industrial
work, leaving the stoop labor jobs in agriculture to be filled by imported foreign labor.
(6) Farm worker wages and conditions of work are improved during periods of farm labor shortages,
(7) Farm wages were stabilized, to some extent, through county wage board hearings and through the
importation of foreign laborers and prisoners of war.
(8) While the cost of wartime farm labor recruitment and placement programs seems excessive, the
expenditure was well worth while in comparison with the total value of the crops produced, (9) Job
training added considerably to the efficiency of farm labor.
(10) Job placement and information services rendered by the local county agent, through county farm
labor offices, played a very important part in the procurement of farm labor. About 68% of the
individuals placed in farm jobs were local and transient workers placed through these offices.
(11) Governmental action was necessary in helping to solve the wartime farm labor problems. A STUDY OF FARM LABOR
PRACTICES AKD CONDITIONS
IN MONTANA
DURING WORLD WAR I I
AS FACTORS IN POST WAR FARM LABOR
EMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS
BY
D e x te r H» M oser
A THESIS
S u b m itte d t o t h e G r a d u a te C om m ittee
i n p a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t o f t h e r e q u i r e m e n ts
f o r t h e D e g re e o f M a s te r o f S c ie n c e
i n A g r i c u l t u r a l E co n o m ics a t
M ontana S t a t e C o lle g e
Bozem an, M ontana
J u n e , 1946
COBTEKTS
L is t o f I f e b lc s .......
4
L is t o f I llu s tr a tio n s
6
A cknow le t i g n e n t s . . . . . .
7
P r e fb .e e ... . . . . . . . . . . .
8
A b s t r a c t . . . .......... ..
9
X
im O E U C T IO l............................................................
10
Fferpose o f P r o j e c t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10
H i s t o r y o f Farm l a b o r i n t h e G h ite d S t a t e s
12
PART I t
PART l i t
29
H i s t o r y o f Farm L abor i n M o n t a n a . . . . ............... .........................
29
Farm L a b o r P la c e m e n t P r o c e d u r e s B e f o r e V torld T a r I I . . . . . . . . . .
S3
E f f e c t o f Yio r Id W ar I I on t h e Ffera L a b o r S u p p ly i n M o n ta n a ...
37
BfcET I I I t DEVELOPING A FARM LABOR PROGRAM................. .. ......................................
39
The Q norgenoy Farm l a b o r P rogram D u rin g V o rld Yfer I I
39
O r g a n i z a t i o n o f th e M ontana F arm L ab o r P r o g r a m . . . . . .
49
THE EMERGENCY FARM LABOR PROGRAM IN K O N TA IR ....
53
A c c o m p lish m e n ts i n M o n t a n a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
53
A g r i w l t u r a l P r o d u c ti o n i n M o n ta n a ............................. ..
61
W o rk er I n c e n t i v e s .................................. ..................... ................... ..
63
O u tp u t o f Farm W o rk e rs D u rin g t h e w a r P e r i o d . . . . . . . .
69
H ir e d Farm W orker Wage R a t e s . .................................... ..
79
C o s t o f t h e Farm L a b o r P r o g r a m .. ...................... ..
87
C o s t I n v o lv e d i n M oving F a ra L a b o r .........................................
90
PART IV i
Rx
FAFxM LADCE IN MONTANA............................................................. .....................
81291
-3 Page
PART Vt
SUMMARY M D
CONCLUSION...............................................................................
92
APPENDIX.......................................................................................................................................
95
BIBLIOGRAPHY..............................................................................................................................
103
-4 L i s t o f T a b le s
Page
T ab le I
Ib b le I I
T a b le I I I
-Bible IV
T able V
— In v e s tm e n t R eq u irem en ts f o r P a m s an d R anches
i n t h e K o r th e r n P l a i n s . . . . . ...............
20
— A g r i c u l t u r a l Employment in th e U n ite d S t a t e s
1 9 0 9 -1 9 4 5 .................................................................................................
25
— Number o f A g r i c u l t u r a l W o rk e rs i n M ontana
1 9 3 9 -1 9 4 3 ^ ..............................................................................................
29
—
I b t a l Number o f A g r i c u l t u r a l W orkers i n M ontana
by S e a s o n s , 1 9 3 9 - 1 9 4 3 . . . . . . . ..............
30
— T o ta l Kumber o f F am ily A g r i c u l t u r a l W orkers i n
Montana by S e a s o n s , 1 9 3 9 - 1 9 4 3 ................................
30
— T o ta l Number o f H ir e d A g r i c u l t u r a l W o rk e rs i n
M ontana by S e a s o n s , 1 9 3 9 - 1 9 4 3 ...............................
31
— Number a n d Type o f B e e t L a b o r e r s F o r T h in n in g
a n d F i r s t H oein g by F a c t o r y D i s t r i c t s f o r M ontana
1 9 3 9 ............................
32
— Number a n d Type o f B e e t L a b o r e r s f o r S econd H o ein g
a n d T o p p in g by F a c t o r y D i s t r i c t s f o r M o n ta n a ,
1 9 3 9 . . .............................................
32
— E s t im a t e d Number o f I n d i v i d u a l W o rk e rs P la c e d By
The E m ergency Farm L ab o r P ro g ra m i n M ontana 1 9 4 3 » .
1 9 4 4 , 1 9 4 5 ..............................................................................................
56
— E s tim a te d Number o f I n d i v i d u a l W o rk e rs p l a c e d on
Farm s i n M ontana By S e a s o n s Through The E m ergency
Farm L a b o r P r o g r a m ... ................................................................ *
57
— Number o f W o rk e rs P la c e d i n M ontana B e e t F i e l d s ,
1 9 4 3 -1 9 4 5 .................................................................................................
58
T a b le X I I
— T re n d s i n t h e Use o f I m p o rte d Farm L a b o r.....................
59
T ab le X I I I
— E s tim a te d P e rc e n t o f Work A ccom plishm ent I n
M ontana Of The T h ree C l a s s e s Of L abor Ely C ro p s
D u rin g 1 9 4 5 .........................................................
61
— P r o d u c ti o n o f Crops I n M o n ta n a , 1 9 4 3 ,1 9 4 4 ,1 9 4 5 ............
62
I b b l e VI
T ab le V II
T a b le V I I I
T a b le IX
Ib b le X
T a b le XI
T a b le XIV
—5-»
Page
T a b le XV
— L i v e s t o c k IIuraber I n M o n ta n a , 1 9 4 3 , 1 9 4 4 , 1 9 4 5 . . . . . . .
62
T a b le XVI
— In d e x Numbers o f M an-Hour R e q u ire m e n ts a n d
G ross Farm Produc fcion, U n ite d S t a t e s 1 9 3 9 - 1 9 4 4 .•
70
— C o m p a riso n o f t h e Number o f B e e t W o rk e rs and
B e e t A c r e a g e s i n M o n ta n a , 1 9 3 9 - 1 9 4 5 . . . . ....................
72
— C o m p ariso n o f O u tp u t o f B e e t W orkers I n M ontana
1939 a n d 1 9 4 5 .................................. ...............................................
72
lte b le X V II
" a b l e X V III
T a b le XIX
T a b le XX
Ite b le XXI
T a b le XX II
Tteble X X III
Tteble XXIV
T a b le XXV
Tteble XXVI
T a b le XXVII
Tteble XX V III
— O u tp u t o f S u g a r B e e t W o rk e rs IX iring H a r v e s t
S e a s o n I n I to n ta n a , 1 9 4 4 . . . . .
.
7
3
— O u tp u t o f P r i s o n e r s Of War By Cteraps D u rin g S u g a r
B e e t H a r v e s t S e a s o n I n M o n ta n a , 1 9 4 4 . . . . . . . . . . . .
74
— O u tp u t o f P r i s o n e r s O f War By Camps D u rin g S u g a r
B eet H a r v e s t S e a s o n I n M o n ta n a , 1 9 4 5 . . . . . . . . . . . .
77
— A v e ra g e D a ily Work O u tp u t and A v e ra g e D a ily
E a r n in g s o f M exican N a t i o n a l s i n S u g a r B e e t
T h in n in g , Ito n ta n a 1 9 4 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
78
— C o m p o site Farm Vtege R a t e s , U n ite d S t a t e s a n d
G e o g ra p h ic D i v i s i o n s 1910—1939 P e r io d a n d
1 9 4 3 ........................................................................................................
81
— W ages As S e t By The S e c r e t a r y o f A g r i c u l t u r e F o r
S u g a r B e e t "Workers f o r 1 9 4 5 , As P e r The S u g a r
A c t . ................. ...... ...... .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
83
— P r o d u c ti o n And E a r n in g s Of M ex ican s I n M ontana
D u rin g B e e t T h in n in g , 1 9 4 5 , . , . . ...............................
84
— D a ta On E a r n in g s o f M e x ic a n N a t i o n a l s F o r B e e t
H a r v e s t , 1 9 4 5 . . . . . . . . . . ................
85
— C o n g r e s s io n a l A p p r o p r i a t i o n s F o r S e c u rin g Farm
L a b o r ...................
87
— P r i s o n e r Of War Camps E x p e n d i tu r e s , 1 9 4 4 -1 9 4 5 ...........
89
—6 —
L is t o f I llu s tr a tio n s
P age
F ig u re I
F ig u re I I
F ig u re I I I
— Number o f P e rs o n s on F a rm s , U n ite d S t a t e s
J a n . I , 1 9 1 4 .......................................................................... ..
24
— Number o f Farm W o rk ers i n t h e U n ite d S t a t e s
a n d R a te o f D e c r e a s e 1 9 1 5 - 1 9 4 5
.
— D iagram o f t h e M ontana B nergenoy F a m L a b o r
P r o g r a m .....................................................................................
*
2
6
50
ACKN0C7LEDQtENTS
The a u t h o r i s i n d e b t e d t o }$r, R . E . B o d le y , S t a t e S u p e r v is o r
o f t h e Em ergenoy Farm L ab o r P ro g ram f o r p e r m i s s i o n t o u s e t h e i n ­
f o r m a ti o n c o n ta i n e d i n t h e f i l e s o f t h e S t a t e O f f ic e o f t h e Emer­
g e n c y Farm L ab o r P ro g ram a n d t o D r. C. F . K r a e n z e l f o r p e r m i s s i o n
t o u s e e x c e r p t s fro m h i s s t u d i e s o f M ontana Farm L a b o r.
He w o u ld a l s o l i k e t o e x p r e s s h i s a p p r e c i a t i o n t o D r. P h i l
S . E c k e r t , D r. S a r a h J . V ln k e , D r. C . F . K r a e n z e l , D r. M e r i l l G.
B u rlin g a m e a n d P r o f e s s o r L e o ra H apner f o r t h e i r e n c o u ra g e m e n t,
v a lu a b le s u g g e s tio n s and c r i t i c i s m th ro u g h o u t th e s tu d y .
-8
D u rin g W o rld War I I a m ark e d i n c r e a s e i n fa rm p r o d u c t i o n
to o k p l a c e , d e s p i t e a s u b s t a n t i a l d e c r e a s e i n t h e num ber o f
fa rm w o r k e r s a v a i l a b l e .
L ik e s o many t a s k s t h a t loom ed on t h e
A m e ric a n i n d u s t r i a l w ar f r o n t , i t w as t h o u g h t , " i t c o u l d n 't be
d o n e " - b u t i t w as d o n e .
The f a c t t h a t t h e im p o s s ib l e was
a c c o m p lis h e d i s a t r i b u t e t o A m e ric an f a r m e r s a n d fa rm w o r k e r s ,
a n d to t h o s e p u b l i c o f f i c i a l s who w e re r e s p o n s i b l e f o r r e c r u i t ­
i n g , r o u t i n g a n d p l a c i n g w o r k e rs i n t h e g ap s w h e re t h e y w e re
n e e d e d m o s t.
-9 '
A STUDY OF FARNf LABOR PRACTICES ARD COEDITIORS IR MORTAKA DURIRG YfORLD WAR I I
AS FACTORS I R POST WAR FARM LABOR EMPLOYLiST PROBLEMS
ABSTRACT
D u rin g W orld War I I t h e s h o r t a g e o f f a r m l a b o r i n M ontana a n d t h e n a t i o n
a s a w h o le becam e a c u t e b e c a u s e many men r e g u l a r l y em ployed i n a g r i c u l t u r e l e f t
t h e fa rm s to e n t e r th e arm ed s e r v i c e s o r i n d u s t r y * As t h e w a r p r o g r e s s e d , t h i s
s h o r t a g e becam e s o s e r i o u s t h a t c o n c e r t e d a c t i o n on a n a t i o n a l s c a l e becam e
n e c e s s a r y t o i n c r e a s e f o o d p r o d u c t i o n , so n e c e s s a r y i n w ar tim e s *
Some o f t h e h i g h p o i n t s o f t h e w a r tim e fa rm l a b o r p ro b le m s and p ro g ra m
i n M ontana a r e :
( 1 ) On t h e a v e r a g e , e a c h y e a r d u r in g t h e w a r , a b o u t 3 0 ,0 0 0 fa rm l a b o r e r s
w e re p l a c e d th r o u g h t h e fa rm l a b o r p ro g ra m i n M ontana*
These w o r k e r s to o k
t h e p l a c e s o f f ro m 3 5 ,0 0 0 to 4 0 ,0 0 0 M ontana fa rm l a b o r e r s who h ad e n t e r e d t h e
arm ed s e r v i c e s o r w ar i n d u s t r i e s .
( 2 ) C rop a n d l i v e s t o c k l o s s e s i n M ontana w e re n e g l i g i b l e a s a r e s u l t o f
t h e r e s t r i c t e d l a b o r s u p p ly .
( 3 ) C rops p ro d u c e d i n M ontana d u r i n g t h e y e a r s 1 9 4 3 , 1944 a n d 1945 w e re
v a lu e d a t $ 5 1 8 ,9 3 3 ,0 0 0 . D u rin g t h i s same p e r i o d l i v e s t o c k p r o d u c t i o n w as
v a lu e d a t $ 5 1 3 ,7 5 4 ,0 0 0 .
Die t o t a l v a l u e o f a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n d u r in g
t h i s c r i t i c a l w ar p e r i o d w a s $ 1 ,0 3 2 ,6 8 7 ,0 0 0 . I t h a s b e e ti shown i n t h i s s tu d y
t h a t , on t h e a v e r a g e , 3 0 ,0 0 0 h i r e d w o r k e r s o u t o f t h e 3 5 ,0 0 0 w o r k e rs n e e d e d i n
t h e s t a t e o f M ontana t o t a k e c a r e o f i t s a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n , w e re p l a c e d
b y t h e E m ergency Farm L abor P ro g ra m . C o m p ariso n o f t h e a b o v e f i g u r e s m akes
t h e v a lu e o f t h e p ro g ra m to t h e s t a t e a t o n c e a p p a r e n t .
( 4 ) A g r i c u l t u r a l p r e d i c t i o n i n M ontana w as i n c r e a s e d d u r i n g t h e w ar
p e r i o d , d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t t h e l a b o r s u p p ly had d e c r e a s e d .
T h is r e s u l t
e m p h a s iz e s th e p o i n t t h a t t h e o u t p u t p e r w o r k e r w as in c r e a s e d *
( 5 ) D u rin g W orld W ar I I d o m e s tic a n d f a r m l a b o r s h i f t e d t o m ore h i g h l y
s k i l l e d i n d u s t r i a l w o rk , l e a v i n g t h e s t o o p l a b o r j o b s i n a g r i c u l t u r e t o b e
f i l l e d b y im p o r te d f o r e i g n la b o r *
( 6 ) Farm w o rk e r w ages a n d c o n d i t i o n s o f w o rk a r e im p ro v e d d u r in g
p e r io d s o f farm la b o r s h o rta g e s *
( 7 ) Farm w a g e s w e re s t a b i l i z e d , t o some e x t e n t , t h r o u g h c o u n ty wage
b o a rd h e a r i n g s a n d th r o u g h t h e i m p o r t a t i o n o f f o r e i g n l a b o r e r s a n d p r i s o n e r s o f w a r .
( 8 ) W h ile t h e c o s t o f w ar tim e fa rm l a b o r r e c r u i t m e n t a n d p la c e m e n t p r o ­
gram s seem s e x c e s s i v e , t h e e x p e n d i t u r e wras w e l l w o r th w h i l e i n c o m p a ris o n
w i t h t h e t o t a l v a lu e o f t h e c r o p s p ro d u c e d *
( 9 ) Job t r a i n i n g added c o n s id e r a b ly t o th e e f f i c i e n c y o f farm la b o r .
(10) J o b p la c e m e n t a n d i n f o r m td o n s e r v i c e s r e n d e r e d by t h e l o c a l c o u n ty
a g e n t , t h r o u g h c o u n ty f a r m l a b o r o f f i c e s , p l a y e d a v e r y i m p o r ta n t p a r t i n
t h e p r o c u r e m e n t o f f a r m l a b o r . A bout 6 8 ^ o f th e i n d i v i d u a l s p l a c e d i n fa rm
j o b s w e re l o c a l a n d t r a n s i e n t w o r k e rs p la c e d tlir o u g h t h e s e o f f i c e s .
(11) G o v e rn m e n ta l a c t i o n was n e c e s s a r y i n h e l p i n g to s o l v e t h e w a rtim e
fa rm l a b o r p r o b le m s .
10PART I*
INTRODUCTION
PURPOSE
I n o r d e r t o k e e p u p f a r m p r o d u c t i o n i n M ontana d u r in g W o rld War I I ,
i t w as n e c e s s a r y t o d e f e r farm , a n d r a n c h w o r k e rs a s lo n g a s p o s s i b l e , im­
p o r t l a b o r fro m f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s f o r fa r m j o b s , a r r a n g e f o r i n t e r s t a t e
w o r k e r s i n a g r i c u l t u r e t o b e s h i f t e d a b o u t t h e c o u n t r y a s t h e y w e re n e e d e d ,
a n d m ake n e c e s s a r y a r r a n g e m e n ts w i t h t h e Army f o r t h e u s e o f p r i s o n e r s o f
w ar i n a g r i c u l t u r e .
G overnm ent a c t i o n was n e c e s s a r y t o c a r r y o u t t h i s w o rk , a n d t o m e e t
t h e n e e d , t h e War F ood A d m i n i s t r a t i o n w as o r g a n i z e d ,
u n d e r t h i s a d m in i­
s t r a t i o n t h e O f f ic e o f L abor a n d t h e E m ergency Farm L ab o r P ro g ra m becam e
r e s p o n s i b l e f o r r e c r u i t i n g , t r a n s p o r t i n g , p l a c i n g , h o u s in g , a n d f u r n i s h i n g
m e d ic a l c a r e f o r a g r i c u l t u r a l w o r k e r s ,
The U n ite d S t a t e s E x te n s io n S e r ­
v i c e was a s s i g n e d t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e E m ergency F a m L a b o r P ro g ra m ,
w h i l e t h e War Food A d m i n i s t r a t i o n h a n d le d t h e O f f ic e o f IX b o r t a s k s .
The e x p e r i e n c e o f h a v in g f i r s t a n o v e r - s u p p l y o f fa rm a n d r a n c h
w o r k e r s , d u r in g t h e d e p r e s s i o n , a n d t h e n a s h o r t a g e d u r in g t h e w a r , h a s
made t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l l e a d e r s c o n s c io u s o f a l a b o r p ro b le m no l e s s com­
p l e x t h a n o t h e r fa rm p ro b le m s s u c h a s c r e d i t , m e c h a n iz a t io n , t e n a n c y ,
m a r k e ti n g o f s u r p l u s p r o d u c t s , c o n s e r v a t i o n ,
e d u c a tio n , h e a l t h , e l e c t r i ­
f i c a t i o n , r e c i p r o c a l t r a d e a g re e m e n ts , a c re a g e a llo tm e n ts , s u b s id i e s ,
t a x e s , a n d a h o s t o f o t h e r p h a s e s o f t h e o v e r - a l l a g r i c u l t u r a l p ro b le m
-1 1
*
f a c in g th e n a tio n in th e p o s t w ar e r a .
The o v e r - e l l p u r p o s e o f t h i s s tu d y i s t o p r o v id e i n f o r m a t i o n a n d d a t a
on t h e I-Tara l a b o r P rogram i n Monfcana d u r in g T o r l d w a r I I a a a g u i d e t o t h o s e
w hose r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i t w i l l b e t o d e v e lo p a p o s t w a r fa rm l a b o r program *
The p u r p o s e s o f t h i s p r o j e c t may b e f u r t h e r o u t l i n e d a s f o l l o w s «
I*
To p r o v id e a h i s t o r i c a l b a c k g ro u n d f o r th o s t u d y o f t h e
fa rm l a b o r pro g ram *
II.
To d e te r m in e t h o e x t e n t o f d e p l e t i o n o f t h e fa rm l a b o r
s u p p l y i n M o n tan a d u r i n g W orld War I I *
III*
To d e te r m i n e t h e n u m b e r, e x p e r i e n c e , a n d o r i g i n o f w o rk e rs
r e c r u i t e d f o r fa rm l a b o r t o t a k e t h e p l a c e o f t h o s e e n t e r i n g
t h e arm e d s e r v i c e s an d w a r i n d u s t r i e s *
IV*
To e s t a b l i s h t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f t h e r e c r u i t m e n t a n d p l a c e ­
m e n t p r o c e d u r e s f o r w a r - tim e l a b o r i n M ontana*
V*
To com pare p re w a r a n d w a rtim e r e c r u i t m e n t a n d p la c e m e n t p ro ­
c e d u r e s i n M o n ta n a , a n d t h u s show t h e p a r t p l a y e d b y t h e
Ita e rg e n c y Farm l a b o r P ro g ram i n s o l v i n g t h e l a b o r s h o r t a g e
d u r i n g t h e w ar*
VI*
To p r e p a r e a h i s t o r i c a l r e c o r d o f M ontBna1S Fm orgency
l a b o r p ro g ra m d u r in g T forld
Tara
a r II*
* S ee r e p o r t s * ( I ) " H ir e d Farm l a b o r e r s " made J u n e 2 7 , 1 9 4 5 , b y a c o m m itte e
com posed o f J . I . F a l c o n e r , H e a d , D e p a rtm e n t o f R u r a l E co n o m ics an d R u r a l So­
c i o l o g y , O hio S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y ; W aldo E . G rim e s , H e a d , D e p a rtm e n t o f E conom los
a n d S o c i o l o g y , K a n sa s S t a t e C o l l e g e ; G eo rg e W* B a r r , H oad, D e p a rtm e n t o f A g ri­
c u l t u r a l H oonom ios a n d R u r a l S o c io lo g y , U n i v e r s i t y o f A r iz o n a ; D* T?. a t k i n s ,
D i r e e t o r o f S o u th C a r o l i n a A g r i c u l t u r a l E x t e n s i o n S e r v i c e ; a n d R* A. P o is o n ,
S t a t e F arm L ab o r S u p e r v i s o r , Hevr Y ork S t a t e c o l l e g e o f A g r i c u l t u r e ; ( 2 ) " P o s t
Tiar A g r i c u l t u r a l P o l i c y " m ade O c to b e r 2 5 , 19UU, b y a c o m m itte e on p o s t w a r a g r i ­
c u l t u r a l p o l i c y o f t h e A s s o c i a t i o n o f Land Ctirant c o l l e g e s a n d U n i v e r s i t i e s .
12
HISTORY OF FAICI LABOR IS THE UTI3D STATES
D u r in g t h e paefc f i f t e e n y e a r s , t h e s u b j e c t o f f e r n l a b o r h a s becom e
i n o r t a n t b e c a u s e o f tw o e v e n t s , n a m e ly , th e d e p r e s s i o n o f t h e I h i r t l e s
a n d W orld War I I ,
I n o r d e r t h a t t h e r e c e n t fa rm l a b o r s i t u a t i o n may b e
v ie w e d i n i t s p r o p e r p e r s p e c t i v e i t w i l l b e n e c e s s a r y t o r e v i e w , b r i e f l y ,
t h e e a r l y h i s t o r y o f fa rm l a b o r i n t h e U n ite d S t a t e s #
H i s t o r i c a l l y t h e f a r m la b o r s i t u a t i o n i n A m erica m ust b e u n d e r s to o d
i n th e l i g h t o f th e p r o p o r tio n a l u se o f th e f a c t o r s o f p ro d u c tio n - la n d ,
la b o r and c a p i t a l ,
When la n d w as a b u n d a n t, men n a t u r a l l y p r e f e r r e d t o
s e t t l e o n t h e i r own f a r m s r a t h e r th a n w o rk f b r som eone e l s e *
Ih is s itu a ­
t i o n c h a r a c t e r i z e d A m e ric an a g r i c u l t u r e p r e t t y n u o h fro m c o l o n i a l t i n e s t o
th e c lo s in g o f th e f r o n t i e r •
I n I u r o p e , o n th e o t h e r h a n d , t h e e x a c t
o p p o s i t e w as t r u e - la n d w as s c a r c e a n d l a b o r w as a b u n d a n t ,
B o g a r t e m p h a s iz e d t h i s d i f f e r e n c e i n t h e f o l l o w i n g s t a t e m e n t s t a k e n
fro m h i s b o o k on th e e c o n o m ic h i s t o r y o f th e A m erican p e o p le *
" I n t h e c o l o n i e s , la n d was th e c h e a p e s t f a c t o r o f p r o d u c t i o n
a n d i t w as u s e d p r o d i g a l l y ? l a b o r , on t h e o t h e r h a n d , w as th e
s c a r c e s t a n d m ost e x p e n s i v e ffctotior a n d e v e r y t h i n g p o s s i b l e was
done to ec o n o m ize i t *
" H e re t h e r e w as m ore la n d t h a n t h e p e o p le c o u ld u s e , w h i l e
fa rm l a b o r e r s w e re s e a r o e a n d o f t e n o o u ld n o t b e h i r e d a t a n y
w age,
"From th e s t a n d p o i n t o f t h e c o l o n i a l f a r m e r t h i s w a s good a g r i ­
c u l t u r e , b u t i t s h o c k e d t h e v i s i t o r fro m a b r o a d , who m s a c c u s ­
tom ed t o an a g r i c u l t u r e b a s e d upon d e a r la n d a n d c h e a p l a b o r , "
2 / B o g a r t , E r n e s t L u d lo w , Eoonordc H i s t o r y o f th e A m e ric an
Longm an, G reen <$• O o., Fow Y o r k ," p i 4#
e o p le
I n th e c o lo n ie s th e abundance o f la n d , r e l a t i v e to la b o r , had o
d i r e c t e f f e c t o n t h e m y i n w h ic h l a b o r w as s c o u r e d a n d m a in ta in e d *
l a b o r p ro b le m w as m e t i n v a r i o u s w ays*
TIie
Vdien tiio f i r s t c o l o n i s t s came
o v e r t o s e t t l e , t h e l a n d w as o r i g i n a l l y g i v e n a s g r a n t s t o o r g a n i z e d com­
p a n i e s b y t h e K ing o f E n g la n d .
TM com pany r e c e i v i n g a g r a n t w o u ld s u r v e y
th e la n d a n d d iv id e i t i n to s t r i p s , a c c o rd in g t o i t s
m ed iu m , f a i r o r p o o r .
c la s s if ic a tio n — good,
M embers o f t h e com pany w o u ld t h e n r e c e i v e t h e i r
a s s i g n m e n t s o f l a n d by l o t , t h u s a s s u r i n g a s f a i r a d i s t r i b u t i o n a s p o s ­
s ib le *
TM i n d i v i d u a l ow ner t h e n p r o c e e d e d t o d e v e lo p h i s a l lo ta a e n t o f l a n d
i n to a farm .
L a b o r w ns s u p p l i e d b y I ii m s e lf a n d m em bers o f h i s own fa m ily *
Any a d d i t i o n a l a s s i s t a n c e n e c e s s a r y f o r h a r v e s t , c o n s t r u c t i o n o f b u i l d i n g s ,
o r f o r c l e a r i n g l a n d w as o b t a i n e d th r o u g h t h e c o o p e r a t i o n o f h i e n e ig h b o r s *
I t i s l o g i c a l to c o n c lu d e , u n d e r t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h a t t h e r e w as no
I d r e d fa rm l a b o r a v a i l a b l e d u r in g t h e c o l o n i a l p e r io d *
J e n n in g s s t a t e s
t h a t i n t i n e s o f c r i t i c a l n e e d f o r a d d i t i o n a l farm l a b o r , a r t i f i c e r s a n d
m e c h a n ic s fro m fcho com m unity c e n t e r w o u ld so m e tim e s b e f o r c e d t o l e a v e
2
t h e i r c r a f t s a n d h e l p i n th e f i e l d s o f t h e i r n e i g h b o r s .
E v e n t u a l l y , w hen t h e l a b o r p ro b le m becam e e v e n m ore c r i t i c a l , th e i n ­
d e n tu re p la n m o in tr o d u c e d .
I t m s t h e i n t e n t i o n o f th e E n g l i s h g o v e rn ­
m e n t, t h r o u g h t h i s p l a n , t o d raw u p o n t h e l a r g e e le m e n t o f t h e p o o r i n
E n g la n d *
3
U n d e r t h e i n d e n t u r e p l a n t h e w o r k e r M d t h e m oney f o r h i e p a s s a g e
2 / J e n n i n g s , W* W*, A U l s t o r y o f E conom ic P r o g r e s s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s ,
T . Y* C ro w e ll & C o * , Now Y ork," p .T O f*
”
3 / B o w e rs, C la u d e E . , The Young J e f f e r s o n , H o u g h to n - K u f f lin C o * , p* 2«
-1 4 t o A m erica a d v a n c e d t o him on t h e c o n d i t i o n t h a t h i s l a b o r becam e t h e
p r o p e r t y o f h i s b e n e f a c t o r u n t i l h e had w o rk e d o u t t h e f u l l c o s t o f h i e
tra n s p o rta tio n .
S in c e th e
t r a v e l e r , e v e n w i t h t h e m o st m i s e r a b l e a n d
cro w d ed q u a r t e r s , c o u ld n o t o b t a i n p a s s a g e t o A m erica f o r l e s s t h a n s i x
p o u n d s s t e r l i n g , t h e c o s t o f p a s s a g e w as p r o h i b i t i v e t o m o st l a b o r e r s .
The i n d e n t u r e p l a n w as s u f f i c i e n t l y s u c c e s s f u l , s o t h e E n g l i s h
g o v e rn m e n t f a r t h e r p le d g e d 50 a c r e s to a n y o n e w i l l i n g t o p a y t h e p a s s a g e
4
o f a w o r k e r t o A m e r ic a , E n c o u ra g e d b y t h e r e s p o n s e to t h i s p l a n , t h e
g o v e rn m e n t w e n t s t i l l
f u r t h e r a n d p le d g e d 50 a c r e s t o a n y w o r k e r a b l e
t o p a y h i e own f a r e , w ith a n a d d i t i o n a l 5 0 a c r e s f o r M s w i f e a n d e a c h
5
c h ild .
Even s l a v e s w e re u s e d t o some e x t e n t b y th e n o r t h e r n c o l o n i e s i n
an a t t e m p t t o h e l p t h e l a b o r s i t u a t i o n .
S l a v e l a b o r , h o w e v e r, m s
fo u n d t o b e u n s u i t a b l e t o t h e c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e n o r t h e r n c o l o n i e s .
F arm s w e r e s m a l l , w o rk w as d i v e r s i f i e d , a n d m o s t o f t h e p ro d u c e was
u s e d o n th e f a r m t o s u s t a i n th e m em bers o f t h e fa rm f a m i l y .
F arm s i n
Sew T iig lan d a n d t h e M id d le C o lo n ie s w e re g e n e r a l l y s e l f s u f f i c i e n t ,
except fo r s a lt and iro n .
I n g e n e r a l t h e n , t h e l a b o r n e e d s i n th e n o r t h e r n c o l o n i e s w e re
l a r g e l y n e t b y f a m ily l a b o r o n t h e f a r m s .
L a rg e f a m i l i e s w e re u s e f u l
and p ro d u c tiv e ,
t o t h e s o u th e r n c o l o n i e s a d i f f e r e n t s y s te m o f d i v i d i n g u p t h e
le n d w as u s e d , known a s t h e h e a d r i g h t s y s te m ,
E n d e r t h i s s y s te m f i f t y
a c r e s o f u n o c c u p ie d l a n d w e re g r a n t e d t o im m ig ra n ts l a n d i n g i n V ir g in iA
a n d g re w o u t o f t h e b e l i e f t h a t a n y p e r s o n who v e n t u r e d t o A m erica
-1 5 a o q u l r e d a s h a r e i n t h e V i r g i n i a C onnanye
A buses o f I h i s s y s te m a llo w e d
i n d i v i d u a l s t o am ass l a r g e a c r e a g e s o f t h e b e e t la n d #
Labcnr c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e S o u th e r n c o l o n i e s w e re a l s o d i f f e r e n t #
H ie c l i m a t e w as warm e n o u g h f o r t h e p r o d u c t i o n on a l a r g e s c a l e o f s u c h
c a s h c r o p s a s r i c e , t o b a c c o a n d c o tt o n #
TIiese c r o p s w e re a d a p te d t o t h e
u s e o f s l a v e l a b o r s i n c e t h e men c o u ld w o rk i n l a r g e g a n g s u n d e r t h e s u ­
p e rv is io n o f an o v e rse e r#
T h is i s a p a r t i a l e x p l a n a t i o n f o r t h e d e v e lo p ­
m e n t o f t h e p l a n t a t i o n s y s te m #
S i n c e a c o n s i d e r a b l e l a b o r s u p p ly was
n e e d e d t o p ro d u c e t h e s e c r o p s , a n i n c e n t i v e w as p r o v id e d f o r t h e u s e o f
in d e n tu re d s e r v a n ts and s la v e s #
H ir e d fa rm l a b o r m s i m p o s s ib l e t o g e t ,
s i n c e f r e e l a b o r b r o u g h t fro m E u ro p e w as n o t o n l y l i m i t e d , b u t w i t h f r e e
l a n d a v a i l a b l e , l a b o r e r s w e re u n w i l l i n g t o w ork f o r t h e o w n e rs o f p l a n ­
ta tio n s #
C o n s e q u e n tly , a g r o a t num ber o f s l a v e s w e re e v e n t u a l l y b r o u g h t t o
t h i s c o u n tr y t o d o t h e f a r m w o rk i n t h e S o u th #
The u s e o f s l a v e s n o t
o n l y e n a b le d t h e p l a n t a t i o n ow ner t o d o a good b u s i n e s s i n t h e p ro d u c ­
t i o n o f r i c e , c o tto n an d to b a c c o , b u t i t a ls o gave r i s e to a l u c r a ti v e
s l a v e t r a d e , w h ic h i n i t s e l f becam e a n e x c e l l e n t b u s in e s s #
Many g r e a t
A m erican f o r t u n e s w e re s t a r t e d d u r in g t h i s s l a v e t r a d i n g p e r i o d #
S l a v e r y a s a s o u r c e o f l a b o r p ro v e d t o b e e c o n o m ic a lly u n s o u n d ,
s i n c e th e c o s t o f s l a v e s , i n t h e lo n g r u n , a m o u n te d t o m ore t h a n f r e e
l a b o r w o u ld h a v e c o s t #
6
F i r s t , t h e r e w as t h e o r i g i n a l c o s t o f t h e s l a v e ,
p l u s f o o d , c l o t h i n g , h o u s in g , a n d m e d ic a l c a r e #
T h en , i f e f f i c i e n t
w o rk w as t o b e d o n e , t h e n e e d f o r c o n s t a n d s u p e r v i s i o n b r o u g h t t h e
6 / B o g a r t o p . o i t , p# h33
■16t o t a l c o s t o f n ia ln ta ln tn g ; s l a v e a t o m ore t h a n I t w o u ld h a v e c o e t t o h i r e
fre t) la b o r*
Flroe l a b o r a b s o r b e d a l l t h e c o s t s d e s c r i b e d a b o v e , w i t h t h e
e x c e p t i o n o f w ages a n d m in o r v i s i o n c o s t s .
Tlio c o s t o f s u p e r v i s i o n i n t h e
c a s e o f f r e e l a b o r w as a u e h l o s e t h a n t h a t o f s l a v e l a b o r a n d t h e e f f i ­
c i e n c y o f fro© l a l x i r w as g r e a t e r t h a n t h a t o f s l a v e l a b o r , m i n l y b e ­
c a u s e o f t h e p e r s o n a l i n c e n t i v e t o w ork*
U ie p r e s e n t d e p l o r a b l e c o n d i­
t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r e i n t h e S o u th i s p a r t l y duo t o t h e e a r l y a g r i c u l t u r a l
p o l i c y w h ic h m d o s l a v e r y e c o n o m ic a l i n t h e s h o r t r u n .
t h e h i s t o r y o f th e S o u th Im s p ro v e d i t
I n t h e l o n g ru n
to b e u n e c o n o m ic a l.
A l l o f t ii e a b o v e c o n t e n t i o n s c a n lie m d o a g a i n s t t h e i s s u e o f s la v e
J a b o r , i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e m o ra l a r g u m e n t.
Many o f t h e e n l i g h t e n e d c o lo ­
n i s t s t h e m s e l v e s , u p u n t i l a b o u t 1 7 5 0 , t r i e d t o k e e p s l a v e r y fro m
spread7
i n g i n t h e c o l o n i e s , b u t i n a l l c a s e s t h e y w ere o v o r u lo d b y t h e c ro w n .
As tiie p r o f i t s o f s l a v e r y , b o th a s a b u s i n e s s I n I t s e l f a n d e s a
l e t t e r s u p p ly i n
r e d u c i n g c r o p s , g re w * th e f o o l i n g a g a i n s t s l a v e r y
8
g r a d u a l l y s u b s id e d *
I t t o o k t h e tre m e n d o u s u p h e a v a l o f t h e C i v i l War
t o d e s t r o y t h e s y s te m .
I n g e n e r a l , t h e n , i t n a y be s t a t e d t h a t i n t h e c o l o n i c s t h e r e w e re
tw o n a t u r a l o u tg r o w th s o f th e c o m b in a tio n o f a b u n d a n t r e s o u r c e s and l a c k
9
o f f r e e la b o r*
I.
The c r e d o o f t h e g l o r i f i c a t i o n o f w ork a s a p r im a r y
A m erican t r a i t , w i t h t h e aooom nem ying s u s p i c i o n o f t h e
a r t i s t i c a s u n p ro d u c tiv e .
2.
V a r io u s s y s te m s o f n a n - f r e e l a b o r .
Ios
I / ' 5 o op.~" c I t . •£>•"
8 / I b i d , p. 1 0 T ~
9 / I T c S r d s , Be E* .!-hrnors In a C han g in g
a r i d , A g r i c u l t u r a l Y e a rb o o k 19 4 0 ,p . 179
Vt
-1 7 D u r in g t h e c o l o n i a l p e r i o d a n d e a r l y h i s t o r y o f t h e n a t i o n , w o rk e ro
w a re in d e p e n d e n t Ifcna o m e r e , v /itii t h e e x c e p t i o n o f th e e la v e o I n t h e
S o u th *
B ut e v e n h e r e , a c c o r d in g t o E d w a rd s , t h e r e w r e m any l a n d o w ners*
I n 1 0 5 0 o n l y 18?£ o f t h e S o u th * s 5 6 9 ,0 0 0 farm s a n d p l a n t a t i o n s w e re a c t u a l l y
p l a n t a t i o n s * a n d t h i s e s t i m a t e i n c l u d e s a s p l a n t a t i o n s m any t h o u s a n d s o f
s m a l l c o t t o n a n d t o b a c c o h o l d i n g s w i t h b u t one o r tw o w o rk in g h an d s*
i n th e
E ven
B la c k B e l t o f A la b a m a , a lm o s t SOeV o f t h e n o n - s l a v e - h o l d i n g l a n d
o w n e r s , who i n 1660 c o n s t i t u t e d 44V o f t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l p o p u l a t i o n o f t h e
r e g i o n , owned fa r m s r a n g i n g u p t o 2 0 0 a c r e s *
O f th e s la v o -h o ld in g la n d -
o w n e r s , o v e r 50V owned o n l y 10 o r f e w e r s l a v e s a n d o n l y 500 a c r e s o f l a n d
o r l e s s , w liioh c l a s s i f i e d tix m a s f a r m e r s *
T o g e th e r t h e s m a ll p l a n t e r s
a n d t h e s l a v e - Ix o ld in g and n o n - s l a v e - h o l d i n g f a r m e r s owned a p p r o x i m a t e ly
7GV o f t h e l a n d e d w e a l t h i n t h e B la c k B e l t , t h e s o - c a l l e d s t r o n g h o l d o f
t h e p l a n t a t i o n s y ste m *
As I a t o a s 1 8 6 0 o n l y 5 4 8 ,0 0 0 f a m i l i e s o u t o f a
t o t a l o f 7 9 3 ,4 9 5 w h i t e a n d f r e e c o l o n i a l I f c m llie s owned s l a v e s i n t h e S o u th .
W h ile i t i s t r u e t h a t t h e yeom an f a r m e r w as m ore t r u l y c h a r a c t e r i s ­
tic
o f th e l a n d - h o l d i n g c l a s s , e v e n i n th e S o u th , t h e 2V o f p l a n t e r s lio I d in g
e s t a t e s o f m ore th a n 5 0 s l a v e s loom ed l a r g e e c o n o m i c a l ly , s o c i a l l y , a n d
p o litic a lly *
As lo n g e s A m e ric a r e m a in e d p r e d o m in a n tly a g r i c u l t u r a l a n d m o st o f
t h e w o r k e r s w ore f a n s o w n e r s , th e m em bers o f t h e i r f a m i l i e s w ore e x ­
p e c t e d , th r o u g h h a r d w o r k , t o I e a m
fro m t h e i r p a r e n t s how t o
farm *
T h e y , i n t u r n , a c q u i r e d fa r m s o f t h e i r own t h r o u g h t h e s e t t l e m e n t o f
new l a n d *
T hus t h e s o - c a l l e d a g r i c u l t u r a l l a d d e r w as c r e a te d * t h e r e ­
b y i t was e x p e c t e d t h a t Ifc ra w o r k e r s , i f t h e y a p p l i e d t h e n s e l v e s
i o / E d w a rd s , E* E * , op* o i t * p* 215
18—
d i l i g e n t l y , c o u ld b eo o n o f a r m o w n e r s .
I t h t h e g r a d u a l g r Ovrtii o f i n d u s t r y , t h e s u b s e q u e n t c h a n g e i n t h e
a g r i c u l t u r e o f t h e n a t i o n , an d t h e e n d o f f r e e la n d o p p o r t u n i t i e s , t h e
p o s i t i o n o f t h e fa rm w o rk e r h a s c h a n g e d .
The i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n o f t h e n a t i o n h a s n o a n t t h e f o r m a ti o n o f l a r g e
c i t i e s w i t h p o p u l a t i o n s dem an d in g l a r g e s u p p l i e s o f f o o d ,
m o rd er to
m e e t t h i s dem and, f a r m e r s b e g a n t o c o m o r c i a l i z e t h e i r p r o d u c t i o n .
Such
p ro d u c tio n in v o lv e s s p e c i a l i z a t i o n and th e s a l e o f c ro p s in e x c e s s o f th e
f a r m e r 's own n e e d s on t h e f a r m .
The m oney d e r i v e d fro m su tih s u r p l u s c r o p s
e n a b le d t h e T a m e r t o buy t h o s e t i l i n g s P r on t h e c i t i e s w h ic h ho h a d b e e n
p r o d u c in g on t h e f a r n w i t h c o n s i d e r a b l e e f f o r t , s u c h a s s h o e s , c l o t h e s ,
and t o o ls .
T ills r e s u l t a n t e x c h a n g e o f f a r m p r o d u c t s f o r m a n u f a c tu r e d
g o o d s fro m th e c i t i e s r e s u l t e d I n t h e d e v e lo p m e n t o f e x t e n s i v e t r a d e ,
w h ic h h a s grow n t o s u c h p r o p o r t i o n s t h a t i f t r a d e I s i n t e r r u p t e d
e v e n a d ay o r tw o p e o p le i n t h e l a r g e r c i t i e s s u f f e r h a r d s h i p ,
fo r
g ra d u a lly ,
a l a r g e p o r t i o n o f t h e f a r m s becam e c o m m e r c ia liz e d , p r o d u c in g t h o s e c r o p s
f o r w h ic h t h e y M d c o m p a r a tiv e a d v a n t a g e .
I n o r d e r t o p r o d u c e t h e en o rm o u s am o u n t o f fo o d n e c e s s a r y t o m e e t
t h e demand o f t h e c i t i e s , t h e f a n n e r s n a t u r a l l y n e e d e d m ore l a b o r .
La­
b o r e r s becam e a s n e c e s s a r y o n fa rm s a s th e y w e r e i n f a c t o r i e s .
IT liile t h e r e a r e s t i l l m any s u b s i s t e n c e fa rm s i n A m erica t o d a y w h e re
t h e f a r m f a m i l y a t t e m p t s t o e k e o u t a l i v i n g w i t h o u t th e s a l e o f s u r p l u s
c r o p s , m o s t Of t h e f o o d p r o d u c e d f o r t h e n a t i o n i s grow n on l a r g e commer­
c i a l a n d f a m i l y s i z e f a r m s w h ic h s p e c i a l i z e i n v a r i o u s c r o p s f o r W hioh
t h e y h a v e a c o m p a r a tiv e a d v a n ta g e .
In a d d itio n to c a p i t a l , th e s e la rg e
Il
-1 9 f a c t o r y - l i k o f a r r a n e e d a l a r g o num ber o f v ro rlo srs, a s i t u a t i o n w h ic h h a s c o n ­
t r i b u t e d t o th e d o v e lo p ta o n t o f a fa rm l a b o r c l a s s j u s t a s t h e f a c t o r i e s I n
t h o l a r g e c i t i e s h a v e d e v e lo p e d a w age e a r n i n g c l a s s o f f a c t o r y l a b o r e r s #
The f r o n t i e r h a s b o o n c l o s e d s i n c e t h e l a s t w a r .
Eo m ore f r e e l a n d i s
a v a i l a b l e e x c e p t i n r e l a t i v e l y s n a i l a r e a s w h ic h h a v e b e e n o p e n e d t o s e t t l e ­
m en t t h r o u g h i r r i g a t i o n p r o j e c t s .
A f& ra l a b o r e r , t h e n , c a n n o l o n g e r s e t t l e
o n p u b l i c l a n d s a n d s t a r t f a m i n g w i t h a n i n i t i a l in v e s tm e n t o f h i s own e f f o r t s
p l u s a few h o r s e s , a w a g o n , a p lo w a n d a cow.
s ta c le I
lie m u st f i r s t p u r c h a s e t h e la n d #
Eow h e h a s a n a d d i t i o n a l ob­
T a b le I sfiows th o m a g n itu d e o f t h i s
fa rm f l n a n o i n r p r o b le m .
The p e o p le who a t t li e p r e s e n t t im e b o o o n c f n m o m e r s g e n e r a l l y e i t h e r
i n l i e r i t tls s fo rm o r tlie m oney w i t h will oh t o b u y t ! » f a r m , o r h a v e become
fa rm o w n e rs b e c a u s e o f l b r t u m t e p r i c e - c o a t r e l a t i o n s h i p s o r e x c e p t i o n a l l y
h i g h y i e l d s , a s d u r in g th e w a r .
I t i s now p r a c t i c a l l y i m p o s s ib l e f o r a
fa rm l a b o r e r to s a v e e n o u g h o u t o f h i s w ag es t o b u y a f a r m , s i n c e tiie a p p r e ­
c i a b l e m nount o f c a p i t a l e s s e n t i a l t o s t a r t f a rm in g i s p r o h i b i t i v e t o m o st
w o u ld -b e
farmers#
Tlio m a j o r i t y o f f a r m - r e a r e d p e o p le mho u n d e r t a k e fa rm o p e r a t i o n s h a v e
no o p p o r t u n i t y t o a c c u m u la te a l l t h e n e c e s s a r y c a p i t a l t o s t a r t p r o p e r l y ,
ev en a s te n a n ts *
W ith o u t t h e u s e o f some o r o d i t , few c o u ld s t a r t a t a l l *
T h i s Im s m ea n t t h a t t h o m a j o r i t y o f fa rm b o y s , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e who w ore
u n a b le t o g o t h e l p fro m t h e i r own f a n l i e s , h a d t o b e g in i n a s m a ll m y ,
o f t e n chi a p o o r farm an d w i t h o u t a d e q u a te e q u ip m e n t o r s u f f i c i e n t l i v e s t o c k
to o p e ra te e f f ic ie n tly #
E ven t e n a n t o p e r a t i o n s o n a p r o f i t a b l e b a s i s n e c e s s i t a t e a s u b s t a n t i a l
o u t l a y f o r e q u ip m e n t, l i v e s t o c k a n d a n n u a l p r o d u c t i o n e x p e n se #
l l / Im p ro v in g E a rn a n d R anch T e n u r e , R e p o r t by t li e E o r t h e m G r e a t P l a i n s
Ag r i c u i t u n il" ^ " f v is o r y C o u n c il#
-2 0 -
IABLB I
IWBSTMElJT REQUIREMENTS FOR FARMS AED RAIJCHBS II? I i E KORTHBRIT PLAINS*
K in d o f f a r a
o r ran ch
M in im m
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I n v e s tm e n t v a l u e s b a s e d on 1941 p r i c e s
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I . E q u ip m e n t i n v e s t m e n t a Bown i s a t a p p r o x i m a t e ly o n e - h a l f o f t i e
1941 p r i c e , new , o f n e c e s s a r y i t e m s .
2 e P r e s e n t ( l a s t h a l f 1 9 4 5 ) c a p i t a l r e q u i r e m e n ts p r o b a b l y a v e r a g e
7 5 ^ h i g j i e r f o r r e g io n *
As a r e s u l t o f t h e s i t u a t i o n s d e s c r i b e d a b o v e , m any f a r m e r s a n d
r a n c h e r s h a v e n o t b e e n a b l e t o a c c u m u la te m uch ab o v e l i v i n g a n d o p e r a t i n g
ex p en ses*
A l a r g e num ber who w o re b o t h d i l i g e n t and t h r i f t y M v e w o rk ed
o u t t h e i r l i f e s p a n a n d r e a r e d f a m i l i e s w i t h o u t b e in g a b l e t o im p ro v e
t h e i r e c o n o m ic p o s i t i o n *
♦ Im p ro v in g Farm a n d Hanoh T o rtu re i n M^o N o r th e r n P l a i n s , r e p o r t b y th e
TTorthoim C fre a t P l a i n s ' A d v is o ry "C ouncil* A«B* Bowman, D i r e c t o r o f E x t e n s i o n ,
U n i v e r s i t y o f W yom ing, L a r a m ie , C lm irm ani E* A . S t a r c h , R e g io n a l A n a l y s t ,
B u re a u o f A g r i c u l t u r a l E c o n o m ic s , L i n c o l n , N e b r a s k a , S e c r e t a r y o f C o u n c il*
-2 1 -
Ttio tw o f o r c e a , d e m n d f o r l a b o r cm l a r g o feiraus a n d t h e c l o s i n g o f
o p p o r t i m i t i o s f o r I n d i v i d u a l o w n e r s h ip , liav e l e d t o t h e f o r m a ti o n o f a
fa rm l a b o r c l a s s I n o u r e c o n o m ic s y s te m .
E v id e n c e t i n t t i d e s o y a e n t o f tim N a t i o n a l l a b o r f o r c e lia s b e e n o v e r ­
lo o k e d o r w as n o t c o n s id e r e d , i m p o r t a n t i s show n b y t h e r e c o r d o f l a b o r l e g ­
is la tio n .
I n 1 9 3 7 , a f t e r a p e r i o d o f e x p e r i m e n t a t i o n w ith t h e now fam ous
s e c t i o n 7 a o f t 1 » l i a t l o n a l I n d u s t r i a l R e c o v e ry Act o f 1 9 3 3 , th e M g n e r
L abor R e la tio n s A ct m o p a s s e d .
T h is a o t r e - a s s o r t e d t h e p r i n c i p l e o f
c o l l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g i n i n d u s t r y , a s s u r e d l a b o r tiio r i g h t t o b e r e p r e ­
s e n t e d b y a g e n t s o f i t s own c h o o s in g , a n d I b r b a d e e m p lo y e rs t o i n t e r f e r e
w itti t h o fre e d o m t o o r g a n i s e .
A ls o , i n 1 9 3 5 , c a m th e S o c ia l S e c u rity
A c t , w h ic h o a t a b l i a h o d a f n r - r o a o h i n g schem e o f Tmemploymont i n s u r a n c e
a n d o l d a g e a n d s u r v i v o r s p e n s io n p ro g ra m .
B io n i n 1930 t h e M air l a b o r
S t a n d a r d s A o t becam e o p e r a t i v e , e s t a b l i s h i n g a minimum f o r w ages a n d a
maximum f o r h o u r s .
I iie e i g h t - h o u r d a y becam e a n am endm ent t o t h e M ontana
C o n s t i t u t i o n i n M a rc h , 1 9 3 5 .
The a g r i c u l t u r a l w o rk e r m s e x c lu d e d from a l l o f t h e a b o v e l e g i s l a ­
tio n .
One o f th o r e a s o n s f o r t h e e x c l u s i o n o f t h i s wage e a r n i n g c l a s s
fro m t h e b e n e f i t s o f t h i s l e g i s l a t i o n w as t h a t i t Im s b e e n t h e g e n e r a l b e ­
l i e f t h a t t h e fa rm l a b o r e r w i l l e v e n t u a l l y o lim b t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l l a d d e r
a n d becom e a fa rm o w n e r, t h u s t a k i n g him o u t o f tite h i r o d l a b o r c l a s s .
T lie ro f o r e , i t w as f e l t t h a t h e s h o u ld b e e x c lu d e d fro m t h e b e n e f i t s o f t h e
above l e g i s l a t i o n .
H bu T . Ttam s t a t e s t h a t a t th e p r e s e n t t i m e , a s h a s
b e e n n o t e d a l r e a d y , a g r i c u l t u r a l l a b o r e r s a r e a lm o s t e n t i r e l y o u t s i d e t h e
s y s te m o f p r o t e c t i v e l e g i s l a t i o n e s t a b l i s h e d s i n c e 1 9 3 3 .
Tho te n d e n c y o f
-2 2 -
l e g i s l a t u r e s , b o t h n a t i o n a l a n d s t a t e , t o e x c lu d e fa rm l a b o r e r s , i s d u e l
12
(1 ) t o a b e l i e f t h a t th e a c t u a r i a l and a d m in is tr a tiv e d i f f i c u l t i e s
w o u ld g i v e r i s e t o a d m i n i s t r a t i v e c o s t s so h i g h a s t o b e p r o ­
h ib itiv e #
( 2 ) t o a f e a r t h a t t h e s m a ll f a r m e r w o u ld b e p l a c e d a t a d i s a d ­
v a n ta g e .
( 3 ) t o a t r a d i t i o n t l i a t t h e fa rm h a n d d o e s n o t r e q u i r e p r o t e c t i o n .
( 4 ) t o a f e a r t h a t i n c l u s i o n o f fla m l a b o r e r s w o u ld r » a n d e f e a t o f
a n y l a b o r l e g i s l a t i o n p ro p o sed #
( 5 ) t o a l a c k o f a n y w e l l - o r g a n i z e d l a b o r s u p p o r t#
I t w i l l be n o t e d t h a t n o a t t e m p t m s made i n t h e l e g i s l a t i v e r e c o r d
to
den y t h a t t h e r e i s a f a r m l a b o r se g m e n t i n Uie n a t i o n a l econom y.
Its
i n c l u s i o n i s due t o o t h e r f a c t o r s a s l i s t e d ab o v e #
P u rU re r e v id e n c e o f t h e f o r m a tio n o f a d e f i n i t e fa rm l a b o r c l a s s i s
show n b y tir e f o ll o w i n g r e f e r e n c e s *
A s u r v e y c o n d u c te d by TV# J , S p illm a n
13
_
am ong Midwestern fa rm o w n e rs i n 1919 show ed t h a t o n l y 2(%% o f t h e 2 ,1 1 2
fa rm o w n e rs c o n t a c t e d M d t a k e n t h e f o u r s t o p s i n o r d e r *
l a b o r e r , h i r e d m an , t e n a n t a n d ow ner#
u n p a id f a m ily
TIie survey a l s o d i s c l o s e d t h a t 34$
o f th e o w n e rs had n e v e r b e e n o n t h e h i r e d m an o r t e n a n t r u n g s o f th e
l a d d e r , b u t h a d p a s s e d ! m e d i a t e l y i n t o o w n e r s h ip a t tire tim e o f l e a v i n g
t h e h o n e farm #
T he P r e s i d e n t ’ s c o m m itte e o n fa rm te n a n c y s t a t e s t h a t
from 1926 t o
1 2 / lkan," 'Vtei# ¥ » W m ' L a b o r™ in " a n '' ;ra o ¥ C lm ngo, % a r o o o k of" X g r ia tltu r e '',* "
1940, p. 918
1 3 / F n c k ^ ro u n d s o f th e M r F a m L a b o r P r o b le m , p r e p a r e d b y t h e BAE a n d
t h c h u A ' I ik y ' 1 9 4 2 , W a s h in g to n , Ti, C#
23-
1 9 3 7 a p p r o x l m t e l y o n e - t h i r d o f a l l /o a e r lc a n s viio ovmod f a m s s l i p p e d down
o r o f f th e a g r ic u ltu r a l la d d e r#
U nder th e s e c ir c u m s ta n c e s , i t a p p e a rs t h a t
t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l l a b o r e r s do n o t r e p r e s e n t a g ro u p o f t e n a n t s i n th e m ak in g
b u t r a t i to r t h a t t e n a n t s a r e t o be r e g a r d e d a s p o t e n t i a l w age w o rk e rs # * 4
A l l s t u d e n t s o f t h e fa rm l a b o r p ro b le m lmoir t h a t o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r
y o u n g p e o p le t o booomo fa rm l a b o r e r s , f o r l a b o r e r s t o becom e t e n a n t s , a n d
f o r t e n a n t s t o becom e o w n e rs a r e g r e a t l y l i m i t e d t o d a y a s co m p ared w i t h a
g e n e r a t i o n o r tw o ago#
Sotme i n d i c a t i o n o f t h e im p o r ta n c e o f t h e fa rm l a b o r p ro b le m c a n b e
g l e a n e d fro m t h e n u m b er o f p e o p le in v o lv e d #
F i g u r e I , t a k e n fro m Mr#
T o l l e y ’ s 1945 a n n u a l r e p o r t , show s tlie t o t a l num ber o f p e r s o n a o n f a m s
fro m t h e y s a r 1910 t o 1945*
D e s p i te a h i s t o r i c a l d e c l i n e , t sere a r e s t i l l
a r o u n d 25 t o 26 m i l l i o n p e o p le l i v i n g o n fa rm s a t t h e p r e s e n t t i m e , a n d
t h e r e a r e p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f b e in g m ore i n t h e f u t u r e i f p e o p le a r e f o r c e d
b a c k t o t h e l a n d b e c a u s e o f l a c k o f o p p o r t u n i t y i n i n d u s t r y , a s w as t h e
s i t u a t i o n a f t e r V iorld War I #
T a b le I l l i s t s t h e a n n u a l a v e r a g e o f t h e num ber o f p e r s o n s em p lo y ed
o n f a m s on t h e f i r s t o f o a c h m onth fro m 1909 t o 1 9 4 6 .
I t w i l l be n o te d
t h a t t h e num ber o f t o t a l w o r k e rs i s d e c l i n i n g from y e a r t o y e a r #
The
n um ber o f f a m i l y w o r k e rs i s a l s o d e c l i n i n g , a s i s th e n u m b er o f h i r e d fa rm
w o rk e rs #
F ig u r e I I , a g ra p h o f th e d a ta show n i n T a b le I I , show s t h e r e l a t i o n ­
s h i p b e tw e e n t h e g r o u p s — t o t a l w o r k e r s , f a m i l y w o rk e rs a n d h i r e d w o rk e rs#
The num ber o f h i r e d w o r k e rs i s d e c l i n i n g m ore r a p i d l y t h a n t h e num ber o f
f a m i l y w o rk e rs #
1 4 / FanTjrr-P iinncy H o p o rt o f "the P r e s i d e n t ’ s' C o m m ittee o n P»rr.' 'I o n a n o y , 1 0 3 7 ,
V&bh C o n g r e s s , F i r s t S e s s i o n , H ouse Docum ent 149
1 5 / S m ith , Raymond C# A g r i c u l t u r a l Y e a rb o o k , p# 811
24-
F ig u re I
TTUIfflLJR OF PERSONS Oil FARMS ITJ THE UITITBD STATES
* E s tim a te d , U n ite d S t a t e s B u re au o f
A E n u m e r a t e d , U n i t e d S t a t e s B u re a u o f
C en su s
A n n u a l R e p o r t o f H b i e r d R . I b l l e y , C h i e f o f B u r e a u o f A g r i c u l t u r a l E c o n o m ic s
F o r The F i s c a l Y e a r 1 9 4 5
1916
1920
1925
1930
iq t c
-I n
” 25*»
TABLE I I
AGRICULTURAL IS F L O m iR T IK THE UNITED STATES, 1909 - 1945
AKIJDAL AVERAGE OF KUHBER OF FBRSOHS EMPLOYED OK TIE FIRST OF EACH MOUTH
Y ear
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
T o t a l Em ploym ent
(T h o u san d s)
1 2 ,2 0 9
1 2 ,1 4 6
1 2 ,0 4 2
1 2 ,0 3 8
12,033«
F to n ily Y forkers
(T h o u s a n d s )
9 ,3 4 1
9 ,2 6 9
9 ,1 7 2
9 ,1 4 9
9 ,1 2 8
IHLrod D b r k e rs
(T h o u sa n d s)'
2 ,0 6 8
2 ,0 7 7
2 ,8 7 0
2 ,0 8 9
2 ,9 0 6
1914
1916
1916
1917
1918
1 2 ,0 0 0
1 1 ,9 8 1
1 2 ,0 6 1
1 1 ,7 8 9
1 1 ,2 4 8
9 ,0 8 1
9 ,0 4 7
9 ,0 5 0
8 ,0 5 6
8 ,5 0 7
2 ,9 1 9
2 ,9 3 4
2 ,9 6 6
2 ,9 3 3
2 ,8 4 1
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
8 ,3 2 2
8 ,4 7 9
8 ,5 1 1
8 ,5 2 8
8 ,4 9 1
8 ,4 8 8
8 ,5 7 7
8 ,5 0 7
8 ,2 9 6
8 ,3 4 0
2 ,7 8 4
2 ,8 8 3
2 ,9 0 1
2 ,9 1 5
2 ,9 8 4
1924
1926
1926
1927
1928
1 1 ,1 0 6
1 1 ,3 6 2
1 1 ,4 1 2
1 1 ,4 4 3
1 1 ,3 8 5
1 1 ,3 6 2
1 1 ,4 4 6
1 1 ,6 3 4
1 1 ,2 4 6
1 1 ,2 9 5
1929
1930
1931
1932
1935
1 1 ,2 8 9
1 1 ,1 7 3
1 1 ,1 5 9
1 1 ,0 6 9
1 1 ,0 2 3
8 ,3 0 6
8 ,3 2 3
8 ,4 6 9
8 ,5 7 1
8 ,5 9 0
2 ,9 8 8
2 ,8 5 0
2 ,6 9 0
2 ,4 9 8
2 ,4 3 5
1934
1936
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1 0 ,8 5 2
1 1 ,1 3 1
1 1 ,0 4 7
1 0 ,8 9 2
1 0 ,7 9 6
1 0 ,7 4 0
1 0 ,5 8 5
1 0 ,3 6 1
1 0 ,3 9 7
1 0 ,2 6 3
8 ,5 0 6
8 ,7 0 2
8 ,4 8 6
8 ,2 6 1
8 ,1 7 6
8 ,1 4 5
8 ,0 1 9
7 ,8 2 9
7 ,8 5 5
7 ,8 6 7
1944
1945
1 0 ,0 3 7
9 ,8 4 3
7 ,0 1 0
7 ,7 2 6
2 ,3 4 6
2 ,4 2 9
2 ,5 6 1
2 ,6 3 1
2 ,6 2 0
2 ,5 9 6
2 ,5 6 6
2 ,5 3 2
2 ,5 4 2
2 ,4 0 6
2 ,2 2 7
2 ,1 1 6
2 ,8 7 4
2 ,8 6 9
3 ,0 2 7
2 ,9 5 0
2 ,9 5 6
w o rk o n f e m .
S o u rc e o f D ata* U .S * D e p o rtm e n t o f A c r l c u l t u r e P u b l i c a t i o n , r n c i y r o u n d
o f t h e m r L a b o r P ro b le m , p r e p a r e d by t h e B#A*E, a n d F .S .A * I k y , 1942*
-2 6
MILLIONS
6-
F ig u re I I
ITOMBER OF FAfiM WORKERS IN TIiE UNITED STATES
SHaiIKG RATE OF DECREASE 1 9 1 5 -1 9 4 5
j—
7- L _j
6
5 !___
4.
3_
TOTAL WORKERS
TOTAL FAMILY WORKERS
i-l CM to
CM CM CM
IO
CM
CO
TOTAL HIRED WORKERS
CO
O
CM CM CM CM
CJi G
i Gi Gi CD
194:
915
.
Aout a l l y , a s m a l l e r num ber o f p e o p le i s now r e q u i r e d i n a g r i c u l t u r e
t o p r o d u c e t h e f o o d n e e d e d by th e n a t i o n ,
a n d im p ro v e d m eth o d s o f f a r m i n g .
3 i i e i s d u e t o m e c h a n iz a tio n
T h is i s t r u e i f o n ly t h e econom ic r e q u i r e ­
m e n ts a r e c o n s id e r e d a s th e b a s i s o f t h e num ber o f p e o p le n e e d e d on f a r m s ,
I f , h o w e v e r, a g r i c u l t u r e i s c o n s i d e r e d a "w ay o f l i f e " m any p e o p le w i l l c o n ­
t i n u e to l i v e o n f a r m s , ev en i f t h e r e i s n ' t a n y a p p r e c i a b l e demand f o r
t h e i r p ro d u c ts ,
Tlie num ber o f p e o p l e e n g a g e d i n a g r i c u l t u r e a s h i r e d l a b o r e r s n e v e r ­
th e le s s in d ic a te s
th a t t in s
segm ent o f l a b o r i s s u f f i c i e n t l y im p o r ta n t
t o b e r e c o g n i z e d a n d c o n s i d e r e d when d e te r m i n in g a g r i c u l t u r a l p o l i c y f o r
th e n a tio n ,
Ih e A m e ric a n p u b l i c , h o w e v e r, h a s r e c e n t l y becom e h i g h l y c o n s c io u s
o f th e e x is te n c e o f farm la b o r e r s a s a c la s s o f ou r n a tio n a l p o p u la tio n ,
iIM s h a s b e e n a r e s u l t o f tiro v e r y d i f f e r e n t m ovem ents t h a t to o k p l a c e
d u rin g t h a t p e r io d .
D u r in g t h e h e a r t o f t h e d e p r e s s i o n , t h e p u b l i c , a l -
ra o s t f o r th e f i r s t t i m e , becam e c o n s c i o u s o f t h e m ig r a to r y l a b o r e r ,
R io u -
a o n d s o f fa rm p e o p le and c i t y d w e l l e r s , t h e i r n o rm a l w ays o f m ak in g a
l i v i n g d e s t r o y e d b y d r o u g h t a n d t h e d e p r e s s i o n , moved fro m p l a c e t o p l a c e .
Some o f t h a n t r a v e l l e d lo n g d i s t a n c e s s e e k i n g e m p lo y m e n tj m any f o i l i n t o
d i r e p o v e r t y and i n c r e a s e d t h e b u r d e n s o f p u b l i c r e l i e f i n t h e a r e a s i n t o
w h ic h t h e y h a d m o v e d .
D u rin g a l l t h i s p e r i o d a n d i n p r a c t i c a l l y a l l s e c ­
t i o n s o f t h e c o u n t r y t h e volum e o f f a r m l a b o r e r s so g r e a t l y e x c e e d e d t h e
demand t h a t th e e x c e s s s u p p ly c r e a t e d s e r i o u s p ro b le m s i n m any c o m m u n itie s .
During T torld W ar I I , e x a c t l y t h e r e v e r s e h a s b e e n t h e c a s e ,
rJhe s u p p ly
o f f a r m l a b o r e r s h a s b e e n s o low t h a t many f a r m e r s h a v e h a d d i f f i c u l t y i n
-2 8
a a o u r i n s s u f f i c i e n t l a b o r t o c a r r y o n a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c tio n *
c o m m itte e s , s t a t e s a n d t h e r a t i o n h a v e
M embers o f f h m
L ocal
a d t o w r e s t l e w i t h t h i s p ro b le m #
f & ta ilie s n o t n o n a a l l y a p a r t o f t h e l a b o r f o r c e —-w o m n ,
c h i l d r e n a n d o l d e r men— h a v e gone i n t o
th e f i e l d s to w ork#
V illa g e and
u r b a n p e o p le —n o n , women a n d c h i l d r e n — h a v e boon m o b il is e d a n d a o n t t o
t h e c o u n t r y t o a s s i s t w i t h I t a r v e s t dem ands#
T h o u san d s o f fa rm l a b o r e r s
Jtave b e e n i m p o r te d , a n d a n i n c r e a s i n g n u m b er o f p r i s o n e r s o f w a r a r e b e in g
used#
I n some o a s e s t h e Army h a s M d t o a s s i s t i n o r d e r t o s a v e c ro p s #
Thooo tw o e x tr e m e c o n d i t i o n s , t h e d e p r e s s i o n e n d T k trld #& r I I , M v e
Itad t h e e f f e c t o f m ak in g u s a w a re o f t h e p e o p le who r a k e u p t h e h i r e d l a ­
b o r e r s o f A m e ric a n a g r i c u l t u r e #
T M re w e re a b o u t f o u r m i l l i o n d i f f e r e n t p e r s o n s who w o rk e d o n fa rm s
f o r w ages d u r in g ISSO o1^T h ey Iiztd a t t a c h e d t o t h e n p r o b a b ly a n a d d i t i o n a l
t h r e e t o f o u r m i l l i o n d e p e n d e n ts #
T h e y d i d n o t do a l l t h e w o rk i n a g r i ­
c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n a n d t h e y d id n o t a l l l i v e o n farm s#
T h o se who d i d
l i v e o n f a r m s , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e i r d e p e n d e n t s , c o n s t i t u t e a se g m e n t o f
t h e B a t i o n 1S
c o p u la tio n s u f f i c i e n t l y l a r g e to w a r r a n t t h e a s s e m b lin g o f
f a r m o re i n f o r m a t i o n t h a n i s a v a i l a b l e c o n c e r n in g them *
I n s u m m a ris in g t h e a b o v e d i s c u s s i o n , tw o m a jo r p o i n t s Sieve b e e n em­
p h a s is e d ,
I*
TSiey a r e *
T M A g r i c u l t u r a l L a d d e r d o e s n o t o p e r a t e a s i t h a s i n t h e p a s t#
I t i s i n c r e a s i n g l y d i f f i c u l t f o r fa rm l a b o r e r s t o becom e o w ners*
2#
A d e f i n i t e g r o u p o f fa rm l a b o r e r s M s b o o n fo rm ed i n t h e U n ite d
S ta te s #
16/
oeAt#!1*# e s t i m a t e , 1039
-2 9
PART l i t
FARM L»\BOR IH MOHttm
H istory o f
m labor in ’Montana
M o n ta n a ’ s t o t a l dem and f o r a g r i c u l t u r a l w o r k e r s v a r i e s from a b o u t
6 9 .0 0 0 d u r i n g t h e s l a c k s e a s o n o f t h e y e a r , t o o v e r 1 0 0 ,0 0 0 d u r in g t h e
h a rv e st seaso n .
R o u g h ly s o e n k lo g , t h i s n e o n s t h a t t h e r e a r e a b o u t
3 0 .0 0 0 s e a s o n a l fa rm j o b s f o r w h ic h p la c e m e n ts m u s t be made e a c h y e a r .
I h i s f i g u r e c o r r e s p o n d s w i t h t h e num ber o f i n d i v i d u a l s p l a c e d by t h e Em er­
g e n c y i'h r n l a b o r p ro g ra m d u r in g t h e w a r y e a r s .
T/vBLE I I I
WOKttBA+
1939 - 1943
Y ear
to i n i
Kumber
W o rk e rs
J1Iansily
H o rk o rs
H ir e d
'w o rk e rs
1939
1940
1941
1942
1945
6 3 ,0 0 0
8 3 ,0 0 0
8 6 ,0 0 0
8 6 ,0 0 0
0 6 ,0 0 0
5 9 ,0 0 0
5 8 ,0 0 0
5 0 ,0 0 0
6 0 ,0 0 0
6 2 ,0 0 0
2 4 ,0 0 0
3 5 ,0 0 0
2 0 ,0 0 0
2 6 ,0 0 0
2 6 ,0 0 0
'+IfraenzeI',' ^ a r 'l' 'P." %'o' #onBma' % rm F it ta tl o in J
1 9 3 3 -1 9 4 3 , a n u n - p u ^ l i a l ie d ^ u lle ^ 'in * '
l h b l e I I I show s t h e a v e r a g e num ber o f a g r i c u l t u r a l w o rk e rs employed,
e a c h y e a r fro m 1939 t o 1 9 4 3 .
% iis t o t a l f i g u r e i s b ro k e n down i n t o tir o
s u b - g r o u p s , n a m e ly , f a m ily w o rk e rs a n d h i r e d farm w o r k e r s .
I t w i l l be
n o t e d t h a t a b o u t SCfSl o f t h e t o t a l w o r k e r s a r e h i r e d farm w o r k e r s .
-3 0 TABLE IV
TOTAL HJHBER OF AGRICUITUTiAL ViCSiKERS
IR MORTAL EY SEASOIB
1939 - 1943*
Y ear
W in te r
S p r in g
Summer
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
7 3 ,0 0 0
7 4 ,0 0 0
7 5 ,0 0 0
7 8 ,0 0 0
7 7 ,0 0 0
8 3 ,0 0 0
8 0 ,0 0 0
8 3 ,0 0 0
8 1 ,0 0 0
8 5 ,0 0 0
9 3 ,0 0 0
9 5 ,0 0 0
1 0 1 ,0 0 0
9 9 ,0 0 0
1 0 0 ,0 0 0
F ill
8 4 ,0 0 0
8 3 ,0 0 0
8 4 ,0 0 0
8 5 ,0 0 0
8 2 ,0 0 0
+ K ra e n z e l # C a r l F# § TImj M ontana F k m S i t u a t i o n 1 9 3 9 1 9 4 3 , a n u n p u b lia h o d b u l l o t i n .
T a b le IY s Itowa t h e t o t a l w o r k e rs b y s e a s o n s *
T he su m n er s e a s o n I e t h e
p e a k p e r i o d , t h e w i n t e r s e a s o n t h e low p e r io d *
TABLE V
BUMPER OF FAMILY AGRICULTURAL WORKERS
IR MORTAim BY SRASOES
1939 - 1943*
Y ear
V fin to r
S p r in g
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
5 9 ,0 0 0
6 9 ,0 0 0
5 7 ,0 0 0
5 6 ,0 0 0
5 9 ,0 0 0
5 8 ,0 0 0
5 8 ,0 0 0
6 8 ,0 0 0
5 7 ,0 0 0
6 1 ,0 0 0
Sum aer
6 1 ,0 0 0
5 8 ,0 0 0
5 9 ,0 0 0
8 4 ,0 0 0
6 6 ,0 0 0
F ill
5 6 ,0 0 0
5 7 ,0 0 0
5 7 ,0 0 0
6 0 ,0 0 0
6 0 ,0 0 0
+ K ra en z o l , C a r l F * , TImj M ontana F h ra S i t u a t i o n 1 9 3 9 -
I t w i l l b e n o t e d t h a t t h e num ber o f f a m i l y w o rk e rs r e m a in s s t a b l e
t h r o u g h o u t t h e y e a r , w i t h a v a r i a t i o n o f o n l y a b o u t 8 ,0 0 0 b e tw e e n w i n t e r
a n d summ er s e a s o n s , a s show n i n T a b le V*
-S I
TABIE TI
NUMBER OF EBlED AGE !CULTURAL * OREERS IN MONTANA BY SEASONS
1939 - W *
Y ear
1939
W
W
I9 k2
19U3
’“i n t e r
S p r in g
UxeOOO
25,000
22,000
26,000
22,000
2?x,000
15,000
13,000
21,000
18,000
Suraraer
F a ll
32,000
25,000
26,000
27,000
25,000
22,000
3 7 ,0 0 0
1x3,000
35,ooo
3U,ooo
♦ K r& e n z e l, c a r l u The Moarfcatm r a m S i t u a t i o n . 1959~19h5
a n u n p u b l is h e d b u l l e t i n *
On t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e T a b le V i show s t h a t t h e s e a s o n a l v a r i a t i o n s o f
M r e d w o r k e r s b e tw e e n h i g h e n d low p e r i o d s i s a b o u t 2 2 ,0 0 0 .
A s t u d y o f t h e s e t a b l e s , g i v i n g s t a t i s t i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n on M ontana
a g r i c u l t u r a l w o r k e r s , i n d i o a t e s t h a t a b o u t 3 0 ,0 0 0 t o 3 5 ,0 0 0 h i r e d w o rk e rs
o v e r a n d a b o v e f a m i l y w o r k e r s a r e n e e d e d e a c h y e a r t o c a r r y on M cmtona1S
a g r i c u l t u r a l program *
A l s o , a b o u t t h e s a n e num ber o f s e a s o n a l h i r e d f a r m
w o r k e r s a n d f a m i ly w o r k e rs a r e n e e d e d t o c a r r y o n th e w o rk d u r i n g p e a k
p e r io d s *
A l a r g e s e g m e n t o f t h i s s e a s o n a l l a b o r i s u s e d i n M o n ta n a 's s u g a r b e e t
f i e l d s , a s i s s h o r n b y T a b le s V II a n d V I I I , p r e p a r e d b y M r. K tu e n z e l i n h i s
u n p u b l is h e d b u l l e t i n , " S u g a r B e e t L a b o r i n " fo n ta n a 1 9 3 9 - 1 9 ^ $ " .
AS t ii e a c r e a g e o f s u g a r b e e t s h a r v e s t e a c h y e a r v a r i e s t o some e x t e n t ,
t h e num ber o f w o r k e r s n e e d e d w i l l v a r y d i r e c t l y w i t h t h e a c r e a g e *
B ie a v e r ­
a g e a c r e a g e f o r t h e p a s t t e n y e a r s , h o w e v e r, lia s b e e n 70,000 a c r e s o f s u g a r
b e e ts *
U r . K r a e n z e l 's f i g u r e s show t h e n u m b er o f w o r k e rs n e e d e d i n 1 9 3 9 ,
w hen 7 U .0 0 0 a c r e s w e re Ix a rv e st o d j t h e r e f o r e , i t c a n b e e s t i m a t e d t h a t on t h e
a v e r a g e a b o u t 1 1 ,0 0 0 s e a s o n a l b e e t w o r k e rs w o u ld bo n e e d e d e a c h y e a r t o t a k e
c a re o f th in n in g o p e ra tio n s .
A bout 9 ,0 0 0 w o u ld be n e e d e d i n t h e f a l l Im rv e s t .
3?-
•*32*
TABLE VXI
!IiaifJS1-B AND TYPE OF BEET IABORERS KSl TH IH Bim AMD FIRST IfOEINO BY
FACTORY DISTRICTS FOR HOETAEA, 1939*
T^/pe o f L a b o re r
Number o f vmrSaara bv fag-torv d is tr ic ts
B i l l i n g s H a r d in S ltto o y C h in o o k M is s o u la
A ll
O p e r a to r f a m i l y m r k e r s
2 ,6 9 9
664
492
494
774
276
B s s id o n t fa m ily w o rk e rs
2 ,0 6 2
1 ,0 1 7
364
287
75
319
R e s i d e n t s o l o w o r k e rs
1 ,3 3 4
480
16
288
274
306
704
369
122
146
36
41
4 ,3 0 0
1 ,5 1 1
466
698
1 ,2 5 3
352
1 1 ,2 9 9
4 ,2 3 1
1 ,4 8 0
1 ,3 0 3
2 ,4 1 2
1 ,2 9 3
M i g r a to r y f a m i l y w o rk e rs
M ig r a to r y s o l o w o r k e r s
T o t a l w o rk e rs
* K r a e n z e l , C a r l F e , S u g a r IiJeot L a b o r i n M o n ta n a , a n u n p u b lis h e d b u l l e t i n .
TABLE V I I I
NUMBER AND TYf3E OF BBBT LABORERS IOR SECOND HOEING AND TOPPING BT
FACTORY DISTRICTS FOR MONTANA, 1939*
Typo o f L a b o r e r
A ll
I k n b o r o f T O rk o ra by f a c t o r : / d i s t r i c t s
B l l l l n g e H a r d in S id n e y C h in o o k M is s o u la
O p e r a to r f a m i l y w o r k e rs
2 ,8 9 9
864
492
474
774
275
R e s i d e n t f a m i l y w o r k e rs
2 ,2 6 0
1 ,1 1 9
364
316
150
319
R e s i d e n t s o l o w o r k e rs
1 ,5 7 6
528
48
283
411
306
704
359
122
146
36
41
M ig r a to r y s o l o w o r k e rs
2 ,4 7 4
623
371
448
694
338
T o t a l w o r k e rs
9 ,9 2 1
3 ,4 9 3
1 ,3 9 7
1 ,6 8 7
2 ,0 6 5
1 ,2 7 9
M ig r a to r y f a m i l y w o r k e rs
* K r a e n z e l , C a r l F « , S u g a r B e e t L a b o r i n M o n ta n a , a n u n p u b l i s h e d b u l l e t i n .
-3 3 -
P ana l a b o r p la c e m e n t P r o c e d u r e s H e f c r e W o rld War I I
B e fo re th e w a r, th e r e m s no e f f i c i e n t p ro c e d u re f o r b rin g in g to g e th e r
w o r k e r s a n d j o b s i n t h e f a r m l a b o r m a rk e t*
I n t h e e a r l y d a y s o f r a n c h i n g , t h e o l d tim e s a l o o n s e r v e d a s t h e
c l e a r i n g h o u s e o r em ploym ent a g e n c y f o r b o t h r a n c h ow ner e n d cowboy*
When­
e v e r a r a n c h ow ner n e e d e d m en, h e s im p ly c a l l e d a t t h e n e a r e s t s a l o o n a n d ,
i n m o s t o a s e s , m s a b l e t o f i n d tiie men h e n e e d e d *
L ik e w is e , cow boys lo o k ­
i n g f o r J o b s w a i t e d a t t h e s a l o o n u n t i l a r a n c h e r cram© l o o k in g f o r w o rk e rs *
The b a r - t e n d e r s e r v e d a s d o r k a n d p a s s e d a lo n g i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t j o b s a n d
w o rk e rs w ith o u t c h a rg e .
D u rin g s l a c k s e a s o n s , w hen w o rk w as s c a r c e , i t w as
a common p r a c t i c e f o r t h e u n e m p lo y e d cowboy t o r i d e t h e g r u b l i n e u n t i l h e
o o u ld f i n d w ork*
The g ru b l i n e c o n s i s t e d o f a num ber o f r a n c h e s t o w h ic h
t h e cow boy r o d e , a r r i v i n g a lw a y s j u s t b e f o r e m e a l tim e *
W e s te rn h o s p i t a l i t y
dem anded t h a t h e b e I n v i t e d t o o a t w i t h t h e r a n c h p e r s o n n e l*
W ith t h e com ing o f t h e r a i l r o a d s , t h e sam e p a t t e r n o f j o b p la c e m e n t
a n d i n f o r m a t i o n s e r v i c e f o r h i r e d w o r k e rs c o n t i n u e d — t h e s a l o o n , t h e
c o u n t r y s t o r e , an d t h e l i v e r y s t a b l e w e re t h e em ploym ent a g e n c i e s *
D u rin g
h a r v e s t , o r a t t h e p e a k s e a s o n o f t h e fa rm w o r k , t h e dem and f o r h i r e d
s e a s o n a l w o r k e rs grew *
T h is dem and a t t r a c t e d a g r o u p o f p e o p l e known a s
h o b o e s*
Hobo w o r k e r s w e re c o n s i d e r e d l o w - c l a s s , u n d e s i r a b l e p e o p le *
They w e r e ,
i n f o o t , t h e s u r p l u s w o r k e r s fro m v a r i o u s p a r t s o f t h e c o u n t r y , l a r g e l y fro m
th e E a s te rn s t a t e s *
jo b s *
I n g e n e r a l , t h e y w o rk e d o n l y p a r t o f t h e tim e a t odd
T/hen t h e y l e a r n e d , b y t h e g r a p e - v i n e , o f h a r v e s t j o b s i n t h e w e s t , a
g r a d u a l s y s te m o f m i g r a t o r y l a b o r w as b u i l t u p - f o l l o w i n g t h e h a r v e s t
-5 4 -
s e n sozi fro m s o u th t o n o r t h .
H id in g t h e f r e i g h t t r a i n s m s t h e o o m o n mode
o f tra n s p o rta tio n *
T hose hobo w o r k e rs w e re r o e p o n s i b l o f o r t h e C r o a tia n o f tlie J u n g l e s ,
w h ic h nr© t o Ije fo u n d on t h e o u t s k i r t s o f a l m o s t a n y to w n .
The j u n g l e s c o n ­
s i s t o f a g r o u p o f m a k e - s h i f t s h a c k s o r b r u s h y a r e a s w h ere t h e m ig r a to r y
w o r k e r l i v e s w h i l e l o o k i n g f o r e m p lo y m e n t.
o f em p lo y m en t a g e n c y .
The j u n g l e s w o re a n o t h e r f o r a
F a rm e rs a n d r a n c h e r s who n e e d e d men f o r a few d a y s
o r Tzeeks w e n t t o t h e j u n g l e s , p ic k e d o u t t h e i r m en .
I n some o a s e s la w e n ­
fo rc e m e n t o f f i c e r s h av e r a i d e d th e ju n g le a a n d fo rc e d i t s
o c c u p a n ts t o move
on o r a c c e p t w ork on fhrm e*
I t vsRB o n l y t o be e x p e c t e d t h a t o u t o f t h i s g ro u p o f m i g r a n t s , t h e r e
to r e
fo o d .
m any s h i f t l e s s p e o p le who s im p ly m oved a b o u t t h e c o u n tr y b e g g in g f o r
H o w e v er, i n t h e p a s t t h e f a r m e r M s h a d t o d e p e n d t o a g r e a t e x t e n t
upon t h i s ty p e o f l a b o r to h e lp th ro u g h th e h a r v e s t s e a s o n ,
fth ile t h e r e
a r e no f i g u r e s a v a i l a b l e o n M ontana fa rm l a b o r t o s u p p o r t t h i s s t a t e m e n t ,
t h e r e s u l t s o f s u r v e y s i n T e x a s , P e n n s y l v a n i a , a n d W a sh in g to n seem t o i n ­
d i c a t e t l i f i t i t h a s b e e n t r u e f o r t h e n a t i o n a s a w h o le .
" I n K a rn e s C o u n ty , T e x a s , i n 1 0 3 0 , 9 2 .9 p e r c e n t o f t h e o p e r a t o r s i n ­
te r v i e w e d s a i d t h e y e n g a g e d i n an a c t i v e s e a r c h f o r ibrrn l a o o r e r a w hen t h e y
needed th e n .
I n t h e sam e c o u n ty 89*6 p e r c e n t o f t h e w o r k e rs em ployed s t a t e d
t h a t t h e y fo u n d t h e i r j o b s th ro u g h p e r s o n a l e f f o r t s .
E ig h t p e rc e n t o f th e
r e m a in d e r s a i d t h a t t h e y s e c u r e d t h e i r j o b s th r o u g h a f r i e n d , a n d l e s s t h a n
17
I o e r c e n t fo u n d t h e i r j o b s a s a r e s u l t o f t h e o p e r a t o r s s e a r c h i n g f o r l a b o r "
1 7 /V a s e y , *an A F o lso m , J . t i '. i.u rv e y o f A g r lm iltu r f iT l a b o r C o n d itio n s i n "
Tiayne C o u n ty S e n n * , USDA, W a sh in g to n I). C . 1 9 3 7 , p* 10
•p- J?
-3 5 -
"Bi Wayne County, Pennsylvania, in the same y e a r, 80.%' secured th e ir
jobs by personal e f f o r ts , i* i l o 88.30 o f the operators s ta te d th a t they
sought workers tiiomselves when labor was needed.
"In 1935 th ere vroro 96? of 1 ,2 2 0 jobs (79*30) scoured by 257 tra n ­
s ie n t workers in Yakima lflalley through in q u irie s a t the place of employ­
ment*
The proportion of re s id e n t workers xma p ra c tic a lly the same."%?
As a r e s u lt o f th is system, or ra th e r lack of system, the farmer
planted his crops and planned his work with tlie assumption th a t workers
would be available and w illin g to work fo r him any length o f time he speci­
fie d , vdiethor i t might be a few days or months.
Title assumption has worked
XTell enough as long as th ere was a good supply o f lab o r.
I n f a c t, the la r ­
ger the labor supply tike b e tte r , since wage r a te s v/ero then down and tlie
supply of worlcers p le n tif u l.
Under these conditions, howexror, the worker
xteis
of tlie coat of placement and inform ation s e rv ic e ,
carrying the burden
lie must not only pay
tlie fin a n c ia l costs involved in h is hapiiazard search fo r work, but must
a lso pay through physical diacomfort as m ill.
cost involved was, in most oases, umieoessary*
I^irtlioraore, p a rt of the
Hils must be the case when
workers search for jobs on tiie stren g th o f information received by tiie grape­
vine method.
'Iuch of th is Inform ation, n a tu ra lly , would be in c o rre c t.
The
r e s u lt would be many f r u itle s s hours o f search for work whore no work xms
av ailab le In one a re a , while in other areas there might bo a sc a rc ity of
workers.
1 8 / yasey, op. o i t . p . Ili
19/ yasey, 0£ . o i t . p. 15
-S C On t h e o t h e r h a n d , a s h o r t a g e o f la b o r p l a c e s t h e b u rd e n a n d c o s t on
th e o p e ra to r*
I f no w o rk e rs a r e a v a i l a b l e , h e e i t h e r r i s k s t h e l o s e o f
v a lu a b le c ro p s o r pays t!ie c o s t o f s e a r c h in g f o r l a b o r .
T h is s h o r t a g e o f l a b o r , d u r in g YJorld h e r I I , becam e s o a c u t e t h a t
t h e f a m e r e t h e m s e lv e s c o u l d n o t c a r r y t h e b u rd e n o f s e a r c h i n g f o r w o r k e r s .
I n o r d e r t o k e e p u p f o o d p r o d u c t i o n , t h e g o v e rn m e n t h a d t o s t e p i n a n d
a ssu m e t h i s c o s t .
The r e m a in i n g p a g e s o f t h i s t h e s i s w i l l r e c o r d t h e m e th o d s b y w h ic h
t h e fa rm l a b o r s u p p ly p ro b le m vi&e s o l v e d d u r in g t h i s w ar p e r i o d .
-5 7 -
L ffeot o f '.orId Var II on the
a m labor Supply in Miaatana
The acute fa m labor shortage during Tforld "ar I l w a s brought about
by the loss o f re g u la r farm workers in two ways; f i r s t , many were called
to the armed services $ second, many were a ttr a c te d to the war in d u s trie s .
I t has boon d i f f i c u l t to secure fig u re s oltawing the exact numiier of
workers leaving a g ric u ltu ra l occupations In Montana.
Thrmigh an analysis
o f a v a ila b le Inform ation, however, a rough approximation m y be made, which
w ill in d ic a te the e x ta n t of the farm labor shortage.
The United S tates census, taken in 19ltO, shows th a t 175,707 o f the
559»1*56 people in the s ta te were farm re s id e n ts .
fir. 0* C. Iiuaport, of the united S tates im p loymont O ffice, s ta te s th a t
there was an approximate f# loss o f population by m igration during the
years 19W to I^ i3 .
Sinoo Q f of the fig u re 559,456 would be 44,756 approxi­
mately 4 4 ,7 5 6 people l e f t the s ta te fo r other work during the three year
period.
Assuming t h a t people l e f t the fa rm in Montana in the same proportion
as farm population i s to to t a l population, then 51£ of 44,756, or 1 3 ,0 7 4
persons l e f t a g ric u ltu re fo r war in d u strie s in other s t a t e s .
Governor Sam Ford, in a speech on Jan . 23, 1946, s ta te d th a t a t o t a l
of 62.706 men had been c a lle d in to uniform from Montana during FJorld bar u .
Again assuming the same proportion, 31^ of 62,708. would give a figure of
19,439, the number o f men c a lle d to the se rv ic e who l o f t a g ric u ltu re in
Montana during
or Id TJar I I .
Since th e peak t o t a l labor f o r 00 fo r Montana a g ric u ltu re , including
h ired labor and i amiIy and operator workers, reached j u s t under 1 0 0 ,0 0 0
—3 8
w o r k e r s , nnd t h e lo w s e a s o n e n p lo y o e n t f e l l t o a b o u t 6 9 ,0 0 0 p e r s o n s , i t
c a n b e s e e n t h a t a s e r i o u s fa rm l a b o r s h o r t a g e c o n f r o n t e d !Jo n ta n a f a r m e r s
d u rin g iio rld Tmr I I .
20
'Sb/rjnenge'IV o p'." e f t , "p.' 'PJS
-5 9 -
BART I I I *
IEVELOPIKG A FARM LABOR PROGRAM
Tiie E n e rg e n o y Farm L a b o r P ro g ra m L u r in g B o r ld War I I
I t m s s t a t e d I n t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n t h a t t h e A m erican p u b l i c f i r s t b e­
cam e MMfcre o f t h e e x i s t e n c e o f a d i s t i n c t fa rm l a b o r g ro u p d u r i n g t h e d e­
p re s s io n in th e e a r ly t h i r t i e s .
From t h a t tim e u n t i l t h e W ar p e r i o d t h e
p ro b le m h a d r e s o l v e d i n t o o n e o f w h a t t o do w i t h t h e s u r p l u s fa rm w o r k e r s .
The g e n e r a l p r o c e d u r e f o llo w e d f o r s o l v i n g t h e p ro b le m w as m a i n ly t h a t o f
g i v i n g r e l i e f t o t h e u n e m p lo y e d .
I t is
o e rh a p s w e l l to go I n t o t h e d e v e lo p m e n t o f t h e f e d e r a l a g e n c i e s
t o tihom w as a s s i g n e d t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f h a n d li n g t h e s u r p l u s l a b o r p ro b ­
le m .
" P ro g ra m s f o r a s s i s t i n g fa rm l a b o r e r s w i t h t h e i r p r o b l e s a r e p r a c t i ­
c a l l y a l l b y - p r o d u c t s o f t h e d e p r e s s i o n a n d w ar p e r i o d s .
As e a r l y a s 1934
s m a ll a t t e m p t s w e re made b y t h e g o v e rn m e n t t o a s s i s t th e g r e a t m a s s e s o f
m i g r a t o r y f h m iv o rk e rs t h r o u g h e m e rg e n c y r e l i e f p r o g ra m s .
D u rin g t h e w ar
t h e g r e a t u s e d f o r f h r a l a b o r e r s l e d t o t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f p ro g ra m s t o
a s s i s t in th e supply and d is tr ib u tio n o f a g r ic u ltu r a l labor f o r the
21
Toduo-
t i o n a n d h a r v e s t i n g o f v i t a l fo o d o ro u sS
The d e p r e s s io n In th e t h i r t i e s h ad c r e a te d s u c h an ab u n d an ce o f l a b o r
t h a t t h e w o r k e r s th e m s e lv e s o o u ld n o t s o l v e t h e i r own p r o b le m s .
IL becam e
a p p a r e n t t h a t i t w ould bo n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e g o v e rn m e n t t o g i v e a s s i s t a n c e .
The m i n o b j e c t i v e o f th e f i r s t p l a n s w as t o g iv e em e rg en c y r e l i e f .
Thus
i n 193d t h e E m erg en cy R e l i e f A drtl i s t r e t i o n was fo rm e d f o r t h i s p u r p o s e .
2 1 / R e p o r t on ' -mr
e
' Lab o r e r s . f n T to ! E ta -.b e lo 'p € . "of a g r i c u l t u r e ''
'in re a u o f1 A g r i c u l t u r a l E o o n o in ic s, W a sh in g to n D .C . Ju n e 6 . 1L-45, p . 30
-4 0 -
The a g r i c u l t u r a l p h a s e o f t h e s e em erg en cy m e a s u r e s w e re c o n ti n u e d t y th e
R e s e t t l e m e n t A d m i n i s t r a t i o n a n d l a t e r b y t h e Farm S e c u r i t y A d m i n i s t r a t i o n ,
iho p ro g ra m s e t up u n d e r t h e s e a g e n c i e s in c lu d e d *
I , E x te n d in g s u p e r v i s e d c r e d i t a n d e m e rg e n c y g r a n t s i n a n
a t t e m p t t o c u r b t h e m i g r a t i o n o f th e d e p r e s s i o n a n d d r o u g h t
s tric k e n f a m ilie s .
2* C o n s t r u c t i o n o f fa rm l a b o r s u p p ly c e n t e r s t o p r o v i d e a
minimum o f s h e l t e r , s a n i t a r y f a c i l i t i e s , m e d ic a l c o r e a n d
com m unity a c t i v i t i e s f o r t h e m i g r a n t s .
5 . E m ergency g r a n t s o f f u n d s t o p r o v i d e f o o d a n d s u b s i s t e n c e
to s tric k e n fa m ilie s .
Up t o t h e tim e o f t h e W o rld W ar I I t h e Farm S e c u r i t y A d m i n i s t r a t i o n
Iiad c o n s t r u c t e d a t o t a l o f 95 l a b o r c a m p s, s t r a t e g i c a l l y l o c a t e d i n fo o d
c r o p a r e a s i n t h e U n ite d S t a t e s to
p e rm a n e n t c a m p s .
bake c a r e o f a r e a s n o t c o v e r e d t y t h e
These camps a t t r a c t e d w o r k e r s b e c a u s e o f t h e c le a n
l i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s a n d th e o r d e r l y m an n er i n w h ic h w ork c o u ld b e s e c u r e d .
* U n ite d S t a t e s Em ploym ent S e r v i c e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e w as s t a t i o n e d a t e a c h
o a s p t o ta k e o r d e r s fro m f a r m e r s f o r l a b o r an d t o a r r a n g e f o r w o r k e r s t o
r e p o r t to th e fa rm e rs re q u e s tin g la b o r .
I n t h i s w a y , a s t e p w as made to w a rd c u t t i n g down t h e w a s t e o f man
h o u r s o n th e p a r t o f bo Lh w o r k e r a n d e m p lo y e r a t t h e t im e w hen a l l man
!io u rs a v a i l a b l e s h o u ld b e p u t on p r o d u c t i o n .
Thus t h e d e p r e s s i o n , w i t h i t s a b u n d a n c e o f l a b o r , r e a l l y s e t t h e
s t a g e f o r g o v e rn m e n t a c t i o n w hen t h e s i t u a t i o n w as e n t i r e l y r e v e r s e d by
t h e W a r.
I t w as t h e e m p lo y o r who c la m o re d f o r w o r k e r s , h o w e v e r, d u r in g t h e
P iar p e r i o d ? i n s t e a d o f w o r k e r s who c la m o re d f o r jo b s #
IJLke w o r k e r s d u r i n g t h e
>
-4 1
d e p t'o s s l o n , s o t i t s f a n n e r s d u r i n g t h e m r fo u n d t h a t th e y c o u ld n o t s o l v e
t h e i r p ro b le m s i n d i v i d u a l l y ; h e n c e , i t becom e e v i d e n t t h a t t h e y t o o w o u ld
n e e d g o v e rn m e n t h e lp #
C o n s e q u e n tly , i n t h e f a l l o f 19^2 t h e g o v e rn m e n t d e v e lo p e d a p ro g ra m
w h e re b y s e a s o n a l fa r m w o r k e rs w e re r e c r u i t e d i n a r e a s w h e re t h e y w e re
a v a i l a b l e a n d t r a n s p o r t e d t o a r e n a w h e re t h e y w e r e n e e d ed #
F u r th e r m o r e ,
a n a g re e m e n t w as m ade on A u g u st i t , 1$&|2* w i t h t h e *58x1 c a n G o v e rn m e n t, t o
t h e e f f e c t t h a t M sx io an N a t i o n a l s w o u ld be b r o u g h t i n t o t h e I M ite d S t a t e s
t o h e l p w i t h t h e s e a s o n a l f a r a w o r k , e s p e c i a l l y on t h e
e a t C o a s t.
The
Idexioan G o v ern m en t a g r e e d t o a ll o w i t s c i t i z e n s t o oome t o t h e U n ite d S t a t e s
t o w o rk , w i t h t h e f o l l o w i n g s t i p u l a t i o n s ;
1.
T h a t t h e M ex ican w o r k e r s w o u ld b e p a id t h e p r e v a i l i n g w age f o r
w o rk f o r w h ic h th e y w e re t r a n s p o r t e d , w i t h a minimum o f
an
h o u r , o r t h e e q u i v a l e n t u n d e r t h e p i e c e r a t e s y s te m .
2.
T h a t t h e y s h o u ld b e g u a r a n t e e d em p lo y m en t f o r a t l e a s t 75/* o f
t h e w o rk in g d a y s d u r i n g t h e c o n t r a c t p e r i o d .
3#
TImt t r a n s p o r t a t i o n t o t h e w o rk a r e a s a n d r e t u r n t o t h e p o i n t
o f o r i g i n w o u ld b e p a i d by t h e T Jh lted S t a t e s .
U.
T h a t t h e M ex ican w o r k e r s w o u ld b e p r o v id e d w i t h s a n i t a r y
h o u s in g #
5.
T h a t t h e y w o u ld r e c e i v e t h e sam e h e a l t h g u a r a n t e e s a c c o r d e d t o
d o m e s tic a g r i c u l t u r a l w o r k e rs #
6*
T hat t h e r e w o u ld b e n o d i s c r i m i n a t i o n a g a i n s t them #
7*
T h a t t h e y w o u ld b e e m p lo y e d o n l y w h o re domes t i e w o r k e r s w o re
n o t a v a i l a b l e a n d w o u ld n o t b e u s e d t o lo w e r t h e w a g e s a n d w ork­
i n g s t a n d a r d s o f d o m e s tic w o r k e r s e m p lo y e d i n t h e sam e a r e a #
-4 2
I t \m e o n l y n a t u r a l t h a t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w o u ld d e s i r e to g i v e t h e
some g u a r a n t e e t o i t s own e i t i a e n s a s t h a t g i v e n t o f o r e i g n w o r k e r s ; co n ­
sequently, G ir a ila r
g u a r a n t e e s w ore o f f e r e d t o d o m e stic w o r k e rs *
It m s
a l s o f e l t t h a t r e a s o n a b l e a s s u r a n c e s m u s t b o g i v e n i n r e g a r d t o e m p lo y m e n t,
w o rk in g c o n d i t i o n s , a n d e a r n i n g s b e f o r e d o m e s tic w o rk e rs w o u ld v o l u n t a r i l y
go lo n g d i s t a n c e s f ro m home t o do s e a s o n a l w ork*
T he H a r Hanponrer C o m m issio n w as s e t u p t o t a k e c a r e o f m anpow er p ro b ­
le m s ,
T h is C om m ission i n t u r n d i v i d e d t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f s e c u r i n g domes­
t i c l a b o r o r s b e tw e e n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s E laployiaont S e r v ic e a n d t h e D e p a rtm e n t
o f A g ric u ltu re *
The U n i t e d S t a t e s Em ploym ent S e r v i c e w o u ld c e r t i f y t h e n e e d
f o r l a b o r a n d t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s D e p a rtm e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e w o u ld t r a n s p o r t
a n d o a r c f o r th e w o r k e r s ,
Tlie S e c r e t a r y o f / g r l c u l t u r e , i n t u r n , a s s i g n e d
t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t h a t d e p a rtm e n t t o t l i e F iara S e c u r i t y A d n l n i e t r a t io n *
To t h e
Farm S e c u r i t y A d m i n i s t r a t i o n w as a l s o a s s i g n e d tir e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f
t r a n s p o r t i n g t h e H oxieem n a t i o n a l s a n d s e e i n g t o i t t h a t t h e s t i p u l a t i o n s
o f tire a g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e M e x ic a n G o v ern m en t w e re e n f o r c e d *
T h is a g e n c y
a l s o Imd C lm rge o f t h e r e c r u i t m e n t a n d s e l e c t i o n o f w o r k e r s i n M e x ic o , i n
c o o p e r a ti o n w i t h t h e M e x ic a n G o v e rn m e n t, t h e U n ite d S t a t e s H e a l th S e r v i c e ,
a n d t h e U n ite d S t a t e s I m m ig r a tio n a n d n a t u r a l i s a t i o n S e r v ic e *
I t w as b e l i e v e d t h a t i t w o u ld b e b e t t e r f o r f a r m e r s o n s u b - m a r g in a l
la n d t o w o rk a s y e a r a r o u n d w age e a r n e r s o n good d a i r y , l i v e s t o c k an d p o u l t r y
f a r m s , w h o re l o s s e s o f tire r e g u l a r farm w o r k e r s w o u ld r e s u l t i n c u r t a i l e d
p ro d u c tio n *
T r a i n i n g c o u r s e s w o re s e t u p t o g iv e p r o s p e c t i v e w o r k e rs tit® t r a i n i n g
needed to
ta k e o v e r now w ork*
The U n ite d S t a t e s Iiip lo y m o n t S e r v ic e c o ­
o p e r a t e d w ith t re Farm S o o u r i t y A d m i n i s t r a t i o n I n r e c r u i t i n g a n d p l a c i n g
-4 3 —
s u c h w o r k e r s , an d t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o f f i c e o f e d u c a t i o n a s s i s t e d -.Titli t h e
e s ta b lis h m e n t o f tr a in in g c e n te r s .
The f i r s t t r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f d o m e s tic w o r k e r s t o l a b o r s h o r t a g e a r e a s
w s ra.d e o n S e p t . 4 , 1942$ t h e f i r s t U e x io a n E a t i o n a l s s e n t t o t h i s c o u n tr y
w e re t r a n s p o r t e d on S e p t . 25 o f t h e same y e a r .
L a b o r a g r e e m e n ts w a re a l s o m ade w i t h t h e g o v e rn m e n ts o f t h e P a i m a
I s l a n d s a n d J a r a i o a , w h e re b y w o r k e rs w o u ld b e t r a n s p o r t e d t o t h e U n ite d
S t a t e s u n d e r s t i p u l a t i o n s s i m i l a r to t h o s e m ade w i t h 'M exico*
The Bahama
a g r e e m e n t w as m ade e f f e c t i v e o n M aroh 1 6 , a n d t lt e J a m a ic a n a g r e e m e n t on
A p ril 5 , 1943.
On J a n u a r y 2 5 , 1 9 4 3 , a n o t h e r c h a n g e w as m ade w i t h re g a rd : t o t h e man­
p o w er p r o b le m .
The Manpower C om m ission g a v e t h e S e c r e t a r y o f A g r i c u l t u r e
f u l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r th e s u p p l y o f s o m o s tie a n d f o r e i g n l a b o r n e c e s s a r y
f o r w r fo o d p r o d u c tio n .
p o lic ie s and s ta n d a rd s .
Tho C om m ission r e t a i n e d c o n t r o l o v e r m anpow er
The r e c r u i t m e n t a n d p la c e m e n t a c t i v i t i e s f o r m e r ly
h a n d le d b y t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s Em ploym ent S e r v i c e m s a l s o
S e c re ta ry .
tu rn e d o v e r to th e
Tlie Fterm T e o u r i t y A d m i n i s t r a t i o n c o n ti n u e d t o c a r r y o u t t h e p r o ­
gram f o r t h e d e p a r tm e n t a n d l a t e r f o r t h e Tiar Food A d m i n i s t r a t i o n whon t h a t
a g e n c y m s s t n b l l s h e d t o c o n s o l i d a t e a l l a g e n c i e s w i t h t h e D e p a rtm e n t o f
A g r i c u l t u r e t h a t w ore o o n n e o te d v i t l i t h e p r o d u c t i o n a n d d l s t r l b u t on o f f o o d .
C o n g re s s t h e n p a s s e d a j o i n t r e s o l u t i o n ( l h i b l i c L a w -4 8 -7 S th C o n g r e s s )
o n A p r i l 1 5 , 1 9 4 3 , m ak in g a n a p p r o p r i a t i o n t o a s s i s t i n p r o v i d i n g a s u p p ly
a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n o f fa rm l a b o r f o r t h e y e a r 1 9 4 3 .
w as a p p r o p r i a t e d , t o be e x p e n d e d b y t o
The sum o f # 2 6 ,1 0 0 ,0 0 0
A d m i n i s t r a t o r o f Food P r o d u c tio n
a n d D i s t r i b u t i o n , f b r h e l p i n p r o v id i n g a s u p p l y o f w o r k e r s f o r t h e p r o d u c t i o n
44-
o f a g ric u ltu ra l commodities e s s e n tia l fo r tiie hot e f f o r t .
This re so lu tio n
provided fo ri
I.
The recruitm ent, placement ( lnoluding the placement o f workers
as tenants or sharecroppers) , and tra in in g of such workers#
2#
T ra n s p o rta tio n , s u p e rv is io n , s u b s is te n c e , p r o te c tio n , h e a lth
a n d b u r i a l s e r v i c e s , a n d s h e l t e r f o r s u c h w o r k e rs a n d t h e i r
f a m ilie s and n e c e s s a ry p e rs o n a l p ro p e rty #
5#
Lease, r e p a ir , a lte r a t io n , and operation of labor supply
centers and other necessary f a c i l i t i e s and s e rv ic e s , in ­
cluding former C iv ilia n Conservation Corps oanps.
I*#
Advancing to workers o f suras due from employers w ithin the
United S ta te s who are under co n tractu al o b lig a tio n to re­
imburse such extension serv ices for subh advances#
5#
Employment of personnel and other adm inistrative expenses#
6*
Payment to or reimbursement o f other public or p riv a te agen­
c ie s or individuals for furnishing services or f a c i l i t i e s
fo r such purposes.
Such extension gorviceo may en ter in to
agreements w ith other public and p riv a te agencies and indi­
viduals and u t i l i s e the f a c i l i t i e s and s e rvices of such agen­
c ie s and in d iv id u a ls in carrying out the purposes o f th is
section*
nThe A d m i n i s t r a t o r w as a u t h o r i z e d t o e x p e n d $ 1 3 ,5 0 0 ,0 0 0 f o r *
I.
The re c ru itin g and tra n sp o rta tio n o f workers and th e ir
fam ilies and necessary personal property, w ithin the
United S tates and elsewhere#
■452«
R i r n l s h i n g , b y l o a n s o r o t h e r w i s e , o f h e a l t h a n d m e d ic a l a n d
b u r i a l s e r v i c e s , t r a i n i n g , s u b s is t e n c e , a llo w a n c e s , p r o te o *
t i o n , a n d s h e l t e r f o r s u c h w o r k e r s and t h e i r f a m i l i e s .
5.
A d v a n c in g t o w o r k e r s o f sums due fro m e m p lo y e rs w i t h i n th e
U n ite d S t a t e s who a r e u n d e r c o n t r a c t u a l o b l i g a t i o n t o r e ­
im b u r s e t h e U n ite d S t a t e s f o r s u c h a d v a n c e s .
if*
I /s a s e , r e p a i r , a l t e r a t i o n , a n d o p e r a t i o n o f l a b o r s u p p ly
c e n te r s and o th e r n e c e s s a ry f a c i l i t i e s and s e rv ic e s *
5.
O p e r a tin g personnel and expenses to carry out the above
purposes.
Ills
l e g i s l a t i o n f u r t h e r s t a t e d t h a t t h e f u n d s a p p r o p r i a t e d m u st n o t
be e x p e n d e d f o r tiie t r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f a n y w o r k e r fro m a n y c o u n ty w h e re h e
r e s i d e d o r w as w o rk in g t o ti p l a c e o f em ploym ent o u t s i d e t h e c o u n ty w i t h ­
o u t t h e c o n s e n t i n w r i t i n g o f t h e C o u n ty A g e n t, i f th e w o r k e r h a d b e e n i n
t h e c o u n ty f o r one y e a r o r m ore e n d h a d b e e n e n g a g e d i n a g r i c u l t u r a l w o rk .
T h is w as t o l i m i t t h e m i g r a t i o n o f r e g u l a r fa rm h e l p fro m low p a i d t o M g h
p a i d fa rm w age a r e a s .
A n o th e r l i m i t a t i o n w as p l a c e d on t h e e x p e n d i t u r e o f t h o s e f u n d s .
I h e fu n d s were; n o t t o b o u s e d d i r e c t l y o r i n d i r e c t l y t o I l x r e g u l a t i o n s
o r im p o se minimum w a g e s o r h o u s in g s t a n d a r d s , t o r e g u l a t e h o u r s o f w o rk
o r im p o se o r e n f o r c e c o l l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g r e q u i r e m e n ts o r u n io n member­
s h ip .
T h is l i m i t a t i o n a p p l i e d to a l l a g r i c u l t u r a l l a b o r e x c e p t im p o r te d
a g r i c u l t u r a l l a b o r a n d t h e n o n l y t o t h e e x t e n t n e c e s s a r y t o co m p ly w i t h
t h e a g re e m e n t w i t h f o r e i g n g o v e rn m e n ts .
For the s u c c e e d in g y e a r , n a m e ly fo r l9 W t, P u b l ic Law 1*5 w as am ended
b y C o n g re s s I y I ho p a s s a g e o f P u b l ic law 2 2 9 ( a p p r o v e d F e b . Ii*, 191*4).
I n g e n e r a l , t h e p o w ers a n d a u t h o r i t i e s g r a n t e d t h e
a r F ood A r M l n i s t r a t o r
w e re c o n ti n u e d w i t h th e f o l l o w i n g c h a n g e s*
1«
A d d i t i o n a l fu n d s w e re a p p r o p r i a t e d a n d t h e A d m i n i s t r a t o r was
d i r e c t e d t o d i s t r i b u t e n o t l e s s t h a n $ 1 U ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 a n d n o m ore
t h a n $ 1 8 ,5 0 0 ,0 0 0 t o " t h e S t a t e s , w i t h a n a d d i t i o n a l p r o v i s i o n
t h a t t h e S t a t e s may e x p e n d $ 1 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f
fam
2,
l a b o r s u p p ly c e n t e r s ,
The f u n d s a p p r o p r i a t e d a n d n o t d i s t r i b u t e d t o t h e S t a t e s w e re
t o b e e x p e n d e d by t h e A d m i n i s t r a t o r f o r t h e sam e p u r p o s e s a s
o u t l i n e d i n P u b l i c Law U5 w i t h t h e f u r t h e r p r o v i s i o n t h a t
t h e A d m i n i s t r a t o r w as a u t h o r i z e d a n d d i r e c t e d t o e n t e r i n t o
a g r e e m e n ts w i t h t h e S t a t e E x t e n s i o n S e r v i c e s t o t a k e o v e r s u c h
p a r t s o f t h e i n t e r s t a t e a n d f o r e i g n p h a s e s o f t h e p ro g ra m ,
i f t h e S t a t e E x t e n s i o n S e r v i c e s may s o d e s i r e ,
J,
P u b l i c Law 2 2 9 c o n t a i n e d t h e sam e l i m i t a t i o n s a s P u b l i c lew h5»
Ue
T h is la w d e f i n e d a g r i c u l t u r a l l a b o r a n d a u t h o r i z e d em orgonoy
u s e o f la b o r i n fo o d p ro c e s s in g .
The Tiar Food A d m i n i s t r a t o r d e f i n e d t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f t h e O f f ic e
o f L a b o r a n d E x te n s io n S e r v i c e a s f o ll o w s *
wThe O f f ic e o f L a b o r s h a l l
b e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a l l f u n c t i o n s o f t h e E a r Food A d m i n i s t r a t i o n r e l a t i n g
t o l a b o r , m anpow er, a n d w age s t a b i l i z a t i o n , e x c e p t t h o s e f u n c t i o n s r e ­
l a t i n g t o i n t r a s t a t e l a b o r , t h e W omen's L m d A nay e n d t h e V i c t o r y Farm
V o lu n te e rs i th e E x te n sio n S e rv ic e s h a l l be r e s p o n s ib le f o r a l l f u n c tio n s
o f t h e TTar "o o d A d m i n i s t r a t i o n r e l a t i n g t o i n t r a s t a t e l a b o r , t h e ITotaen»a
Land Army a n d t h e V i c to r y Farm V o lu n te e r s p r o g r a m s ,
S uoh c a m p s , e q u ip m e n t
—4 7 -
a a d ja r o p o r ty a s tiio O f f ic e o f L a b o r d e te r m in e s t o b e w h o lly a n d c o n t i n u a l l y
a v a ila b le f o r u se in th e i n t r a s t a t e la b o r , th e
v ic to ry
o m e n 's Land A ray a n d t h e
"arm V o l u n t e e r s p r o g r a m a r e h e r e b y t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e lix te u s lc m
S e rv ic e f o r lo a n t o th e S t a te E x te n sio n S e r v io o s ,”
Ih o r e s p o n s I b i I i t y f o r t h e f u n c t i o n s o f t h e A ar
ood A d m i n i s t r a t i o n
r e l a t i n g t o f a r m l a b o r , m anpow er s t a b i l i z a t i o n , a n d f a r m w age s t a b i l i s a t i o n
w as r o —d e f i n e d i n J a n , 1945»
In
e n e r a l , t h e f u n c t i o n s w e re t o b e t h e sam e
a s i n 19M+, w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n t h a t a l l t h e f u n c t i c n a p e r t a i n i n g t o i n t e r ­
s t a t e d o m e s tic a n d m i g r a t o r y d o m e s tic l a b o r w e re t o be t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
o f t h e L x tfm s lo n S e r v i c e ,
The I f f i c e o f L a b o r w as r e s p o n s i b l e f o r h o u s in g ,
s u b s i s t e n c e , a n d m e d ic a l c a r e f o r s u c h I n t e r s t a t e d o m e s tic l a b o r o r o t h e r
m i g r a t o r y l a b o r h o u s e d i n Afar Food A d m i n i s t r a t i o n cam ps o p e r a t e d b y t h e
O f fic e o f L a b o r.
The O f f ic e o f L a b o r o r g a n i s a t i o n c o n s i s t e d o f a c e n t r a l o f f i c e
w o rk in g th r o u g h d i v i s i o n a l and a r e a o f f i c e r s s t r a t e g i c a l l y l o c a t e d f o r t h e
b e s t i n t e r e s t s o f th e jo b to be d o n e .
To m e e t i t s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , t h e E x t e n s i o n S e r v i c e u s e d I t s r e g u l a r
c o u n ty a g e n t p e r s o n n e l , s u p p le m e n te d by o v e r 4,600 a d d i t i o n a l f a r m l a b o r
s p e c ia lis ts .
L o c a l c o m m itte e s o f f a r m e r s a n d v o l u n t e e r w o r k e r s w e re a l s o
c a l l e d upon t o h e l p w i t h t h e w o rk .
The E x te n s io n p e r s o n n e l , a s s i s t e d b y t h e l o c a l c o m m itte e s o f f a r m e r s ,
a p p ra is e d th e n eed
o r f a r m l a b o r e r s a n d d e v e lo p e d p l a n s f o r o b t a i n i n g t h e
r e q u i r e d num ber o f w o r k e r s — c i t h e r l o c a l l y o r fro m o t h e r s o u r c e s .
C o u n ty
a g e B o a rd s h o l d h e a r i n g s i n r e g a r d t o p r e v a i l i n g w age r a t e s , t h u s a v o id ­
i n g a s much oonf u s i o n a s p o s s i b l e i n d e te r m i n in g w h a t t h e p r e v a i l i n g w age
-4 8 r a t e e n i g h t bo I n a n y l o c a l i t y .
T he c o u n ty a g e n t ’ s o f f i c e w as a l s o u s e d a s a p l a c e w h e re f a m o r s m ig h t
r e g i s te r th o ir la b o r n e e d s.
F u r t h e m o r o , h i s o f f i c e s e r v e d a s a p l a c e w h e re
t h e f a r m e r s c o u ld n e e t a n d h e l p t h e n g o n t , th r o u g h c o m m itte e a c t i o n , t o
a p p r a i s e t h e c u r r e n t n o o d t'or l a b o r i n t h e com m unity a n d d e t o r a i n c i n a d ­
v a n c e Iiow m any w o r k e r s w o u ld b e n e e d e d , a n d when a n d i f t h e y c o u ld b e ob­
ta in e d .
Yforlaors, i n t u r n , a l s o c a l l e d a t t h e o f f i c e o f th e c o u n ty a g e n t
t o r e g i s t e r a n d b e in f o n a e d a s t o W ia t J o b s w ore a v a i l a b l e ,
As t h e s h o r t a g e o f w o rk e rs c o n ti n u e d t o g ro w m ore a c u t o , a r r a n g e m e n ts
w e re made w i t h t i e
farm s.
U n ite d S t a t e s A m y t o a l l o w p r i s o n e r s o f w a r t o w ork o n
The f i r s t p r i s o n e r s o f w a r , w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f I t a l i a n I n t e r n e e s ,
w o re f i r s t m ade a v a i l a b l e f o r fa rm l a b o r i n M ontana I n S e p te m b e r, 1 9 4 4 .
The A g r i c u l t u r a l E x t e n s i o n S e r v i c e w as g iv e n t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f c e r t i f y ­
i n g t h e n e e d f o r p r i s o n e r o f w a r l a b o r and m a k in g tlie a l l o c a t i o n s among
t h e v a r i o u s c o n t r a c t i n g e m p lo y e rs i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h P u b l i c L aw -229.
( E x c e r p t s fro m t h i s
la w a r e s t a t e d a b o v e )
The A g r i c u l t u r a l E x t e n s i o n S e r v i c e a l s o a s s i s t e d i n t h e f i n a n c i n g o f
cam ps f o r
r l s o n e r s o f w a r n s shown i n
T a b le X X V III.
-4 0 O r c a n i z a t l o n o f t h e ''Iontarm F a m Ix tM r iY o n m a
% # o r g a n iZ G tio n o f t h e M ontana E m ergenoy I k m L a b o r P ro g ram i s shown
i n t h e d ia g rs u a i n f i g u r e I I I *
I h e L i r o o t o r o f t h e M ontana A g r i c u l t u r a l E x te n s io n S e r v i e e h ad com­
p l e t e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r th e l a b o r p ro g ra m i n M ontana*
In o r d e r t h a t th e
b e s t i n t e r e s t o f a l l p a r t i e s c o n c e r n e d n i g h t be c o n s i d e r e d i n t h e fta ra
l a b o r p r o g ra m , an a d v i s o r y o o m i t t e e wns f b m e d *
T h is c o m m itte e m s c a l l e d
t h e M ontana S t a t e Farm L a b o r C om m ittee a n d m s o o n p o e e d o f r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s
of
r o w e r s f A s s o c i a t i o n s , S u g a r F e e t P r o c e s s i n g C o m p a n ie s, R a i l r o a d s , Ex­
t e n s i o n S e r v i c e , O f f ic e o f L a b o r , S e l e c t i v e S e r v i c e , l n i t e d S t a t e s D e p a r t­
m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e , U n i t e d S t a t e s F o r e s t S e r v i c e , M o n tan an s I n o * , Yiar
M am ow er C o m m issio n , V o c a t i o n a l A g r i c u l t u r a l E d u c a t i o n , A g r i c u l t u r a l A dJ u s t - I e n t A d m i n i s t r a t i o n , a n d Eiureau o f A g r i c u l t u r a l B e c n o m l c D e p a r t m e a f e
o f P u b l ic W e l f a r e , U neraployiaent C o m p e n s a tio n C w n rd e o io n , M ontana W oolgrotaors
A s s o c i a t i o n , W ar Food A d m i n i s t r a t i o n , U n i t e d S t a t e s Employment S e r v i c e ,
S t a t e Yiar B o a r d , S t a t e
D e p a rtm e n t o f E d u c a t i o n , F a rm e rs U n io n , F h ra
B u re a u G r a n g e , M ontana S to c k g ro w e r s A s s o c i a t i o n , O f f i c e o f C i v i l i a n
D e fe n se ,
a n d t h e F a r a S e c u r i t y A d m i n is t r a ti o n *
The S t a t e C o m m issio n e r o f A g r i c u l t u r e a c t e d a s C h a l r m n o f th e
M ontana S t a t e
Farm L a b o r C om m ittee*
Frw a a s t a t e o r g a n i s a t i o n a l s t a n d ­
p o i n t , t h e l a b o r p e r s o n n e l s e t - u p was a s f o l l o w s s
Ie S ta te L evel
a* S t a t e S u p e r v i s o r i n c h a r g e o f e n t i r e
F ttra L a b o r Urogram
b* One A s s i s t a n t S u p e r v i s o r who w o rk e d f o r e i g h t m o n th s d u r in g t l i e
y e a r , m a in ly I n t h e f i e l d a s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e S u p e r v i s o r .
ORGANIZATION OF EMERGENCY FARM LABOR PROGRAM
M o n t a n a - 1944
KEY:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
G.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
S ta te D ire cto r
S t a t e F a m L a b o r C om m ittee
S ta te S u p erv iso r
S ta te A s s is ta n t S u p erv iso r
A d m in istra tiv e A s s is ta n t
V .F .V . A s s 't S u p e r v is o r
If.L .A . A s s ' t S u p e r v I s o r
S ta te O ffice C le rk -S te n o s.
C ounty A gent
C o u n t y Farm L a b o r C o r : . i t t . e e
L abor S p o n s o rin g O rg.
’.’/a g e F o a r d
Labor A s s i s t a n t
la b o r C lo rk -S ten o .
P e r Diem - o c r u i t o r
V olu n teer R e c ru ite r
O p erato rs
STATE LEVEL
I
Ol
0
1
(R'
15
15
r e s o n t a t i v e o :'
I
' r.ito )
>
CCUNTY LEVEL
15
O
■
■51
o* A ssista n t State Supervisor, ( s ta te Z*-H Club Leader) in
charge of the youth p e rt of the program. Victory Farm
Volunteers, devoting I^C o f h is time to labor*
d« A ssistan t S tate Supervisor (Home ^lonagment S p e c ia lis t) ,
Women's Land Army, devoting an estim ated 35
o f her
time to labor*
e* Administrative A ssista n t, who had charge of the S tate
o ffic e procedure, the assembling of the many d e ta ils o f
the Parra Inbor Program Into various rep o rts and summaries,
f* Three c le rk»s teaiographers, two f u l l time and one p a r t
tim e.
g« One f ie ld man who a s s is te d In d ire c tin g custom combines,
2* C o u n ty Level
In each county an a c tiv e County I ana Labor Committee, consisting of
farm organization re p re sen ta tiv e s as w ell as a c tu a l producers, continued
to function and to advise with the County Agent on o v e r-a ll p o lic y , to­
t a l labor requirem ents, general plans fo r re c ru itin g of labor and sim ilar
a c tiv itie s ,
a . Hie County Agent supervised the Pana Labor program in the
co u n ties.
In some of the small counties, he managed the
program without a d d itio n a l h e lp , w ith the exception of
volunteer farm le a d e rs ,
b , Labor A ssistants were employed in the counties needing con­
sid e ra b le help in securing s u f f ic ie n t labor,
o*
Labor clerk-stenographers were also employed in ad d itio n to
the Labor A ssistants to take care o f the labor o ffic e .
••52“
r e g i s t r a t i o n s , and o r d e r s .
S o m c o u n ty a g e n ts e m p lo y e d
t h e e I e r k - s t e n o g r a p h e r o n l y , b e i n g a b l e t o h a n d le t h e
L a b o r A s s i s t a n t 's w o rk t h e m e I v e s , b u t n e e d in g e x t r a h e l p
in th e o f f lo e .
I n a fe w c o u n t i e s t h i s h a d t o b e d o n e be­
c a u s e a c a p a b le man c o u ld n o t b e s e c u r e d t o s e r v e a s L abor
A s s is ta n t.
d . A fe w c o u n t i e s w e re a b l e t o c a r r y cm t h e p ro g ra m b y m ak in g
a s m a l l p ay m en t t o r e c r u i t e r s o r com m unity p la c e m e n t men
td io w e re p a i d b y t h e d ay t o a c t a s c o n t a c t men b e tw e e n
■ o rk ers a n d f a r m e r s .
I n s a n e c o u n t i e s , w h e re tiio l a b o r
p ro b le m was m ore d i f f i c u l t , s u c h l a b o r r e c r u i t e r s w e re
h i r e d i n a d d it io n t o a la b o r A s s i s t a n t and o l e r k .
e . V o lu n te e r u n p a id r e c r u i t e r s s e r v e d i n m any c o u n t i e s a s con­
t a c t men a n d h e lp e d t o d i s t r i b u t e i n f o r m a t i o n t o f a r m e r s .
A ls o t h e y w e r e h e l p f u l i n s e c u r i n g i n f o r m a t i o n a s t o t h e
l a b o r n e e d s i n t h e i r a r e a s f o r t h e c o u n ty a g e n t o r Iatx n r
a ssis ta n t.
f . P r i s o n e r s o f U ar w e re s u p e r v i s e d b y men e m p lo y e d b y t h e
E x t e n s i o n H e r v ic e fro m Ija e rg e n o y Farm L a b o r f u n d s .
T hese
s u p e r v i s o r s s e r v e d a s l i a i s o n men b e tw e e n t h e Army0 t h e con­
t r a c t o r s and f a r m e r s .
They a s s i s t e d I n o r g a n i z i n g t h e w o rk
and p la c in g c re w s, an d s u p e rv is e d th e t r a i n in g o f p r is o n e r s .
W ith t h e a b o v e o r g a n i z a t i o n , t h e E m ergency F a m L a b o r P ro g ra m d e t e r ­
m in e d t h e n e e d s f o r fa rm l a b o r d u r i n g t h e v a r i o u s s e a s o n s e a c h y e a r , s e ­
c u r e d i n f o r m a t i o n a s t o p o s s i b l e s o u r c e s o f w o r k e r s , a n d d e te r m in e d t h e
p r o c e d u r e s n e c e s s a r y t o h a v e t h e w o r k e rs p l a c e d o n fa rm s w hen n e e d e d .
-5 5 -
i%RT IV t
EMERGEHCY FABf LABOR PROGRAM I l MOHTAZJA
Ac c o n p l i s m o n t s i n M ontana
The l n b o r p ro g ra m I n !Lfonfcana d u r in g t h e w a r wag s u o o a a s f u l i n t h a t
t h e l o s s o f c r o p s f b r w a n t o f f a r a l a b o r waa n e g l i g i b l e .
The c o u n ty a g e n t s
w i t h t h e h e l p o f t h e i r l a b o r a s s i s t a n t s a n d g u id a n c e fro m t h e s t a t e o f f i c e ,
n u b l i e i z o d t h e n e e d f o r f h r a w o r k e r s i n e a c h com m unity a n d a p p e a l e d t o a l l
a v a i l a b l e p e r s o n s i n t h e com m unity t o l e n d a h a n d w h e n e v e r p o s s i b l e .
Many
p e o p le — to w n sm e n , s c h o o l c h i l d r e n , a n d I x is i n e s s men— r e s p o n d e d , w i t h r e ­
s u l t a n t p la c e m e n ts o f 2 4 ,4 9 4 l o c a l a n d t r a n s i e n t w o rk e rs d u r in g 1 9 4 3 ; 1 7 ,8 0 1
i n 1 4 4 ; 1 9 ,0 4 1 i n 1 9 4 5 .
I n a d d i t i o n t o m ak in g u s e o f a l l l o c a l w o r k e r s t h a t c o u ld n o s s l b l y
b e m ade a v a i l a b l e , t h e l a b o r p ro g ra m p l a c e d 3 ,0 3 0 f o r e i g n w o r k e rs i n
1 9 4 5 ; 5 ,9 6 1 I n 1 9 4 4 ; 4 ,1 0 0 i n 1 9 4 5 .
L o c a l a n d f o r e i g n w o r k e rs w e re n o t e n o u g h .
I t w as n e c e s s a r y t o u s e
164 p r i s o n e r s o f w a r i n 1 9 4 5 ; 2 ,7 7 8 i n 1 9 4 4 ; a n d 1 0 ,6 3 8 i n 1 9 4 5 . D o m estic
i n t e r s t a l e w o r k e r s , b r o u g h t i n t o t h e s t a t e m a in ly t o h e lp w i t h g r a i n h a r ­
v e s t , t o t a l e d 1 ,1 5 8 i n 1 9 4 3 ; d ro p p e d t o 418 i n 1 9 1 4 .
w e re t r a n s p o r t e d i n 1 9 4 5 .
Ho i n t e r s t a t e w o rk e rs
A g r a n d t o t a l o f 9 0 ,1 5 7 I n d i v i d u a l s w e re p l a c e d
b y t h e E x t e n s i o n G e r v ic e d u r in g t h e w a r p e r i o d .
T he f o r e i g n w o r k e r s im p o r te d c o n s i s t e d m a in ly o f MeadLean n a t i o n a l s .
M ost o f t h e n w e re fro m th e s t a t e s o f J a l i s c o , H tehoaeaatte A guas C a l l e n t e s ,
and th e F e d e ra l D i s t r i c t .
Ths O f f i c e o f L a b o r , vdien r e c r u i t i n g , t r i e d a s
f a r a s p o s s ib le t o g e t r e c r u i t s w ith a g r i c u l t u r a l e x p e r ie n c e .
t h i s c o u ld n o t a lw a y s b e d o n e .
H ow ever,
C o n s e q u e n tly , m any o f t h e w o r k e r s a r r i v i n g
i n Mcmtsma w e re w i t h o u t p r e v i o u s f a r m in g e x p e r i e n c e .
P r a c t i c a l l y none o f
■54«
tlMEi h a d e v e r w o rk e d i n b e e t f i e l d s b e f o r e *
B ecau se o f t h i s l a c k o f farm
e x p e r i e n c e , a t t e n t i o n w as c a l l e d t o t h e n e c e s s i t y o f t r a i n i n g new w o rk e rs *
T h ey h a d t o be t r a i n e d , s i n c e t h e f a r m e r s c o n t r a c t i n g f o r thorn c o u ld n o t
d i s c h a r g e th e m f o r i n e x p e r i e n c e e n d h i r e e x p e r i e n c e d w o r k e r s i n t h e i r
p la c e s *
I f th e w o r k e rs e v e n t u a l l y p ro v e d t o b e t o o u n s a t i s f a c t o r y , n e g o ­
t i a t i o n s c o u ld b e m ad e , t h r o u g h t h e O f f i c e o f L a b o r , f o r t h e i r r e p a t r i a t i o n
t o M exico*
M ost o f th e M exican n a t i o n a l a w e re h o u s e d on t h e fa rm s w h e re
t h e y w orked*
H orrover, O f f i c e o f L a b o r cam ps w ore m a i n ta i n e d f o r M exican
n a t i o n a l s a t R ld g e la w n , S t* X a v i e r , llysham , T u c k e r ’ s C r o s s in g an d M a n h a tta n ,
M ontana*
A few J a m a ic a n s b r o u g h t i n t o t h o s t a t e
b e u n s a t i s . f a c t o r y w o rk e rs *
f o r s u g a r b o o t w ork p ro v e d t o
T h i s g ro u p w o re i n e x p e r i e n c e d i n b e e t w o r k ,
h a v in g n e v e r w o rk ed i n b e e t f i e l d s b e f o r e *
They a l s o h ad c o n s i d e r a b l e d i f ­
f i c u l t y i n becom ing a c c l i m a t e d t o M ontana w e a th e r *
210 J a m a ic a n s i n 1 9 4 4 , and, 225 i n 1 9 4 5 .
B e e t g ro w e rs im p o r te d
Tho J a m a ic a n s w e re h o u s e d i n t h e
camp a t R id g e la w n , n e a r S i d n e y , M ontana*
Tho p r i s o n e r s o f w ar b r o u g h t i n t o M o n tan a w e re m o s t l y G erm an .
T n o re
w o r e , h o w e v e r, a few I t a l i a n i n t e m o o s u s e d d u r in g t h e e a r l y p a r t o f t h e
w ar*
I n 1943 a t o t a l o f 164 I t a l i a n i n t e r n e e s w o rk ed cm f a r m s i n M ontana $
i n 1944 a t o t a l o f 250 w ero u s e d .
I n 1944 t h e r e w ore 2 ,6 2 5 Germ sn P r i s o n e r s
o f Vfiar lm n o r to d f o r fa rm l a b o r i n M ontana j t h e t o t a l i n 1945 was 1 0 ,6 3 8 —
4 ,6 3 3 i n th o s p r i n g f o r b o o t t h i n n i n g w o rk a n d 6 ,0 0 5 i n t h e f a l l f b r
boot h a rv e s t.
Tlio p r i s o n e r s w ore h o u s e d i n Anay camps and w e re u n d e r
Array g u a rd a t a l l t i m e s .
They w ere s h i f t e d fro m f i e l d to f i e l d , a c c o r d in g
t o i n s t r u c t i o n s g iv e n b y t h e c o u n ty a g e n t ’ s l a b o r a s s i s t a n t s *
TShile t h e
-5 5 -
r e s ponsI b i I i t y fo r the placement of prisoners o f war rested with the Agri­
c u ltu ra l Extension Service, the a c tu a l movement of workers was planned In
cooperation w ith the su^nr prooossor's f i e ldman - a company rep resen tativ e
who designated the order in vdiich beet f ie ld s were to be worked*
Prisoner of war camps were maintained a t Ballantine* Billing**
Bridger, Chinook, Forsyth, Fort S!mw, Glendive, Hardin, Harlem, Laurel,
Malta, Wiles C ity, Sidney, S tevensville and
aughn,
Tlie in te r s ta te workers lirouglit In for farm work wore farmers from
Kansas and Oklahoma, who came to Montana to help w ith the grain M rvest
during the slack season on th e ir own farms*
lhese men were experienced in
farm work and helped considerably in g e ttin g the grain harvest work completed*
Other in te r s ta te workers brought in to Montana included Japanese evacuees
wlio were released from re lo c a tio n camps to work on farms*
Llany of these wor­
kers were used on tru ck garden farms and in most cases the workers se le c ted
had had experience in truck garden work*
There wore j u s t 2 0 0 o r JOO of
these Japanese workers used each year*
Americans o f Spanish or Mexican descent were a lso re c ru ite d in Texas
and the southwestern s ta te s by the Montana sugar processing companies*
These people wore experienced f ie ld workers.
The sugar companies brought
in a t o t a l of 59U workers for the f a l l harvest in I9J4J j 1*685 were used in
spring tiiinning work in 19Vt, but only 591 were brought in fo r the f a i l liarvest th a t some year.
In 1945 th e re wore 96U Spanish Americans brought in
f o r spring beet thinning and 958 la te r for the f a l l M rvest*
Table IX summarises the number o f individual workers placed in farm
work in Montana by the Montana A gricultural Extension Service w ith the
he lp of the Iiaorgoncy Form Labor Program during 1943, I9l$4 and 1945•
-SG**
TABLE IX
ESTim TUD EJMJER OF IHDIVIEiAE tORKEliS*
PLACED BY THE SfERCLECY FAIfflI LABOR PROGRAM
MOMTAHfc 1 9 4 3 , 1 9 4 4 , 1945
C l a s s o f W orkers
1943
1944
1945
F o r e i g n W o rk ers ( I )
3 ,0 3 0
5 ,9 6 1
4 ,1 0 0
164
2 ,7 7 6
1 0 ,6 3 8
1 ,1 3 8
418
I; one
L o c a l W o rk e rs & T r a n s i e n t s ( 4 )
2 4 ,4 9 4
1 7 ,8 1 0
1 9 ,6 4 1
T o ta l
2G.G2G
2 6 .9 5 6
3 4 .3 7 6
P r i s o n e r s o f Tier ( 2 )
I n t e r s t a t e W o rk e rs ( 3 )
( 1 ) F b r e l g i L o r k e r a e c m l o t o d o f T ioxioan n a t i o n a l s a n d J a m a ic a n s
(2 1 0 J a m i o a n s i n 1 9 4 4 ; 225 i n 1 9 4 5 )
( 2 ) O otrxm P r i s o n e r s o f % r a n d I t a l i a n I n t o m o e s (7 6 4 I t a l i a n s i n
1 9 4 2 , 250 i n 1 9 4 4 )
( 3 ) J a p n n o o o , H e g r b e s , L h i t o a , i n c l u d i n g S p a n is h A m e ric a n s .
( 4 ) Mon, vKxaen, y o u t h , i n c l u d i n g t r a n s i e n t s .
*
S t a t i s t i c s c o m p ile d f r o n !'ln o rre n o y F b m Lf b o r FcaiQ - I ? , A n n u a l B s p o r t
o f lio n ta n a F a m Tiabor.
T a b le X o’sows how t h e w o rltn re veere p l a c e d tiurcm ghout t h e y e a r a c ­
c o rd in g t o s e a s o n s .
t h e sim m er s e a s o n .
I t w i l l bo n o t e d t h a t m a t p la c e m e n ts w e re m ade d u r in g
T h i s , o f c o u r s e , i s b e c a u s e o f t h e ! la r v e a t s e a s o n .
The
n e x t I m p o r ta n t p e r i o d i s i n t h e f a l l when h a r v e s t w o rk , b e g u n i n t h e sum m er,
t a p e r s o f f to w a rd L ovem bor.
The s p r i n g s e a s o n i s a l s o i m p o r ta n t f o r t h e r e c r u i t i n g o f w o r k e r s , a s
a d d i t i o n a l m en arc: n e e d e d t o h e l p w i t h l a m b in g , c a l v i n g , s e e d i n g o p e ra ­
t i o n s , and su g a r b e e t th in n in g .
57TABLE X
ESTIMATED HUMBER OF IHDIV IDUALS PLACED OH
FARMS IE MOHTAW BY SEASONS*
THROUGH Hffi EMERGENCY FARM LABOR IjROGRAM**
C la s s o f
W orlaor Stmuner
F te ll
F o re ig n
W o rk e rs
(I)
O
3 ,0 3 0
O
4 ,1 2 7
P ris o n e rs
o f R ar
(2 )
O
164
O
250
0
In te rs ta te
W o rk e rs
(S )
707
1 ,1 3 3
18
188
214
L ocal
W o rk e rs &
T ra n s ie n ts
(4 )
1 2 ,2 4 7 1 2 ,2 4 7
712
4 ,2 7 2
W in te r S p r in g Summer
F a l l W in te r S p r in g S u m m r
1 ,2 3 7 3 ,0 2 1
F a ll
18
3 ,6 7 5
1 ,8 9 9
2 ,2 6 2
2 ,5 2 6
0
4 ,6 3 3
1 ,0 0 0
6 ,0 0 5
370
0
0
0
8 ,3 6 6 4 ,4 5 0
196
9 ,8 2 1
6 ,2 8 5
3 ,3 3 9
( 1 ) H e x io a n B a t i o n a l a a n d J a n a i e a n s (2 1 0 J a m a ic a n s i n 1944 a n d 225 i n 1 9 4 5 )
( 2 ) O o m a n P r i s o n e r s o f War a n d I t a l i a n I n t e r n e e s
*
(3 )
J a p a n e s e , N e g r o e s , S p a n is h A m e ric a n s , W h ite s
(4 )
M en, vromon, y o u t h , i n c l u d i n g t r a n s i e n t s
Eteak f i g u r e o f w o r k e rs on f a m e i n t h e s t a t e a s p e r s e a s o n an d y e a r
in d ic a te d
,
** C o m p ile d fro m E m erg en cy F h m L a b o r F o m s 15 a n d 20 - Iia e rg e n o y Farm
Labor o ffic e *
HOTEi
F i g u r e s f o r th e l o c a l w o r k e r s a n d t r a n s i e n t w o rk e rs w e re e s t i m a t e d
a s f o llo w s *
Number o f l o c a l a n d t r a n s i e n t i n d i v i d u a l s p l a c e d m s
m u l t i p l i e d b y t h e p e r c e n t a g e o f p la c e m e n ts made f o r e a c h s e a s o n o f
t h e t o t a l p la o e r a o n t.
-5&
TABLE X I
mHBBR OF WGBKBRS HAGIiD IH MOBTARA BEKT FIEUiS
1 9 4 3 -1 9 4 5 *
C la s s o f
W o rk e r
F e ll
T o p p in g
S p r in g
T h in n in g
F h ll
T o p p in g
S p r in g
T h in n in g
F a ll
T o p p in g
F o r e ig n
W o rk e rs ( I )
3 ,0 3 0
4 ,1 2 7
3 ,2 3 1
3 ,5 4 4
2 ,2 6 2
P ris o n e rs
o f B ar (2 )
154
250
2 ,5 2 5
4 ,6 3 3
6 ,0 0 6
In te rs ta te
W o rk e rs ( 3 )
431
215
161
0
0
L o cal and
T ra n s ie n t (4 )
4 ,1 0 7
688
071
644
511
T o ta l
7 ,7 3 2
5 ,2 0 0
6 ,7 8 8
8 .8 2 1
0 ,7 7 8
(1 )
(2 )
(3 )
(4 )
U e x io a n N a t i o n a l s and J a m l c t m s (2 1 0 J n im i c a n s I n 1 9 4 4 , 225 i n 1 9 4 5 )
G w nm n P r i s o n e r s o f V/ar a n d I t a l i a n I n t e r n e e s
J a p a n e s e , T io^roes
£$en, m m n , y o u t h , a n d t r a n s i e n t s
* D a ta c o ta p lle d i> a n M ontana ESaorgency F a m L a b o r F o m s 20 e n d 2 4 , a n d
E m erg en cy P a r a L a b o r F o r n 1 7 , E m ergency Farm L a b o r O f f ic e *
? ! » m a jo r p ro b le m o f t h e E m ergency Farm L a b o r P ro g ram d u r in g t h e iro r
h a s b e e n t h o s e c u r i n g o f w o r k e r s f o r s u g a r b e e t work*
T a b le XI sliowo t h e n m b o r a n d t y p e o f w o r k e rs s e c u r e d f o r t h i s w o rk ,
b u t d o e s n o t i n c l u d e a l l t h e b o o t w o r k e r s em p lo y ed s i n c e th o s u g a r p r o ­
c e s s o r s a n d some o f th o g r o w e r s r e c r u i t e d a n d h i r e d t h e i r own h e lp *
In
1943 l o c a l l a b o r a n d f o r e i g n w o r k e rs w e re t h e tw o m a in g r o u p s r e s p o n s i b l e
f o r c o m p le tin g t h e b e e t h a r v e s t *
I n 1 9 4 4 t h e e m p h a s is s h i f t e d t o
w o rk e rs fo r b e e t th in n in g o p e ra tio n s ; th e n t o
o f w a r f o r h a r v e s t w ork*
p r i s o n e r s o f w a r*
fo re ig n
fo re ig n la b o r end p ris o n e rs
A g a in i n 1945 t h e e m p h a s is s h i f t e d t o t h e u s e o f
A g e n e r a l t r e n d i n t h e u s e o f t h e s e t y p e s o f w o rk e rs
i s n o t i c e a b l e d u r in g t h i s
p e r i o d ; a t f i r s t f a r m e r s w e re r e l u c t a n t t o u s e
-5 9 p r i e o n o r e o f w ar*
A g e n e r a l t r e n d I n th e u s e o f t h e s e t y p e s o f w o rk e rs
i s n o t i c e a b l e d u r in g t h i s p e r i o d j a t f i r s t f a r m e r s r a r e r e l u c t a n t t o u s e
l a b o r e r s o n t h e i r fa rm s who w e re n o t -A m ericans*
Tfhen AmorioanB w e re n o t
a v a i l a b l e , f a r m e r s w e re e n c o u r a g e d by t h e g o v e rn m e n t t o t r y Ifo x io a n n a t i o n a l s j
t h e n when i t becam e e v i d e n t t h a t t h e r e w o re n o t e n o u g h M ex ican l k t i o n a l s
t o do t-ho w o r k , t h e y w e re s u p p le m e n te d b y p r i s o n e r s o f w a r .
A t f i r s t farm ers
w e re r e l u c t a n t t o a c c e p t t h e p r i s o n e r s o f w a r a s l a b o r e r s , b u t a f t e r a p e ­
r i o d o f tim e p r i s o n e r s w e re p r e f e r r e d .
T a b le X I I t r a c e s t h i s t r e n d i n t h e u s e o f f o r e i g n w o r k e rs a n d p r i s o n e r s
o f w a r.
TABLK X II
TKBIiDS IH T M USB OF IMPORTED IABOR
1944
B e e t T h in n in g
T o t a l Humber o f W o rk e rs . . . . . . . . • . * * . • .
Iiu n u e r W o rk e rs T r a n s p o r t e d a t G o v ern m en t Ibtponse . . . . . . .
94.3p» M o xioan n a t i o n a l s
5 .7 ^ P r i s o n e r s o f Tter
P e r c e n t o f W o rk e rs T r a n s p o r t e d a t G o v ern m en t E x p e n se . . .
G938
4377
63.15$
B eet H arv est
T o t a l Humber o f T fo rk e rs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Humber W o rk e rs T r a n s p o r t e d a t G ov ern m en t E xp en cc . . . . . . .
55.9f$ M e x ic a n I f e t i o m l s
44*15$ P r i s o n e r s o f i'ia r
P e r c e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r a l W orkers T r a n s p o r t e d a t
G overnm ent E x ponse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7036
5598
76.55$
1945
B e e t T h irg iin g
Total Dumber of Workesrs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
num ber T o r k e r s T r a n s p o r t e d a t G o v ern m en t E x p en se . . . . . .
41.35$ M e x ic a n n a t i o n a l s
58.75» P r i s o n s r o o f Tfer
P e r c e n t o f T fo rls r s T r a n s p o r t e d a t G o v ern m en t E x p m s e se e
9115
7720
8 4 .6 ^
-6 0 »
19U5
Beet ISarveat
T o t a l ITumber o f W o rk sro
ITudhor VJorIcers Transported at Coveniiaent Hxtionaew. . . . . . . . . .?Xxg4
27e8^ Jiexioan nationals
72.9^ Briaonora o f Vflsr
Poroest o f VIorkere Transported a t Government Kxpensew....#*87#9/1
I t h a a n o t b e e n p o s s i b l e t o g e t e x a c t f i g u r e s a s t o v * ia t p o r t i o n o f
t h e v a r i o u s o r o p s i n v o l v e d w e re h a n d le d b y w o r k e r s o b t a i n e d tiir o u g h t h e
Emoargenoy j u r a L a b o r M ro g ra a w H o w ev er, t h r o u g h a c l o s e s t u d y o f t h e
a n n u a l r e p o r t s w r i t t e n b y t h e c o u n ty a g e n t s a n d t h e s t a t i s t i c a l d a t a p r e ­
p a r e d b y t h e s t a t e a g r i c u l t u r a l s t a t i s t i c i a n , i t h a s Iieen p o s s i b l e t o p r e ­
p a r e T a b le X I I I w
A s t u d y o f t h i s t a b l e show s t h a t m o s t o f t h e w o rk o f r a i s i n g g r a i n s ,
h e y , p o t a t o e s , p e a s , b e a n s , f r u i t a n d l i v e s t o c k w as done b y l o c a l o r t r a n ­
s i e n t l a b o r , w ith f o r e ig n i n t e r s t a t e w o rk e rs h e lp in g o n ly w ith one t o
tw e n ty p e r c e n t o f t h e w o r k .
I n t h e c a s e o f s u g a r b e e t t h i n n i n g a n d Iwsr-
v e a t, th e re v e rs e i s t r u e , w ith
o r e I g n sand p r i s o n e r o f w a r l a b o r e r s b e in g
r e s p o n s i b l e f o r m o s t o f t h e w ork*
The p r i s o n e r o f w a r w as a l s o u s e d t o s a n s e x t e n t i n g r a i n h a r v e s t ,
p o t a t o p i c k i n g , ! la y in g , e n d f r u i t h a r v e s t .
The n e c e s s i t y f o r w o rk in g th e m
i n g a n g s u n d e r g u a r d , h o w e v e r, h a m p e re d t h e i r u s e t o a n y g r e a t e x t e n t i n
a n y w o rk o t h e r t h a n b o o t w o r k ,
g u a r d w o rk e d v e r y w e l l .
I n t h e b e e t w o rk t h e g a n g s o f w o r k e r s u n d e r
«*61TABLE X I I l
ESTIMATED nSRCEBT OF BOEK ACCCSIPUSHMEBT
OF ,!HE TfIREE GLASSES QP LABOR BT CROPS HfRIHB 1945
Hf MCMTAHA*
L o c a l o r F o r e ig n o r
T ra n sie n t I n t e r s t a t e
C ro p s
BhOTit
S m a ll G r a in s
S ugar B eet
T M n n in g
S ugar B eet
H a rv e st
E by
P o ta to e s
IP a s
B eans
F ru it
L iv e s to c k
85
86
2 6 .7
15
14
7 0 .5
2 4 .0
56
Tvne o f L a b o r
P ris o n e r L ocal o r
o f Tfar T r a n s i e n t
0
9 3 .6
0
9 1 .4
2 .8
7 .5
20
6 5 .6
1 6 .4
0
7 0 .2
2 1 .0
0
81
19
0
In fo rm a tio n n o t a v a il a b l e
In fo rm a tio n n o t a v a il a b l e
80
20
0
F o r e ig n o r
In te rs ta te
P ris o n e r
o f Tfer
6 .4
8 .1
6 8 .7
0
0 .5
2 7 .0
5 .8
3 9 .2
66
8 9 .1
8 1 .6
81
90
85
9 8 .8
1 0 .7
1 4 .2
19
10
10
1 .2
0 .2
4
0
0
5
0
* T h i s e s t i m a t e m s made by c o m p u tin g tlie n u m b er o f a c r e s h a r v e s t e d b y t h e
v a r i o u s c l a s s e s o f l a b o r o n t h e b a s i s o f t h e p e r c e n ta g e s t a t e d b y t h e
C o u n ty A g e n t i n h i s a n n u a l r e p o r t , e n d t h e n c o m p a rin g t h e s t a t e t o t a l w i t h
t h e f ig u r e s g iv e n i n th e r e p o r t r a d e by t h e S t a te A g r i c u l t u r a l S t a t i s t i c i a n .
A g r i c u l t u r a l P r o d u c tio n i n M ontana
As s t a t e d p r e v i o u s l y , t h e l o s s o f c r o p s f o r w a n t o f l a b o r d u r in g t h e w a r
w as n e g l i g i b l e .
I n f a c t , t h e l e v e l o f c r o p p r o d u c t i o n w as m a i n t a i n e d , w i t h i n ­
c r e a s e d p r o d u c t i o n i n s e v e r a l t y p o s o f c r o p s a s w e l l a s i n n u m b ers o f l i v e s t o c k .
S u eh a r e c o r d o f p r o d u c t i o n d u r in g t h i s p e r i o d c o u ld n o t h a v e b o o n m a in ­
t a i n e d w ith o u t c o n c e rte d a t t e n t i o n t o th e la b o r s u p p ly .
The E m ergency P a r a
L a b o r P ro g ra m , O f f i c e o f L a b o r a n d t h e U n ite d S t a t e s Army m u s t r e c e i v e t h e
c r e d i t o f s e e i n g t h a t e n o u g h w o r k e rs w ore a v a i l a b l e t o k e e p u p t h e p r o d u c t i o n
o f fo o d so v i t a l i n w ar tim e s .
T a b le s XIV a n d XV g iv e s t a t i s t i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n a s t o th e flood p r o d u c t i o n
d u r in g 1 9 4 3 , 1944 a n d 1 9 4 5 .
-6 2
TABLE XIV
FRODUCTIOH OP CPOPS IH HOHTtm *
1 9 4 3 , 1 9 4 4 , 1945
(A oroo 3 & irv e ete d )
C rop
1943
S u g a r R o o ts
Vihoat
S m a ll G r a in s
Hay
Peas
R oans
P o ta to o s
A p p le s
C om
5 7 ,0 0 0
3 ,4 4 9 ,0 0 0
1 ,0 0 4 ,0 0 0
1 ,9 5 7 ,0 0 0
5 6 ,0 0 0
5 9 ,0 0 0
2 3 ,0 0 0
2 5 8 ,0 0 0 Du,
1 9 0 ,0 0 0
1944
6 4 ,0 0 0
3 ,8 4 4 ,0 0 0
9 7 4 ,0 0 0
1 ,8 9 2 ,0 0 0
3 6 ,0 0 0
2 0 ,0 0 0
2 1 ,0 0 0
4 0 0 ,0 0 0
1 4 0 ,0 0 0
1945
8 2 ,0 0 0
3 ,6 6 8 ,0 0 0
9 0 9 ,0 0 0
1 ,9 5 8 ,0 0 0
2 4 ,0 0 0
1 6 ,0 0 0
1 8 ,0 0 0
2 9 0 ,0 0 0 Ru
1 3 4 ,0 0 0
* M ontana A g r i c u l t u r a l S t a t i s t i c i a n * s R e p o r t
TABLE XV
LIVESTOCK BmraERS IB MOBTASi.*
1 9 4 3 , 1 9 4 4 , 1945
A n im l
H o rs e s
M u le s
A ll C a ttle
M ilk Cows
Hogs
S to c k S h e e p
1943
2 5 7 ,0 0 0
2 ,0 0 0
1 ,3 5 6 ,0 0 0
1 7 3 ,0 0 0
3 0 7 ,0 0 0
3 ,6 6 0 ,0 0 0
1944
2 5 2 ,0 0 0
2 ,0 0 0
1 ,5 5 7 ,0 0 0
1 7 0 ,0 0 0
4 1 4 ,0 0 0
3 ,4 4 0 ,0 0 0
* M o n tan a A g r i c u l t u r a l S t a t i s t i c i a n ’ s R e p o r t
1945
2 3 0 ,0 0 0
2 ,0 0 0
1 ,5 7 4 ,0 0 0
1 6 5 ,0 0 0
2 4 9 ,0 0 0
3 ,2 9 0 ,0 0 0
- I iS W o rk er I n c e n t i v e s
I n d e p r e s s i o n t im e s , d u r i n g t h e e a r l y
T h i r t i e s , 'Hhen t h e r e m s a n
a lx m d a n c e o f l a b o r c o n p a ro d t o t h e n um ber o f j o b s a v a i l a b l e , t h e m a t t e r
o f w o r k e r i n c e n t i v e s was n o t v e r y i m p o r t a n t ; m o st w o rk e rs w e r e w i l l i n g
to w o rk , ev en f o r a b a r e e x i s t e n c e .
k e r s s e a rc h in g f o r w o rk .
A t t h i s tim e t h e r e w o re many w o r­
Gome o f tho rn w e r e f o r m e r fa rm o w n e rs who h a d
l o s t t h e i r f a r a s a s a r e s u l t o f d r o u th a n d d e p r e s s i o n c o n d i t i o n s .
TMder su o h c o n d i t i o n s , t h e f a r m e r e m p lo y in g h e lp d i d n o t c o n c e r n him ­
s e l f m uch a b o u t i n c e n t i v e s * i n o r d e r t o
g e t t h e l a b o r e r to w o r k .
s e l e c t e d t h e b e s t w o r k e rs fto m many a p p l i c a n t s .
lie s im p ly
F u r th e r m o r e , i f a l a b o r e r
d i d n o t w o rk h a r d e n o u g h o r e x p r e s s e d d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n w i t h t h e w a g e s ,
h o u s i n g , o r a n y t h i n g e l s e , t h e f a r m e r s im p ly a s k e d him t o l e a v e a n d em­
p lo y e d som eone e l s e .
D u rin g W orld % ar I I t h e s i t u a t i o n w as r e v e r s e d .
a v a i l a b l e w as g r e a t e r t h a n th e n u m b er o f w o r k e r s .
tic e d in to
Tlie n u m b er o f j o b s
W o rk e rs had t o b e en­
bn k in g j o b s ; c o n s e q u e n t l y , c o n s i d e r a b l e t h o u g h t h a d t o b e g iv e n
to i n c e n t i v e s .
Ihe i n c e n t i v e s o f f e r e d to b o t h f o r e i g n a n d d o m e s tic w o r k e rs a n d p r o ­
v i d e d f o r i n P u b lic Law 4 5 , 7 8 t h C o n g re s s a n d s u b s e q u e n t l e g i s l a t i o n w e re $
1 . Jo b in fo rm a tio n and p la o m o n t s e r v ic e
2 . T ra n s p o rta tio n ex p en ses
3 . D ra in in g o f i n e x p e r i e n c e d w o r k e r s
4 . A d e q u a te s u p e r v i s i o n
5 . S u b s is te n c e
6 . P ro te c tio n
-M -
7* H e a l th S e r v i c e
8« M e d ic a l S e r v i c e
9m B u r i a l S e r v i c e
10* S h e l t e r f o r w o r k e r s , t h e i r f a m i l i e s , a n d n e c e s s a r y p e r s o n a l
p ro p e rty
11* A d v an ces t o w o r k e r s o f auras d u e fro m e m p lo y e rs w i t h i n t h e
B to ite d S t a t e s who a r e u n d e r c o n t r a c t u a l o b l i g a t i o n t o r e ­
im b u rs e th e l t o i t e d S t a t e s f o r su c h a d v a n c e s
12* G u a r a n te e o f e m p lo y m en t f o r a t l e a s t 7 5 ^ o f t h e tim e
J o b i n f o r m a t i o n a n d p la c e m e n t s e r v i c e r a y b e c o n s id e r e d a n i n c e n t i v e *
B e f o r e a n y w o rk e r can move t o a n y j o b w h e re h e i s v i t a l l y n e e d e d , h e m u st
f i r s t know a b o u t t h e j o b , i t s l o c a t i o n , w a g e s t o b e p a i d , h o u r s o f w o rk ,
h o u s in g c o n d i t i o n s , t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , ty p e o f w o r k , a n d p e r i o d o f em ploym ent*
I n a d d i t i o n , h e w i d i e s t o know d e f i n i t e l y Wi e t h e r h e c a n b e p l a c e d when he
a r r i v e s a t t h e l o c a t i o n o f th e Job*
He d o e s n o t w a n t t h e u n c e r t a i n t y o f
f e e l i n g t h a t h u n d r e d s o f o t h e r w o r k e rs r a y a r r i v e b e f o r e h e d o e s a n d t h a t
a l l o f t h e j o b s w i l l b e f i l l e d -when h e a r r i v e s *
In th e a b sen ce o f an o r­
g a n iz e d p r o g r a m , much n o n ey an d tim e a r e w a s t e d b y t h e l a b o r e r i n s e a r c h ­
in g f o r jo b in fo rm a tio n *
J o b i n f o r m a t i o n a n d p la c e m e n t s e r v i c e , t h e r e f o r e ,
i s a d e f i n i t e i n c e n t i v e to w o rk e rs *
The e x p e r i e n c e d u r i n g t h e war show s t h a t w a s t e o f tim e a n d m oney on
t h e p a r t o f w o r k e r s and e m p l o y e r s , t r y i n g t o s e a r c h e a c h o t h e r o u t , w as
a v o i d e d , to a l a r g o e x t e n t i g ro w e rs o r g a n i z e d th e m s e lv e s i n t o r e s p o n s i b l e
g r o u p s a n d g u a r a n t e e d t h a t t h e l a b o r e r s r e q u e s t e d w o u ld b e em ployed#
A n o th e r s t a b i l i z i n g f a c t o r w as t h e f a o t t h a t t h e A g r i c u l t u r a l F x t e n s i t m
■»65*
S e r v i c e , t h e O f f ic e o f L a b o r s a d t h e Ta t Food A d m i n is t r a ti o n * a l l r e s p o n ­
s i b l e o r g a n i s a t i o n s , w o re p l a c e d i n c h a r g e o f t h e r e c r u i t i n g a n d t r a n s ­
p o rtin g o f la b o re rs *
I n o a s e s sh o re in d iv id u a l fa rm e rs d e s ir e d w o rk e rs ,
th e y w e re r e q u i r e d to s i g n c o n t r a c t s w ith t tt e O f f i c e o f L a b o r b e f o r e th e
l a b o r e r s c o u ld be d e liv e re d *
I T a in i n g i s a n o t h e r i n p er t a n t I n c e n t i v e t o w o rk e rs *
Some l a b o r e r s
w i l l n o t a o c c p t new j o b s b e c a u s e t h e y do n o t w is h t o u n d e r t a k e so m e th in g
w i t h w h ic h th e y a r e n o t f h m i l i a r *
G iv e n t h e p r o m is e o f t r a i n i n g , many
w i l l a c c e p t ; t h e r e s u l t i s b e t t e r m o ra le th ro u jjh , b e t t e r e o m lo y car-w orker
r e la tio n s h ip s *
D u rin g t h e w a r th e A g r i c u l t u r a l E x t e m i o n '’e r v i c e , t h r o u g h i t s c o u n ty
a g e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n , c o n d u c te d t r a i n i n g c o u r s e s f o r Ih m e a ro sh o w in g them
how t o o e n d u e t p r o p e r
tra in in g
p r o c e d u r e s f o r new w o r k e r G.
t h e c o u n ty a g e n t , w i t h h i s a s s i s t a n t s ,
In o th e r c a s e s ,
t r a i n e d t h e w o r k e r s th e m s e lv e s *
P r o v id i n g t r a n s p o r t a t i o n e x p e n s e s was s im p ly a n o t h e r m o n e ta ry i n d u o o rient t o g e t is o r k o r s t o a c c e p t j o b s *
The c o a t w a s b o r n e b y t h e g o v e rn ­
m ent*
P r o p e r s u p e r v i s i o n may a l s o b e c l a s s e d a s a w o r k e r i n c e n t i v e *
M ost
w o r k e r s a p p r e c i a t e good e u p o r v i s i c n s i n c e t h e y w is h t o m ake e v e ry e f f o r t
c o u n t*
One o f th e e a s i e s t w ays t o d e s t r o y m o ra le i s t o n e g l e c t t o g i v e
w o r k e r s a n u n d e r s t a n d in g o f th e r e a s o n s f o r d o in g t h e i r w o rk *
v i s i o n w as s t r e s s e d p a r t i c u l a r l y d u r i n g th e w ar i n o r d e r t o
Good s u p e r ­
s a v e m anpower*
The m o r a le t u i l d i n g a s p e c t w liio h r e s u l t e d fro m good s u p e r v i s i o n p ro v e d t o
b e a good w o r k e r i n c e n t i v e *
*6G *
S u b s i s t o n c e p r o v i s i o n s ftor tim e e n r o u t e t o
j o b s a n d d u rin g ; p e r i o d s
o f unem p lo y m en t d u e to w e a t h e r o r o t h e r f a c t o r s b e y o n d t h e c o n t r o l o f t h e
w o r k e r a r e a l s o v e r y d e f i n i t e m o n e ta ry I n c e n t i v e s .
D u rin g t h e p e r i o d o f
t h e s u r p l u s l a b o r s u p p ly t h e w o r k e r w as f o r c e d to b e a r t h e c o s t o f s u c h
s itu a tio n s *
p a id
Cm t h e o t h e r h a n d * t h e O f f i c e o f L a b o r , d u r i n g t h e w a r p e r i o d ,
)S 0 ,0 0 0 t o r b o a r d and l o d g in g i n 1 9 4 5 t o r w o r k e r s i n L km tana w a i t i n g
f o r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n t o o t h e r j o b s o r t h e i r h o m es.
A n o th e r i n c e n t i v e w as p r o t e c t i o n a g a i n s t d i s o r i ! n a t i o n b y o t h e r
p e o p le i n a c o m m u n ity .
I t w as a g r e e d t h a t im p o rte d w o r k e r s w e re to r e *
o e l v e w a g e s oo a g a r a b l e t o t h e g o in g w age i n t h e com m unity i n w h ic h t h e y
w e re w o r k in g .
T f f o r t s w e r e made t o m ake t h e w o r k e r s f o o l t h a t t h e y w e re
wo lo o mo a n d t h a t t h e y f i l l e d a n i m p o r t a n t n e e d i n t h e c o m m u n ity .
I n th e
c a s e o f U e x ic a n N a t i o n a l s , c e l e b r a t i o n s w e re h e ld a t v a r i o u s t i m e s so
t h a t t h e S a t l o n a l s Kdgfct fo e I t h a t
w a r*
t h e i r e f f o r t s w o re h e l p i n g t o w in t h e
A tte m p ts w e re m a d e , W io re v c r p o s s i b l e , t o
p o lic y ,
d e v e lo p a good n e ig h b o r
!h e re w e re , o f c o u rs e , e x c e p t le n s to th e above s ta te m e n t.
It
w as known t h a t t h e r e w e re c a s e s T h e re s t o r e s a n d e a t i n g p l a c e s p u t u p
s i g n s a s k i n g U e x ic a n N a t i o n a l s t o s t a y aw ay*
H e a lth s e r v i c e s w e re a l s o o f f e r e d t o w o r t o r s a s a n in d u c e m e n t.
T h e se s e r v i c e s in c l u d e d p h y s i c a l e x am ina t i o n o f l a b o r e r s b e f o r e t h e y w e re
a ll o w e d t o a c c e p t w o r k .
S a n i t a r y q u a r t e r s and a d e q u a te f o o d w e re a l s o
p ro m is e d to t h e w o r k e r s b y t h e O f I i o e o f L a b o r , w h ic h was a u t h o r i s e d bo
w ith d ra w t h e w o r k e r s i f r e g u l a r in s p e o tto n e
n o t m a in ta in in g p ro p e r l i v i n g
c o n d itio n s .
ah owed t h a t t h e e m p lo y e r was
P u b lic h e a l t h o f f i c i a l s made
r e g u l a r l n s p e o t i o n s o f l i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s p r o v id e d f o r t il e w o r k e r s .
In
-3 7 C e n e r a l , I t w as f o u n d t h a t l i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s f o r t h e im p o r te d w o r k e r s w e re
o o e ip a ra b le to t h o s e t h a t had b e e n m a i n ta i n e d f o r f a r m w o r k e r s i n t h e p a s t .
E d u c a t i o n a l p ro g ra m s w e re s e t u p I y c o u n ty a g e n t s i n a n e f f o r t t o p ro m o te
s a n ita ry liv in g q u a rte rs f o r th e w o rk e rs.
u n h e a lth fu l liv in g c o n d itio n s .
T h e re w e re som e i n s t a n c e s o f
I n a s t a t e a s l a r g e a s Lkmt a n a , h o w e v e r,
t h e l o n g d i s t a n c e s c o u p le d w i t h a A o r t a g e o f O f f i c e o f L a b o r p e r s o n n e l
a n d p u b l i c I i e a l t h o f f i c i a l s , w h o w e re r e s p o n s i b l e f o r i n s p e c t i o n , i t i s
t o b e e x p e c t e d t h a t t h e r e w ould b e some l a x i t y
i n t h e e n fo r c e m e n t o f
s a n ita ry re g u la tio n s .
P r o v i s i o n o f m edioa l s e r v i c e s c a n a l s o b e c o u n te d a s a m o n e ta ry i n ­
c e n t i v e f o r w o r k e r s , s i n c e o r d i n a r i l y t h a t i s a n e x p e n s e t h a t i s assu m ed
by th e w o rk e r.
The o o s t o f m e d ic a l s e r v i c e s g iv e n t o w o r k e r s a s s i g n e d t o
M ontana d u r i n g 1 9 4 5 and p a id f o r b y t h e g o v e rn m e n t t o d o c t o r s and h o s p i t a l s
i n t h e s t a t e was $ 3 5 ,0 6 9 .
B u r i a l s e r v i c e s c a n a l s o b e c l a s s e d a s a mone­
t a r y i n c e n t i v e f o r th e sam e r e a s o n a s
s ta te d a b o v e.
H o u sin g o r s h e l t e r f o r a w o r k e r , h i s f a m i l y a n d H s n e c e s s a r y p e r ­
s o n a l p r o p e r t y i s a v e r y i m p o r t a n t w o rk i n c e n t i v e , s i n c e s h e l t e r I s a
v i t a l n e c e s s ity *
I n some i n s t a n c e s th e w o r k e r o r w o r k e rs im p o r te d t o
M ontana s h a r e d t h e l i v i n g q u a r t e r s o f t h e fa rm A n i l y a n d i n some o a s e s
b o a rd e d w i t h t h e n .
In o t h e r i n s t a n c e s t h e w o r k e r s l i v e d i n b u n k h o u s e s
o r l a b o r h o u s e s a n d b o a r d e d w i t h th e farm f a m i l y .
h o u s e s a n d d i d t h e i r own c o o k in g *
Some l i v e d i n l a b o r
T h e re w e r e f i v e im p o r te d w o r k e r camps
i n M o n ta n a , I n a d d i t i o n t o 1 9 p r i s o n e r o f w a r c a m p s .
u n d e r th e s u p e r v i s i o n o f t h e o f f i c e o f L a b o r .
s u p e r v i s e d t h e pr i s o n e r o f w a r c a m p s .
The l a b o r c r a p e w e re
The I S iite d S t a t e s A ray
D u r I n e H ie w a r , t h e r e w e re no I h n i l I e s o f w o r k e r s i m p o r te d t o M ontana*
I n some i n s t a n c e s , w h e re f a r m e r s w e re u n a b le to m e e t t h e p a y r o l l , p r o v i ­
s i o n s w e re s e t u p f o r t h e g > v o m m e n t o f t h e U n ite d S t a t e s to a d v a n c e t h e
p a y m e n t.
The f a r m e r r e im b u r s e d t h e g o v e rn m e n t W ien h e s o l d h i s c ro p s #
W h ile t h i s s e r v i c e t o t h e I h m e r m s n o t a n i n c e n t i v e i n i t s e l f , i t d i d
e n a b l e t h e f a r m e r t o m e e t h i s p a y r o l l p r o m p t ly a n d t h u s g i v e t h e w o rk e r t h e
i n c e n t i v e o f p ro m p t payment*
The g u a r a n t e e o f a t l e a s t 785$ em ploym ent d u r in g a g iv e n p e r i o d i s a
v e r y v i t a l i n c e n t i v e to l a b o r e r s t r a v e l l i n g l o n g d i s t a n c e s t o f i n d w ork*
T h is g u a r a n t e e , d u r in g t h e w a r p e r i o d , f o r c e d f a r m e r s t o a c c e p t w o r k e rs
o r d e r e d and t o k e e p th e m f o r a g iv e n p e r io d - n o t f o r j u s t a few d ay s*
P s y m m ts made b y t h e O f f i c e o f L ab o r i n 1945 t o g u a r a n te e em ploym ent t o
w o r k e r s b r o u g h t i n t o M ontana t o t a l e d £-65,057*75*
-6 9 -
O u tp u t o f F&rn W orkers D urlqg % e War P e rio d
The o u t p u t o f th e A ia e rio a n fa r m -w o rk e r I a e I n c r e a s e d tre m e n d o u s ly
s i n c e 1919#
The n a t i o n a l g r o s s fa rm p r o m o t i o n p e r w o r k e r m s 44£ g r e a t e r
I n 1944 t h a n i n 1 9 1 9 a n d f a r m o u t p u t p e r w o r k e r i n c r e a s e d 7 0 ^ d u r i n g t h e
same p e r i o d #
The 2 5 - y e a r I n c r e a s e o f n e a r l y '10% i n f a r m o u tp u
? w o rk e r fo r th e
C b ite d S t a t e s i s t h e r e s u l t o f a n i n c r e a s e o f 52> i n t c u a l f a r m o u t p u t ,
a n d a d e c r e a s e o f IOjS i n Ih rm em p loym ent#
c re a se in f a m
A b o u t CO^ o f t h e 2 5 - y e a r d e ­
em ploym ent c a n e i n t h e p e r i o d , 1 9 3 9 -4 4 , an d 5 2 $ o f t h e
in c r e a s e i n t o t a l fa rm o u tp u t an d 68$ o f th e in c r e a s e i n t o t a l g ro ss p r o -
22
d u c t i o n osrae i n t h e same p e r i o d #
I i i s in c r e a s e i n o u t p a t h a s b e e n d u e to t h e d is p la c e m e n t o f farm
a n i n a l s by Uraot o r s , t r u c k s , t r a c t o r t o o l s a n d a u to m o b ile s , w h ic h h e lp e d
t h e i n d i v i d u a l -worker do more w ork i n a s h o r t e r p e r io d o f tim e#
w i t h t h e i m p e tu s o f w a rtim e d e m a n d s, a d d i t i o n a l p r o d u c t i o n w as ob­
t a i n e d i n t h e t h r e e h i g h pro d i c t i o n y e a r s o f 1942—4 4 , w i t h a l e s s t h a n
p r o p o r t i o n a l i n c r e a s e i n n a n - l a b o r r e q u i r e m e n ts #
G ro ss f a r m p r o d u c t i o n
d u r i n g t h e s e t h r e e y e a r s a v e r a g e d 15#8$ a b o v e t h a t o f 1 9 3 9 an d n a n 23
l a b o r r e q u i r e m e n t s w e re i n c r e a s e d hy o n l y 3#5$#
T a b le XVI shows th e i n d e x n um bers o f m a n -h o u r r e q u i r e m e n ts and
g r o s s fa r m p r o d u c t i o n f o r t h o U n ite d S t a t e s , 1939 to 1944»
Ih e ab o v e s t a t i s t i c s p e r t a i n t o th e n a t i o n a s a w h o le#
Comparable
f i g u r e s cm th e s t a t e b a s i s a r e n o t a v a i l a b l e .
2 2 7 P a r t o n . G lon ? . an d C o o p e r, - J a r ti n ??#" F a r m I V o d u c t i o n i n 'vlxr & " lW c e ,
U »S »D .A ., M E , D e o . 1945 p .4 2
Z Z / B a r t o n , C o o p e r, o p # c i t # , p#4S
TABLE XVI
INDEX NUMBERS OF WIMIODR R^DIREMENTS AND GROSS FARM PRODUCTION
UNITED STATES, 1 9 3 9 -1 9 4 4
U eat a n im a ls and
a n im a l p r o d u c t s
H o r s e s a n d m u lo s
T o ta l liv e s to c k
In d e x o f >iari-?iour
re q u lre n e n te l /
T942~
1543
1944 t /
Z
in d e x o f '^ t o b b
I
fa rm p r o d u c t i o n
I 94A
13%
1 1 0 .1
9 2 .8
1 0 7 .7
1 1 3 .0
9 0 .4
1 0 9 .8
1 1 1 .5
8 6 .7
1 0 8 .0
#
•
1 1 8 .4
• 9 2 .2
1 1 4 .8
1 2 7 .3
8 9 .3
1 2 2 .2
1 2 5 .7
8 5 .6
1 2 0 .2
F eed g ra in s
Ifey
C o tto n
Tobaooo
Food g r a i n s
S u g ar c ro p s
H ruok c r o p s
V e g e ta b le s e x c e p t
tru c k
F r u i t s and n u t s
O il c r o p s
1 0 1 .2
1 0 7 .9
1 0 1 .2
7 1 .0
9 2 .9
9 8 .7
1 0 2 .2
1 0 5 .5
1 0 9 .0
9 1 .2
7 1 .9
9 1 .7
8 4 .6
9 9 .3
1 0 5 .6
1 0 7 .4
9 1 .0
9 1 .3
1 0 5 .1
8 1 .9
1 0 3 .5
j l 2 6 .4
1 2 0 .5
3 .0 8 .5
r 7 4 .5
1 3 0 .4
3 0 4 .9
•1 0 5 .5
•
1 1 7 .6
1 1 3 .5
9 6 .8
7 4 .1
1 1 1 .9
7 7 .2
9 9 .3
1 2 4 .9
1 1 0 .8
1 0 4 .7
9 7 .3
1 4 2 .0
7 8 .1
1 1 0 .8
100*3
1 0 1 .0
179*3
1 2 3 .9
9 6 .1
1 9 6 .3
1 0 3 .7
9 6 .1
1 6 4 .0
3 1 3 .0
301*4
•2 0 5 .5
1 3 7 .8
8 8 .0
2 1 8 .6
1 1 4 .2
1 0 2 .5
1 8 7 .1
T o ta l c ro p s Z /
1 0 0 .8
9 9 .4
1 0 0 .5
•1 1 7 .2
•
1 1 0 .0
1 1 7 .8
F a r a m a in te n a n c e
a n d o th e r m is c e l l a n o o u s w ork
1 0 2 .0
1 0 5 .0
1 0 4 .0
MN*
e
**
4>*
T O 3
TTOJ
♦
T o ta l
1 0 3 .S
T 0 3 .5
1 0 3 .6
r iiti.i
#
l ^ t m - h o u r r e q u i r e m e n t s a r e I n t e r n s o f tim e r e q u i r e d b y a v e r a g e a d u l t m a le s
t o do v a r i o u s f o r m t a s k s *
As m any women a n d c h i l d r e n d o l e s s w o rk i n a n
h o u r th a n a n a v e r a g e a d u l t m a l e , a c t u a l h o u r s o f w ork r e q u i r e d a r e i n e x c e s s
o f t h o s e shown i n t h i s t a b l e *
^ P re lim in a ry
IjyT he m an -h o u r i n d e x a n d p r o d u c t i o n f b r " t o t a l c r o p s " i n c l u d e l a b o r r e q u i r e ­
m e n ts a n d p r o d u c t i o n o f c e r t a i n m i s c e l l a n e o u s c r o p s n o t shown s e p a r a t e l y *
J ^ rT h is k i n d o f w o rk - a b o u t 1 5 ^ o f t h e w o rk n e e d e d f o r f a m i n g - i n c l u d e s
l a b o r s p e n t o n f e n c i n g , r e p a i r s t o b u i l d i n g s , m a c h in e r y a n d e q u ip m e n t,
f a r m w o o d s , p a s t u r e s , g e n e r a l la n d m a i n t e n a n c e , fa rm b u s i n e s s e tc * Sono
o f t h i s w o rk p r o b a b ly h a s b e e n p o s tp o n e d d u r i n g w a r tim e b e c a u s e o f no l a b o r *
■71
O v e r - a l l pro d u o t i o n f i g u r e s i n d i c a t e t h a t M ontana *a o r o p p r o d u c t i o n
ir a s i n c r e a s e d d u r in g t h e w a r p e r i o d j u s t a s i t w as o v e r t h e n a t i o n , w i t h
a d e c r e a s e d l a b o r R ipply*
An e x a m p le o f t h i s i s g i v e n b y t h e o c m p a r ie o n o f th e n u m b er o f p e o p le
e n p l c j/ed i n t h e s u g a r b e e t f i e l d s in 1939 a n d t h e num ber i n 1945»
-7 2
TAiSLE XVII
COMPARISON OP NUMBER OF BEET ViCSl!CERS ASP BEET ACREAGES
IS KOSTAim - 1939 a n d 1945*
"1333
A c re a g e
IMS
T o t a l Number
W o rk e rs
A c re a g e
t o t a l B im ber
W o rk ers
S u g a r b e e t T h i m i n g .................. 7 7 ,0 0 0
1 1 ,2 9 9
*
8 7 ,0 0 0
9 ,7 8 5
S u g a r b e e t H a r v e s t .................... 7 4 ,0 0 0
9 ,9 2 1
*
8 2 ,0 0 0
9 ,7 1 6
• "'i/oj-i ta n a A g r i o u i t u r a l o t e t i R H e ^ n n ^ o R e p o r ts
1939 a n d 1945
TABLE X V III
COifPARISOH CT OUTPUT PER. BEET HORFER
I S M O fm m - 1939 a n d 1945*
1939
* -----------------------------------------t
S ugar b e e t T h in n in g # ...
0 .9 a c r e s
S
.Atgar b e e t H a r v e s t . . . . .
X Jh lle i t
8*4 a c r e s
*
♦ IJo n fc ia A g r i c u l t u r a l S t a t i s t i 'd i a n ^ s R e p o r ts
1939 and 1945
I e g e n e r a l l y a ssu m e d t h a t t h e p r e - w a r w o r k e r ’ s d a i l y o u t p u t
i n t h e s u g a r b e e t f i e l d w as h i g h e r t h a n t h a t o f w a r w o r k e r s who w e re o a i n l y
M tncioan n a t i o n a l s a n d p r i s o n e r s o f w a r , t h e o v e r - a l l f i g u r e s shown a b o v e i n d i o a t e t h a t t h i s may n o t b e t r u e #
The l a b o r s t a t i s t ! oe A o w n b e lo w i n T a b le s XIX a n d XX i n d i c a t e t h a t
t h e i n d i v i d u a l o u t p u t o f t h e p r i s o n e r s o f w ar was t h e l o w e s t , w i t h t h e
o u t p u t o f M exican N a t i o n a l s r a n k i n g t h e n e x t h i g h e s t #
S p a n is h A m e ric a n s was t h e h i g h e s t *
T he o u t p u t o f th e
T iiis i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e p r e - w a r w o rk e r
-7 3 -
w as m ore e f f i c i e n t , s i n c e a c o n s i d e r a b l e n um ber o f S p a n is h A m e ric a n s w e re
i n t h e b e e t f i e l d s b e f o r e th e war*
W h ile i t i s t r u e t h a t th e S p a n is h A m erican men d id h a v e a h i g h o u t ­
p u t , in c lu d e d i n
th e t o t a l n u m b er o f w o r k e r s w e re t h e m em bers o f h i e
f a m i l y , c o n s i s t i n g o f y o u n g c h i l d r e n a s w e l l a s g r o v n - u p e , w h ic h ! r i n g s
down t h e a v e r a g e o u t p u t o f t h e g r o u p .
The H e x io a n B a t i o n a l s and p r i s o n e r s o f w a r em p lo y ed i n t h e b e e t
f i e l d s d u r i n g t h e w ar w e re a l l m en , a n d a l t h o u g h t h e i r o u t p u t i s lo w com­
p a r e d t o t h e - x it p u t o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l S p a n i s h A m e ric an m en, t h e g e n e r a l
a v e r a g e f o r t h e w a r - tim e w o rk e rs was h i g h e r .
O th e r f a c t o r s w h ic h i n f l u e n c e d o u t p u t , b u t w e r e n o t c o n s i d e r e d i n
'B ab lo s X V II a n d X V III a r e w e a t h e r , m e c h a n i s a t i o n , y i e l d , a n d g e n e r a l m anage­
m ent o f l a b o r .
F i g u r e s sh ow ing t h e o u t p u t o f p r i s o n e r s o f w a r , H e x io a n N a t i o n a l s ,
24
a n d S p a n is h A m e ric a n s a r e show n i n 'B abies XIX a n d XX,
IABIE XIX
OUTPUT OF SUGAR BEET WORKERS DURIBG HARVEST SFASOB
IB MOm m
Grows Crew s Crews 2 0 ,5 ^
45,57»
22,771
11,37!
of
of
of
of
1944
L e ss th a n 5 w o rk e rs - a v e ra g e
5 to 9 w o rk e rs
- a v e ra g e
10 o r m ore w o r k e r s - a v e r a g e
o re w s
orew s
orew s
o re w s
— a v e ra g e d
- a v e ra g e d
- a v e ra g e d
— a v e ra g e d
4 ,1 t o n s p e r d a y
4*3 to n e p e r d a y
5 ,7 to n s p e r d a y
2*9 t o n s o r l e s s
3 t o 4 ,9 t o n s
5 to 6 , 9 t o n s
7 o r more t e n s
- per
- per
—p e r
—p e r
w o rk e r
w o rk er
w o rk e r
w o rk e r
per
per
per
per
day
day
day
day
A v e ra g e f o r a l l o re w s s t u d i e d w as 4 ,2 t o n s p e r w o rk e r p e r d a y
The o re w s ( 1 3 ) o f S p a n is h A ia e ric a n s u n d e r s tu d y a v e r a g e d 6 ,6 t o n s
p e r w o rk e r p e r d a y ,
2 4 / F i e l d S urvey condue te d b y D r. C arl K ra e n z e l and C arl I z e t t d u r in g th e
f a l l o f 1944
■74TABtE XX
OUTPUT OF PRI SOKERS CF B AR BY CAMPS
DURIBG SUGAR BEET AKVEST SEASON CF 1944
#
*
Oaitp
P r is o n e r s
o f War
Days
B illin g s
8 ,9 7 1
2 7 ,1 8 0
3 #29
B a lla n tln e
7 ,6 1 3
2 4 ,9 6 1
3 .5 2
Ifeirdln
7 ,0 2 5
2 5 ,4 6 1
3 .2 1
F o r s y th
3 ,9 3 5
9 ,1 2 4
2 .3 2
Chinook
6 ,1 4 0
8 ,3 5 2
2 .6 6
S id n e y
5 ,0 3 7
1 2 ,8 8 4
2 .5 6
G las gow
6 ,0 8 3
1 5 ,7 3 0
3 .0 9
679
1 0 ,0 9 1
2 .8 9
la u r e l
1 ,7 9 9
4 ,0 3 4
2 .2 4
T O m is
4 6 ,1 8 2
1 3 7 ,8 1 7
2 .9 8
! ,file s C liy
T o ta l Tons
Tons P er Man Per Day
-7 5 -
An e x p l a n a t i o n t h a t m i j h t b o g iv e n f o r t h i s i n c r e a s e d o u t p u t i s
t h a t t h e im p e tu s o f th e m r p r o v id e d an i n c e n t i v e £ b r h i t t e r p r o d u c tio n *
a l s o , i n c r e a s e d m o n e ta ry r e t u r n s a n d g e n e r a l t r e n d to w a r d s m r e e f f i c i e n t
w o rk b e c a u s e o f t h e s h o r t a g e o f l a b o r e r s may h a v e b e e n p a r t i a l l y r e s p o n s i ­
b le #
I n o r d e r t o i n c r e a s e e f f i o i e n o y , j o b t r a i n i n g w as n e c e s s a r y #
Job
m e th o d s t r a i n i n g s c h o o l s w ere c o n d u c te d o v e r th e e n t i r e n a t i o n f o r A g r i­
c u l t u r a l E x te n s io n p e r s o n n e l , who i n t u r n i n s t r u c t e d f a r m e r s a n d f a r m
w o r k e rs #
M ontana c o n d u c te d t r a i n i n g s c h o o l s f o r E x te n s io n S e r v i c e p e r ­
s o n n e l* t h e s e p e o p le c o n d u c te d t r a i n i n g s c h o o ls i n t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e
c o u n tie s #
S p e c ia l e f f o r t s w e re made t o
t o l e a r n t h e i r jo b s q u ic k ly #
h e lp i n e x p e r i e n c e d b e e t w o r k e r s
F i e l d d e m o n s t r a t i o n s , m o v ie s and p r i n t e d
m a t e r i a l w e re u s e d to f u r t h e r t h i s w ork#
I t w as n o t p o s s i b l e t o a s c e r t a i n t h e e x a c t r e s u l t s i n p r o d u c t i o n
d u e t o t h e t r a i n i n g p r o g r s m , s i n c e c o n t r o l g r o u p s c o u ld n o t b e m a i n t a i n e d .
H ow ever, t a b l e XXXI sh o w s an a t t e m p t t o s t u d y s e v e r a l g r o u p s o f M exican
T l a t i o m l s a s t y p i c a l o f th e w o r k e r s I n th e
e gar b eet fie ld s ,
t h a t s tu d y
w as e f f e c t e d b y t h e f a c t t h a t t h e g ro u p s o b s e r v e d w o re s h i f t e d from, tim e
t o t i m e , m ak in g i t im p o s s ib le t o
ooeb
to an y c o n c lu s iv e p ro o f#
Much o f th e t r a i n i n g g i v e n t h e w o r k e r s w as i n f o r m a l a n d s o m e tim e s
u n p la n n e d , s i n c e i n a l l c a s e s w h ere new w o rk e rs w e r e i n v o l v e d , t h e y had
t o be t o l d w h a t to d o , w h ere to d o i t , a n d hear t o do i t #
0 f t h i s k i n d w e re n o t u s u a l l y t h o u ^ i t o f a s j o b t r a i n i n g #
e v e r , b e c o n s i d e r e d s u c h , a n d i n o r d e r to
In s tru c tio n s
I t s h o u l d , how­
g e t f a r m e r s t o g iv e m ore th o u g h t
t o t h e t a s k o f t o l l i n g a n e w w o rk e r w h a t irae e x p e c t e d o f h im , t h e
-7 6 -
A g r l o u l t u r a l Ebcbenslm S e r v ic e p e r s o n n e l co n d u o ted c o u r s e s i n jo b t r a i n i n g
f o r fa rm e rs and s e n t o u t p r i n t e d m a te r ia l u r g i n g d e f i n i t e t r a i n i n g p r o ­
c e d u r e s f o r fa rm w o rk e rs , a n d , m ore e s p e c i a l l y , f o r new w o rk e rs*
The n e t r e s u l t o f t h i s w ork i n jo b t r a i n i n g , w h ich becam e p o p u la r
f i r s t i n t h e a r c e d s e r v i c e s , th a n i n i n d u s t r y , a n d f i n a l l y i n a g r i c u l t u r e ,
Ih s b e e n to p o i n t o u t t h e im p o rta n c e o f t r a i n i n g f o r work*
In d ic a tio n s
o f th e s u c c e s s o f t h e t r a i n i n g program c o n d u c te d f o r sugar b e e t v o r k e r a
a re
shown i n t h e l e t t e r s in c lu d e d i n th e a p p e n d ix o f t h i s p ip e r *
Ih e
l e t t e r s w e re w r i t t e n to Mr. G*H* Bingham , E x te n s io n S e r v ic e S p e c i a l i s t ,
who had c h a r g e o f th e s t a t e t r a i n i n g p ro g ram f o r s u g a r b e e t p r o c e s s in g
c o m p a n ie s.
Ih e se p e o p le had ta d th e o p p o r tu n ity to o b s e r v e th e r e s u l t s
o f th e t r a i n i n g p ro g ra m .
-7 7 -
TABLE X X I
ODTPDT CF PRISOHRS CF WAS BY CAKPS
uj
msmHA
UiRDIG SUGAR BEET HARVEST SEA SOU, 1945
Camp
Man D ays
T ons H a r v e s t e d
Tons p e r
Ilan p e r Day
S to v e n a T llle
)
)
T u c k e r’ s C ro s s in g )
6 ,9 9 1
2 1 ,5 7 8 .2
5 .1
B rld g e r
8 ,8 1 9
2 1 ,6 8 6
2 .4 0
F o r a y tii ( E a t e )
1 1 ,4 6 6
4 1 ,5 8 0
3 .6
B illin g s
1 6 ,4 6 9
6 2 ,4 2 5
3 .7 8
B a ll a n t in e
1 5 ,6 4 9
4 9 ,1 9 6
3 .1 4
9 ,6 5 4
2 3 ,9 2 0
2 .4 7
Hsurdin No# I
1 3 ,0 8 1
4 0 ,8 5 1
3 .1
H a r d in S o . 2
8 ,1 1 6
2 5 ,6 3 8
2 .9
M il e s C i t y
7 ,6 7 5
2 3 ,0 2 5
3 .0
G le n d iv e
5 ,4 0 8
1 4 ,5 2 7 .5 4
2 .6 9
1 1 ,2 3 2
3 6 ,6 2 4 .3 2
3 .1 7
R ld g e la im
4 ,3 3 7
1 2 ,6 7 2 .1 6
2 .9 2
Vixughn
5 ,8 8 8
1 5 ,0 0 8
2 .5 4
M a lta
7 ,9 8 5
2 1 ,3 0 2 .9
2 .6 6 7 8
G laegow
9 ,7 5 0
2 6 ,6 6 0
2 .7
la u re l
S id n e y
TOTALS
1 4 2 ,5 2 0
4 5 3 .4 9 4 .1 2
3 .0 4
mrir, .xxn
AVERAGE DAILY WORK OUTPUT M D AVHtAGE DAILY BARHISGS
OP HEtICAB BATIQSALS IN BELT THISBING, MONTANA 1945
A re a
Number
o f men i n
Vlnd nP WArV T r f t l n ln r
A n o rie tm O y s t i l
1# F la td to a d
2# Townsend
3# S o u th B i t t e r R o o t ( o n f a m e )
S o u th B i t t e r R o o t ( i n o am p s)
4# N o rth B i t t e r Ito o t
Se H le e o u la
to ta l
U ta h a n d Id a h o
Te C h in o o k
2e F a i r f i e l d
T o ta l
27
14
12
24
30
26
A v e ra g e
Number A c re s
Thlnnfid n « r Tmv
.4 2 7
.4 7 5
.5 5 3
.4 7 9
.4 2 2
.2 6 1
4 ,2 7
4 .7 5
5 .5 7
4 .8 2
4 ,2 1
3 .7 2
.4 4 0
4 .4 3
.5 0 9
.5 0 3
6 .1 4
6 .8 6
.5 0 6
6 .0 1
.5 6 9
5 .4 6
.4 0 8
6 .4 8
T r a in i n g b e f o r e a n d a f t e r
b e in g p l a c e d on f a rm s
.3 0 7
4 .0 3
D r a in in g b e f o r e p l a c e d on
farm s
.3 6 7
4 .6 6
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
unknown
133
54
62
No t r a i n i n g
No t r a i n i n g
116
G re a t w e s te rn
Te E y ah an
( i n cam p)
44
No t r a i n i n g
( h a d b e e n on fa rm s n e a r
M llin g s )
2e iy sh a ra (o n f a r m s )
36
No t r a i n i n g (fro m F o r e s t
S e rv ic e )
Se B l l l l n e s
4e B i l l i n g s
45
27
A v e ra g e D a ily
E a r n in g s fro m
T h in n in g
5 . B illin g s
28
No t r a i n i n g (fro m r a n c h e s )
.4 1 5
5 .4 3
Ge B i l l i n g s
42
No t r a i n i n g (cam e l a t e r )
•2 6 8
3 .4 9
.3 6 7
4 .9 8
T o ta l
222
-7 9 -
E ir e d Farm Worker m g e R a tea
F&rra nag© r u - e s u a ry a o c o rd in g t o l o c a t i o n , ty p e s o f fa rm work* and
a r e in f lu e n c e d b y L u a in e e e f l u c t u a t i o n s *
In i n d i v id u a l c a s e s i n t h e p a s t
th e r a g e s p e r h a p s h av e v a r ie d fro m m ere s u b s i s te n c e t o $200 p e r m onth, de­
pend in " on c o n d i t i o n s a s s t a t e d above*
D u rin g d e p r e s s io n p e r i o d s many fa rm
l a b o r e r s w ere g la d t o w ork f o r so m eth in g to e a t ; i n boom tim e s o r t n r t i n e s ,
when t h e r e w as a s h o r ta g e o f l a b o r , fa rm l a b o r e r s may h a v e r e c e iv e d w ages
a s h ig h a s #200 p e r m o n th •
On t h e a v e r a g e , th o u g h , t h i s w as n o t t h e o a e o *
T a b le X Z I I l shows t h e
c o m p o s ite fa rm w ag e r a t e s f o r t h e n a t i o n a s a t h o l e a n d f o r g e o g r a p h ic
d i v i s i o n s fro m 1 9 1 0 t o 1939 a n d f o r 1 9 4 3 .
F o r t h e m o u n ta in d l v l e io n i t w i l l b e n o t e d t h a t t h e l o w e s t a v e r a g e
r a t e f o r t h e p e r i o d 1910 t o 1939 w as #25*00 a n d t h e h i g h e s t m s # 7 3 .9 0 .
D u r in g W orld War I I , t h e a v e r a g e r o s e t o
#84*50 d u r i n g t h e y e a r 1 9 4 3 .
A c c o rd in g t o t h e 1940 n a t i o n a l c e n s u s r e p o r t , 39% o f t h e m ale fa rm
l a b o r e r s r e c e i v e d l e s s t h a n #200 p e r y e a r ; 3 ^ 5 r e c e i v e d fro m # 2 0 t o §399
in co m e p a r y e a r ; 14% r e c e i v e d $400 to # 5 9 9 ; 4%, $600 t o $ 7 9 9 ; 3%, |60Q
t o $ 9 9 9 ; 2% $ 1 ,0 0 0 to $ 1 ,1 9 9 ; 1%, $1200 t o $ 1 ,3 9 9 ; 1% # 1 ,4 0 0 t o $ 1 ,5 9 9 ;
a n d 1%, $ 1 ,6 0 0 a n d o v e r .
A s w i l l b e n o te d fro m Uie a b o v e I n f b r m t i o n , fa rm w a g e s c o n tin u e d
t o i n c r e a s e d u r in g t h e v a r y e a r s .
I t w as fo u n d n e c e s s a r y i n some c o u n t i e s
i n Ifcmfcam t o h o l d c o m t y w a g e h e a r i n g s t o
T a b le XXIV)
s e t p r e v a i li n g m g c s * (S ec
T h is a c t i o n p r e v e n t e d m any w o r k e rs fro m d r i f t i n g fro m form,
t o fa rm lo o k in g f o r h ig h e r w a g e s.
A l s o , t h e b r i n g i n g o f M ex ican R a t i o n a l s
Pnrt'oTf. Lotd'a l . f a c e s o f A g r l * Itu r a l la b o r I l T IHie U n ite d s W e s , ~
Technical B u l l e t i n Dumber 89£>, tr*S*E *A ., J u l y 1 9 4 5 , p .5 2
•*00«»
and P r is o n e r s o f w ar i n t o farm a r e a s h e lp e d to s t a b i l i z e y a g e s , even
th o u g h th e y wore o m t r e a t e d f o r a t p r e v a i l i n g wages#
I n g e n e r a l , f r o n 1 9 4 3 a n t h r o u g h 1 9 4 5 , t h e g e n e ra l f h r a wage w as
$90 pa* m o n th w i t h b o a rd o r $125 p e r m o n th w i t h o u t b o a r d #
T h is wage
was q u o te d on o e r t i f i c a U c tts o f n e e d f o r M exican E a f c lo m le f o r g e n e r a l
f a r m w ork#
TABUi m i l
COMPOSITE FARH EASE RATES, UBlISP STATES ABD GEOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS
1 9 1 0 -1 9 3 9 P e r io d a n d 1943
. C an C o n p o e lte f & r a . * p o s i t e
iBiire r a t e 1943 * m onthly
I
i
farm
U e r o e n t- 1 w age
A re a
* ra te ,
'
Per age o f
* m onth 1 9 1 0 -3 9 1 a v e r a g e
a v e r a g e 1 1 9 1 0 -3 9
' .
I
3 4 .5 2
189*6
U n ite d S t a t e s . , *
Eew S h g l a n d , . . ,
48*68
180*8
M id d le A t l a n t i c *»*4 74*23 1 7 7 .0
4 1 .9 4
E a s t E o r th C e n t r a l , 6 8 .3 0 1 8 1 .9
3 7 .5 4
W est E orO i C e n t r a l , 72*90 1 9 6 .2
3 7 ,1 6
S o u th A t l a n t i c * * * * * 40*10 1 5 9 .2
2 5 .1 9
E a s t S o u tii C e n t r a l I 3 7 ,8 0 1 5 9 .3
2 3 .7 5
W est S o u th C e n t r a l , 5 2 .7 0 1 8 3 .4
2 8 .7 4
M o u n ta in ...,,..
4 2 .7 9
1 9 7 .5
P a c i f i c , .......... .. .
5 4 .2 8
233*1
B unber o f y e a r s 191039 when c o m p o s ite
w age r a t e w as*
*
More
. W tt h in
t h a n ZO f
J ZOfa o f
“ a v e r a g e b e lo w
(H um ber) a v e r a g e
9
11
8
12
9
11
10
10
15
7
10
11
10
10
12
10
6
19
10
11
a g e © om poeite c o m p o s ite r
* w age r a t e
*
ra te _
' 1 910-19S 94 1 1910-1939®
I
I
More
,
t h a n ZO f P e r
above
m o n th
a v e ra g e
@
10
5 9 ,8 8
10
6 9 .8 0
10
6 4 .6 0
10
6 2 .7 0
8
7 0 .2 0
9
4 4 .6 0
10
4 3 .1 0
8
5 5 .4 0
5
7 3 .9 0
9
8 7 .7 0
2
of
1 9 1 0 -3 9
a v e ra g e
1 7 5 .5
1 4 5 .4
1 5 4 .0
1 6 7 .0
1 8 6 ,9
1 7 7 .1
1 3 1 .6
1 9 2 .8
1 7 2 ,7
1 6 1 .6
,
*
Per
of
‘m onth 1 910-39
* $
a v e ra g e
2 1 .1 0
6 1 .1
2 9 .4 0
6 0 .4
6 2 ,9
2 6 ,4 0
2 0 .8 0
5 5 .4
1 9 .2 0
6 1 .7
1 5 ,4 0
6 1 .1
1 3 .9 0
5 8 .6
1 7 ,4 0
6 0 .5
2 5 .8 0
6 0 .3
34*90
6 4 .3
I * The c o m p o s ite r a t e i s t h e w e ig h te d a v e r a g e m o n th ly wage o f r a t e s p e r m onth a n d r a t e s p e r d a y ,
c o n v e r t e d t o a m o n th ly e q u i v a l e n t ,
2 , R e l a t e s t o t h e 12-m o n th a v e r a g e o f 1920
5 , R e l a t e s t o t h e 12-m o n th a v e r a g e o f 1933 e x c e p t i n Bew E n g la n d a n d M id d le A t l a n t i c d i v i s i o n s
w h e re lo w e s t r a t e w as i n 1910«
P r e v a i l i n g w ages w e re d e te rm in e d b y Hage H e a rin g s h e ld b y r e p r e s e n t a ­
t i v e g ro u p s o f fa rm e r a#
The wages w ere d e te rm in e d a f t e r h e a r i n g t e s t i ­
m o n ia ls as t o w ages p a id by f a rm e rs p r e s e n t a t t h e m e etin g *
The f o llo w in g a r e w ag es a s d e te rm in e d b y t h e Wage B oard f a r O a l l a t l n
C ou n ty t
Bay
......... ..
. .
. . » » ..* ..* * # 5 * 0 0 & B o ard - 10 h r s # $125/mo*
& B oard
$ 6 .0 0 & B oard ( e x p e r i e n c e d )
S t a c k e r s . * . ................................. . . . . . . » . . . . . $ 8 . 0 0
& B oard - 10 lio u r s
I r r i g a t o r s . . . . . . .............*............ *................ . . $ 1 0 . 0 0 & B oard — 1 4 h o u r s
(e x p e rie n c e d )
$ . 5 0 an h o u r a n d B o ard o r
$ 7 .0 0 a d a y a n d B o a r d . ( I n e x ­
p e r i e n c e d w h i t e man o r M exioan
N a tio n a ls )
C a n n in g P ea H a r v e s t , p i e c e w o rk
F i e ld P itc h in g & S ta c k in g v i n e s . . . . . . . #
.5 0 a n h o u r a n d b o a rd
•6 0 a n h o u r a n d n o b o a r d
F a c t o r y w ork a t C a n n e r y .»• • • • • • • « • • • • • $ .6 0 a n h o u r a n d n o b o a r d
(1 5 -1 6 h o u r s )
S h o o k i n g . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . •• . . . . . • • • $ *60 a n h o u r a n d b o a r d
. 6 0 a n h o u r a n d n o b o a rd
H o ein g S p u d s .• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • '# * • • . $ 5 . 0 0 a d a y a n d b o a r d
p ic k in g ( h o u r l y ) ..• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • #
*65 a n d b o a r d (8 h o u r s )
Son B io g o F r u i t & P ro d u c e 3a * . . . . . . . 1 0 ^ - 1 1 / - 1 2 / p e r s a c k
Combine O p e r a t o r . . . . . . • • • • • • • • . . . . . • • • $ 7 . 0 0 — $ 1 0 .0 0 p e r d a y
($ 1 0 * 0 0 e x p e r i e n c e d m en)
T r a c t o r D r i v e r . . . ...................................... . . . . $ 1 0 . 0 0
( e x p e r ie n c e d r a n )
X r u c k e rs ............................................ * ..................4 .0 0 and g r a i n e d b i n n e d ( p a r
a c re ) 1 0 / p e r bu sh el
O p e rato r o f S e lf - p r o p e lle d C o m b in e .. ..$ 1 2 .0 0 p e r day a n d b o a r d
O p e r a to r o f C ustom C om bines. . . . . . . . . . . P e r Acre B a s is
TJie s u g a r b e e t w ork w a s done on a p i e c e r a t e b a s i s *
The r a t e s p a i d
d u r in g t h e 1 9 4 5 s e a s o n a r e a s f o ll o w s * t h e minimum w a s , f o r w a g e a n d p i e c e
r a t e s , s e t b y t h e S e c r e t a r y o f A g r i c u l t u r e by v i r t u e o f t h e S u g a r A c t o f
1937 a s shown i n Thb Xe XXI v .
-8 3 -
mBLE XXIV
WAGES AS SET BY THE SECRETARY CF AGRICULTURE
FOR SUGAR BEBT WORKERS FCR 1945 AS PER THE SUGAR ACT
( i ) F o r w o rk p e rfo rm e d o n a tim e b a s i s *
RATE PER HOUR B lo c k in g a n d t h i n 1 k g , a n d h o e in g a n d H a r v e s tin g
( i i ) F o r w o rk p e rf o r m e d on a p i e c e
r a t e b a s i s * RA TB PER HOUR
B lo c k e g anti t h i n n i n g *
F i e l d s p l a n t e d w i t h w h o le se ed
F i e l d s p l a n t e d w i t h se g m e n te d
seed
E a s te rn
M ontana &
If* Wyo*
W e s te rn
? "o n ta m
n o rth e rn
M ontana
#
$
@
*55
.6 5
.5 6
.6 5
.5 5
.6 5
@13. OO
1 1 . CO
$ 1 2 .0 0
1 0 .0 0
S 1 3 .0 0
1 1 .0 0
F i r s t H b e in g
4* OO
4 .6 0
4 .0 0
S e c o n d H o e in g a n d s u b s e q u e n t
h o e in g s and w ee d i n g s
3 . 00
3 .5 0
3 .0 0
2 0 . 00
1 8 .0 0
2 0 .0 0
1 8 .0 0
2 0 .0 0
1 8 .0 0
P u ll
and
to p
p ta i
and
to p
P u ll
and
7 .5 0
8 .5 0
1 1 .0 0
1 .2 5
1 .2 5
1 .2 5
1 .2 5
1 .2 5
1 .2 5
1 .2 5
1 .4 8
1 .4 1
1 .3 6
1 .3 3
1 .3 0
1 .2 7
1 .2 5
1 .8 9
1 .8 0
1 .7 2
1 .6 4
1 .5 8
1 .5 3
1 .5 0
B lo c k in g a n d t h i n n i n g , h o e in g a n d
w e e d in g e a s a co m b in ed o p e r a t i o n * V
F i e l d s p l a n t e d w itia w h o le s e e d
F i e l d s p l a n t e d w i t h se g m e n te d s e e d
H a rv e stin g *
Minimum R a t e P e r A cre*
R a te P e r to n *
6 o r le s s
7
8
9
10
11
12 o r m ore
IoaE 2 /
J ^ l h e oonibI m d r a t e i s a p p l i c a b l e i n a n i n s t a n c e w h ere a w r i t t e n a g re e m e n t i n ­
c l u d e s a l l w o rk o f b l o c k i n g a n d S i i n n i n e e b o e l n g s , a n d w e o d in g a , r e g a r d l e s s
o f t h e n u m b e r o f h o e in g a n d w e e d in g * r e q u i r e d *
j ^ / l n t h o s e i n s t a n c e s w h e r e p u l l i n g , t o p p in g an d p i l i n g a r e p e r f o m e d a s a
s e p a r a t e h a n d l a b o r o p e r a t i o n b e c a u s e o f m e c h a n ic a l l o a d i n g , t h e a p p l i c a b l e
r a t e s f o r p u l l i n g , t o p p i n g a n d p i l i n g s h a l l b e 83*3% o f r a t e s shown h e r e i n *
IABIE XXV
PRODUCTION AHD BARHIHGS CF MEXICANS DURING IT!IRHIHG, MOHTAHA 1945
_____________________________________________________ SUGAR DIETS
____________________________________
A v e ra g e t W b e r
W o rk e rs " ' "''Ymye" " H o u rs
H ours
A c re s ’
i n sam p le W orked f o r k e d P e r Bxy IM n n c d
'
"'
U n its
U n ito Par
P o r H our Day W orked
A venxge E a r n in g e
‘h o u r ly D a ily
A a e r io a n C ryafcal
T o ta l
27
14
12
2 6 .4
2 5 .9
28*0
2 2 2 .1
2 1 6 .5
2 5 5 .0
8 .4 1
8 .3 5
9 .1 2
1 1 .2 6
1 2 .3 2
1 5 .4 8
•9 5 1
*057
,0 6 1
.4 2 7
.4 7 5
.5 5 3
24
2 0 ,6
1 7 5 .7
8 ,4 5
9 ,9 6
,0 5 7
.4 7 9
1 0 0 .2 1
.5 7 0 4 .8 2
2 0 .9
1 8 2 .7
8 ,7 4
8 .8 4
.0 4 8
.4 2 2
8 8 ,2 0
.4 8 3 4 ,2 1
26
23*7
194*7
3 ,2 2
0 .5 3
.0 4 4
.5 6 1
6 8 ,0 8
*452 3 .7 2
133
2 5 .7
2 0 1 .9
8 .5 2
1 0 .4 4
.0 5 2
.4 4 0
# 1 0 5 ,1 5 # •6 2 1 1 4 ,4 5
54
62
2 6 .2
1 8 ,9
2 2 5 .3
1 6 7 .1
8 .9 4
8 .8 6
1 2 .8 2
9 .5 0
.0 5 7
♦057
.5 0 9
.5 0 5
1 1 5 4 .5 2 $ .6 8 6 #6.14
1 1 1 0 .4 9 ,6 6 1 5 .8 6
116
2 1 .8
1 9 4 .2
8 .9 1
1 1 .0 4
.0 5 7
.5 0 6
$ 1 3 0 .9 9 $ .6 7 4 # 6 ,0 1
50
$112*72 1 .5 0 8 |4 , 2 7
1 2 3 ,2 2
.5 6 9 4 .7 5
1 5 6 .0 0 .6 1 1 5 .5 7
i'
U ta h -I d a h o
D is tric ts *
I * C hinook
2 , F a irfie ld
T o ta l
-# 8 '
D is tric ts »
I , F la th e a d
2» Tcmnsend
3 . B i t t e r R oot
On F a m e
( S o u th )
4» B i t t e r R oot
I n Carnp
( S o u th )
6* B i t t e r R o o t
( N o r th )
6 , M is s o u la
TABLE XXVI
DATA OB EARTJIm s OF KEXIGAK NATIONALS FOR BEKT HARVEST, MONTA!-A 1945
L o e a ti o n
fe ta l
E a r n in g #
A v e ra g e
lu m b er H o u rs
W orked
11
' ' ~'
S o u r ly
P e r io d
E a rn in g # C o v ered
^Aaaber ' 'to v re a t:' d l g h o s t Xowesl"
/ i - 'h o s t
Men i n
T o ta l
T o ta l
H o u rly H o u rly
Sam ple E a r n in g s ! ! a m in e s E a rn in g s E a r n in g s
B illin g #
( E a s t B ench)
$ 1 0 6 .5 9
196
$ .5 4 2
9 /2 0 - 1 1 / 1
20
$ 6 6 .1 7
1 1 5 5 .5 9
$ .3 6 7
$ .7 5 3
B illin g s
(N e a r tow n)
1 2 6 .9 6
179
.7 0 9
9 /2 0 -1 3 /i
30
4 6 .9 9
2 1 0 .7 9
.4 7 0
1 ,0 9 2
B illin g #
(N e a r L a u r e l )
1 6 5 .3 5
217
.7 0 5
9 / 2 0 - 1 1 /1
17
1 0 1 .2 5
2 4 5 .6 2
.4 7 8
1*211
B illin g s
(A bove T h ree
O oabined )
1 2 7 .5 3
194
.6 5 8
9 /2 0 -ll/i
67
46*99
2 4 5 .6 2
.3 6 7
1*211
92*74
190
.4 8 8
9 /2 4 -1 1 /1
27
6 2 .2 1
1 1 6 .0 6
.4 1 1
.5 5 4
I f a r d in
(Men n o t i n Camp)
1 1 6 .6 1
225
.5 2 4
9 /2 4 -H /l
46
54*55
1 8 2 .3 5
.3 1 5
.7 0 9
B a r d in
( B o th G ro u p s )
1 0 7 .7 8
211
.6 1 2
9 /2 4 -1 1 /1
75
5 4 .5 5
1 8 2 .3 5
.3 1 5
.7 0 9
S id n e y
115*90
195
.5 8 4
9 / 2 0 - 1 1 /1
44
4 2 .1 4
1 7 2 .9 0
•216
.8 0 3
H a r d in
(Men i n Oaiap)
-C C -
A s tu d y w as Biada b y Dr* Tfctns P lam book# S o c i o l o g i s t a t K ontstm S t a t e
C o l l e g e d u r i n g 1946 on e a r n i n g s o f W x i m n E a t l c n a l s i n b e e t m r k *
The
r e m i t s o f t i l l s s t u d y shown i n T a b le s XXV a n d XXVI w i l l b e n o te d *
I t i s o n ly t o b e e x p e c te d t h a t w a g e s w i l l go u p i n t i m e s o f a s h o r ­
ta g e o f la b o r *
so o o u te
T h is h a p p e n e d d u r in g W orld War I I *
The s h o r t a g e becam e
t h a t w ag es w o u ld h a v e g o t t e n e n t i r e l y o u t o f h a n d b a d n o t
a c ti o n b een ta k e n *
Ihe a o t l o n t a k e n o i i n s i s t e d o f two m a in s t e p s i o n e ,
th e s e t t i n g o f p r e v a i l i n g wage r a t e s b y c o u n ty w age b o a r d s , a n d tw o ,
t h e s t a b i l i s i n g e f f e c t o f i m p o r t i n g f o r e i g n l a b o r a n d p r i s o n e r s o f w ar*
‘ '"’ 'T
•"87-
Cost o f The Farm Labor Program
I t i s d i f f i c u l t t o d e te r m in e t h e e x a c t c o s t o f t h e n a t i o n a l l a b o r p r o ­
gram d u r i n g t h e w a r .
H ow ever, a n i n d i c a t i o n o f t h e c o s t i s g i v e n b y t h e
a p p r o p r i a t i o n s made b y C o n g re ss i b r t h i s w o r k .
TABLE XXVII
COBOfBESSIOML APPROPRIATIONS FOR SECDEt HCr FAEM UBOR
Y ear
T o t a l A p p r o p r i a t i o n _________ To S t a t e s
1943
$ 2 6 ,1 0 0 ,0 0 0
1944
3 0 .0 0 0 . 0 0 0
1945
2 0 .0 0 0 . 000
H ot l e s s t h a n ,$ 9 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0
H o t m ore th a n '1 3 ^ 0 5 0 ^ 0 0 0
H ot l e s s t h a n 14^000^000
H ot m e re t h a n 18 ^ 5 0 0 ^ 0 0 0
H ot l e s s t h a n
7;0CX>;000
H ot m ore t h a n 1 1 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0
The m oney a p p r o p r i a t e d a s show n a b o v e p r o v id e d t h e m eans o f c a r r y i n g
o u t t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f P u b l ic la w 45 and i t s
su bsequent r e v is io n s .
F o r M o n ta n a , t h e o o s t f i g u r e s a v a i l a b l e fro m th e O f f i c e o f l a b o r
a r e a s f o llo w s :
I h e o o s t o f t r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f w o r k e r s fro m M exico t o M ontana a v e r a g e d
SlSOeOO p e r m an .
M o n ta n a .
D u rin g 1 9 4 3 , 3030 M exican B a t i o m l s w e re b r o u g h t to
C om puted a c c o r d i n g t o th e a b o v e a v e r a g e c o s t , t h e t o t a l e x p e n d i­
t u r e f o r 1943 f o r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , i n c l u d i n g s u b s i s t e n c e a n d m e d ic a l c a r e
e n r o u t e , was § 4 5 4 ,5 0 0 .0 0 .
Ihe c o s t o f t h e sam e i te m f b r 1944 w as # 8 9 4 ,1 5 0 .0 0 .
I n 1945 t h i s o o s t w as $ 6 1 5 ,0 0 0 .0 0 .
D u rin g 1 9 4 5 , $ 5 5 ,0 5 7 .7 5 was p a i d to t h e w o r k e r s u n d e r t h e 7 5 ^ em­
p lo y m e n t g u a r a n t e e .
I n a d d i t i o n to
t h i s , $ 3 0 ,0 0 0 .0 0 w as p a i d t o r e s ­
t a u r a n t s a n d l i o t e l s i n t h e s t a t e t o c a r e f o r w o r k e r s b e tw e e n p e r i o d s o f
I
—88—
e ra p lo y n o n t, and $ 3 5 ,0 6 9 .3 5 w as p a i d t o d o c t o r s a n d h o s p i t a l s f o r n o d i c a l
c a re .
The Emergency Farm la b o r Program i n M ontana, a p a r t o f th e Montana
A g r ic u ltu r a l E x tm s io n S e rv ic e , made t h e fo llo w in g e x p e n d itu re s*
1945
-
$ 5 1 ,1 2 9 .1 9
1944
-
7 5 ,2 5 9 .0 5
1945
-
9 6 ,2 7 4 .5 9
I n t h e c a s e o f p r i s o n e r s o f w a r , th e U n i t e d S t a t e s Army p a id t h e c o s t
o f m oving t h e m en i n t o t h e v a r i o u s cam ps i n
n i s h e d m o st o f t h e h o u s i n g , a l l o f t h e
the s t a t e ,
th e
Army
a ls o fu r­
s u b s i s t e n c e an d m e d ic a l c a r e .
A g r i c u l t u r a l E x te n s io n S e r v i c e , t h r o u g h i t s
H ie
E m ergency Farm l a b o r P ro g ra m ,
p a i d p a r t o f th e e x p e n s e s o f h o u s in g p r i s o n e r s o f w a r .
T a b le X X V lII shows
th e v a r i o u s p r i s o n e r o f w ar comps i n th e s t a t e a n d t h e p a y m e n ts made b y
t h e E taergenoy Farm L abor P ro g ra m f o r e a c h cam p .
ih e s u g a r p r o c e s s i n g c o m p a n ie s a i m a s s i s t e d i n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o r
a l t e r a t i o n o f e x i s t i n g cam ps t o a c c o m o d a te p r i s o n e r s o f w a r .
T o t a l c o s t o f i m p o r t i n g 3875 M ex ican n a t i o n a l s d u r i n g 1945 w as a s
f o llo w s *
T ra n s p o rta tio n . . . • • • • • » • • • • • • • • $ 6 1 5 ^ 0 0 0 .0 0
7 5 ;' S n p lo y m m t g u a r a n t e e . . . . . . .
5 5 ,0 5 7 .7 5
S u b s is te n c e .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5 0 ^ 0 0 0 .0 0
M e d ic a l C a r e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5 5 ,0 6 9 .5 5
T o ta l
$ 7 3 5 ,1 2 7 * 1 0
T fM le t h e a b o v e f i g u r e s do n o t p r o v i d e c o m p le te i n f o r m a t i o n a s t o t h e
e n t i r e c o s t o f t h e l a b o r p ro g ra m , th e y do g iv e a n i n d i c a t i o n o f t h e t r e ­
m endous c o s t s i n v o lv e d i n m o v in g 3 0 ,0 0 0 t o 4 0 ,0 0 0 fa rm w o r k e r s i n t o t h e
s t a t e a n d o u t a g a i n e a c h y e a r to ta k e c a r e o f t h e p e a k l o a d s o f f a r m w o r k .
ZABLE X X V II I
PRISOmR OF WAR CAMP EXJ5SKDI TIRES IK BOBTABA
1944 - 1945
EMERGrESCT FARM IA BOR PROGRAM
I3TiQonor
o f War
Camp
Labor
Plumbing* Hard­
w a re , E l o c tr io a l
S u p p lies
Lumber
F r e ig h t
B a lla n tin e
1 7 .5 0
1 0 .4 5
9 5 7 .7 1
7 8 1 .2 0
1 7 6 6 .8 6
2 1 .0 0
2 5 .7 5
5 7 5 .2 4
6 1 9 .9 9
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4 2 5 .8 8
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7 0 2 .0 0
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4 5 6 .2 0
G lendive
3 4 6 .5 4
9 2 7 .0 0
2 9 2 .7 0
5 4 0 .3 4
5 4 1 .9 0
9 9 8 ,1 0
8 5 4 .0 9
5 0 7 .7 5
8 2 2 .1 2
1 0 5 5 .1 0
1 0 0 0 .0 0
1 0 0 0 .0 0
1 5 .8 5
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2 2 5 .0 0
2 3 2 .9 8
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3 1 .6 0
4 7 .6 5
1 0 0 0 .0 0
1 0 0 0 .0 0
6 9 .0 0
4 5 0 .1 5
1 2 8 .2 3
6 4 7 .3 8
2 5 0 .0 0
4 5 .1 9
5 6 1 .6 9
8 5 6 .8 8
S te v e n s v ille 288#65
9 0 .8 5
4 9 4 .9 6
8 7 4 .4 4
3 9 4 .1 4
9 9 9 .8 1
3 6 5 3 .8 8
2 1 7 6 .5 6 1 3 ,0 1 4 .9 2
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-9 0 -
C ost I n v o lv e d I n !lo v in g F n m L abor
L abor i s o n e o f th e p ro d u c tio n f a c to r s *
c o s t s a r e i n v o lv e d *
w h e n e v e r l a b o r i s t o b e m oved,
I b e s e c o s t s w i l l v a r y a c c o r d in g t o many v a r i a b l e f a c ­
t o r s a n d may b o e i t i i e r i n
th e fo rm o f m oney o r i n human p r i v a t i o n a n d
s u ffe rin g *
Uie c o s t o f m oving farm l a b o r fro m one p r o d u c t i o n j o b t o a n o t h e r
m u st b e b o rn e b y th e w o rk e r h i m s e l f , o r th e e m p lo y e r, o r s o c i e t y i n
g e n e r a l (w h ic h w ould b e t h e gov ern m en t ) o r b y com bi n a t i o n s o f th e t h r e e —
w o r k e r p a y in g p a r t , e m p lo y e r p a y in g p a r t , a n d g o v e rn m e n t p a y in g p a r t *
'h e n th e re i s a su rp lu s o f firm la b o r , th e w orker pays m ost o f th e
c o s t o f moving i n s e a r c h o f wozk e i t h e r in money o r p h y s ic a l s u ffe rin g *
S o c ie ty w i l l pay p a r t i n p ro v id in g r e l i e f f o r th o se u n e u o o ee sfu l i n f in d in g
work*
R e l a tiv e ly sp e a k in g , the employer w i l l n o t b o a r any o f th e c o s t o f
moving i n th e c a se o f a s u rp lu s o f lab o r*
I f , on th e o t h e r h a n d , t h e r e i s a n a o u t e s h o r t a g e o f fa rm l a b o r ,
t h e n th e e m p lo y e r w i l l b e g i n t o h e l p p a y c o s t s c f m oving l a b o r ; t h e
w o r k e r w i l l p ay c o n s i d e r a b l y l e s s , an d t h e g o v e rn m e n t w i l l p r o b a b l y c a r r y
m o st o f t h e b u r d e n , i f th e f o o d i s o f d i r e n e c e s s i t y , a s i n
w a r*
th e c a se o f
I n n o rm a l t i m e s , o r e r a s b e tw e e n th e s u r p l u s e s o f d e p r e s s i o n and
th e a c u t e s h o r t a g e s o f w a r , t h e c o s t s w i l l b e d i v i d e d among w o r k e r , em­
p l o y e r , a n d g o v e rn m e n t a c c o r d in g to
th e s u p p ly o f and t h e demand f o r fo rm
l a b o r a t t h e moment*
It is
to t h e a d v a n ta g e o f t h e w o r k e r , t h e e m p lo y e r , a n d t o s o c i e t y
i n g e n e r a l t o o u t c o s t s o f m oving l a b o r t o a minimum#
T h e se c o s t s m y b e
r e d u c e d b y e l i m i n a t i n g a s r a n y o f th e a r t i f i c i a l r e s t r i c t i o n s t o t h e move­
m e n ts o f l a b o r a s p o s s i b l e and th e u n e c e s s a r y m ovem ents w h ic h r e s u l t i n
p u r e w a s te *
R e s tric tio n s to tie
movement o f fa r m l a b o r a r e *
-9 1 -
27
I , L ack o f k n o w le d g e o f a v a i l a b l e j o b s i n a g r i c u l t u r e *
2* I n c o r r e c t i n f o r m a t i o n y .v c n o u t b y e n p lo y e r a a s t o t h e num ber
o f w o r k e r s n e e d e d , w h ic h r e s u l t s i n a n o v e r - s u p u ly o f w o r k e rs
ru s h in g in to a n a re a *
3 . L ack o f k n o w led g e o f t h e h i g h e s t r e w a r d s o f f e r e d f o r d i f f e r e n t
jo b s i n a g r ic u ltu r e *
4* Lack o f k n o w le d g e a s t o t h e c o s t o f m o v in g .
5* I g n o r a n c e a s to Iiie p o s s i b i l i t y o f o b t a i n i n g t r a i n i n g f o r
p a r t i c u l a r farm j o b a .
6 . L ack o f t r a i n i n g c o u r s e s
7 , I n a d e q u a te h o u s in g f a c i l i t i e s *
D u rin g t h e d e p r e s s i o n o f t h e
T h i r t i e s , t h e w o r k e r a b s o r b e d th e c o s t
o f th e l a c k o f k n o w le d g e o f a v a i l a b l e j o b s i n f r u i t l e s s s e a r c h i n g , whj.oh
i n v o lv e d f i n a n c i a l l o s s a n d human s u f f e r i n g *
The g o v e rn m e n t a b s o r b e d seme
o f th e c o s t t h r o u g h t h s Farm S e c u r i t y A d m i n i s t r a t i o n w h ic h p r o v id e d j o b
i n f o r m a t i o n , wage i n f o r m a t i o n , l a b o r c a m p s, a n d t r i e d w h e r e v e r p o s s i b l e
t o k e e p w o r k e rs a t ho s c w hen j o b s w e re n o t a v a i l a b l e *
Uio g o v e rn m e n t a n d t o
some e x t e n t t h e e m p lo y e rs , a l o n g w i t h t h e w or­
k e r s , a b s o r b e d t h e c o s t s d u r in g W orld War I I *
T hrough t h e D aerg en cy Farm
L a b o r P ro g ram t h e g o v e rn m e n t p a id t h e c o s t o f re m o v in g r e s t r i c t i o n s r e ­
g a r d i n g j o b i n f o r m a t i o n , wage i n f o r m a t i o n , s t a b i l i z a t i o n o f w a g e s , em ploy­
m en t g u a r a n t e e s a n d p a i d th e c o s t o f m o v in g , t r a i n i n g c o s t s , t r a i n i n g i n ­
f o r m t i o n a n d h o u s in g *
The e m p lo y e rs a s s i s t e d i n re m o v in g a s many r e s t r i c ­
t i o n s a s p o s s i b l e , s u c h a s d i s t r i b u t i n g m o re j o b I n f o r m a t i o n , p r o v id i n g
t r a i n i n g , g i v i n g m ore a t t e n t i o n t o h o u s i n g , p a y in g c o s t s o f t r a n s p o r t a t i o n
a n d p a y in g h i o r w ages*
The w o r k e r w as a b l e t o a v o id m uch o f t h e c o s t o f
m o v in g , w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f t h e p h y s i c a l d i s c o m f o r t s o f m oving a n d e n ­
c o u n te r in g i n a d e q u a t e lio u s in g f a c i l i t i e s *
2 '7 / 1fo a d c . 'T . r * and H i t c h , C»J* An In tro c u o t i o n 'jo l'ooncgiic
P o l i c y , Kew Y o rk , O xford U n i v e r s i ty P r e s s , 1 9 3 8 , p* IBS
I y s i s and
PART V*
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
D u r in g W orld War I I t h e s h o r t a g e o f fa rm l a b o r i n M ontana a n d t h e
n a t i o n a s a w h o le becam e a c u te *
Many men r e g u l a r l y em p lo y ed i n a g r i c u l ­
t u r e l e f t t h e f a rm s a r d r a n c h e s o f th e s t a t e t o e n t e r t h e arm ed e e r v i o o s
o r w ar in d u s tr ie s *
As t h e w a r p r o g r e s s e d , t i l l s s h o r t a g e o f D im l a b o r becam e so s e r i o u s
t l m t some s o r t o f a c t i o n on a n a t i o n a l s c a l e w as n e c e s s a r y t o i n c r e a s e
fo o d p r o d u c t i o n so n e c e s s a r y In war tim e s *
As a r e s u l t o f t h e demand f o r u n i t e d a c t i o n to s o l v e t h e f a r m l a b o r
s h o r t a g e , t h e ? !ar Food A d m i n i s t r a t i o n w as s e t u p *
Ifco d i v i s i o n s u n d e r
t h e w a r Food A d m i n i s t r a t i o n - t h e E m ergency F a r a L a b o r P ro g ra m a n d t h e
O f f i c e o f L a b o r - became r e s p o n s i b l e f b r r e c r u i t i n g f a r m l a b o r e r s i n
s u f f i c i e n t n u m b e rs , w h e re en d w hen t h e y w e re n e e d e d , to m a i n t a i n fo o d p r o ­
d u c t i o n g o a ls *
Some o f th e r e s u l t s o f th e p ro g ra m s e t u p i n M ontana d u r in g t h e w ar
e m e rg en c y t o r e l i e v e t h e farm l a b o r s h o r t a g e , r e v e a l e d I y t h i s
s tu d y , a r e
a s fo llo w s :
I * On t h e a v e r a g e , e a c h y e a r d u r in g t h e w a r , 3 0 ,0 5 2 f a r m l a b o r e r s
w e re p l a c e d th r o u g h th e f a r m l a b o r p ro g ra m ; t h e s e w o r k e r s to o k
th e p l a c e s o f fro m 5 5 ,0 0 0 t o 4 0 ,0 0 0 f a r m l a b o r e r s who Imd en ­
t e r e d t h e arm e d s e r v i c e s o r w a r i n d u s t r i e s *
2* No c r o p s o r l i v e s t o c k w e re l o s t a s a r e s u l t o f a n i n a d e q u a t e
l a b o r s u p p ly *
3* C rops p r o d u c e d i n Iia n ta n a d u r i n g t h e y e a r s 1 9 4 3 , 1 9 4 4 a n d 1945
►33'
w e re v a lu e d a t $ 5 1 8 ,9 3 3 ,OOOe
D u rin g t h i s
p r o d u c t i o n m s v a lu e d a t ^ 5 1 3 ,7 5 4 ,0 0 0 .
same p e r i o d l i v e s t o c k
Hie t o t a l v a lu e o f a g r i ­
c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n d u r i n g t h i s c r i t i c a l w a r p e r i o d m s § 1 ,0 3 2 ,6 0 7 ,0 0 0 .
I t h a s b e e n shown i n t h i s stu c ty t h a t , o n th e a v e r a g e , 3 0 ,0 0 0 h i r e d
x torloers o u t o f t i e 3 5 ,0 0 0 w o r k e r s n e e d e d i n t h e s t a t e o f L b n ta n a
t o t a k e c a r e o f i t s a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n , w e re p l a c e d b
'm e r g e n c y !Dara L abor I1Togram *
th e
C o m p a riso n o f t h e a b o v e f i g u r e s
m akes th e v a l u e o f t h e p r o g ra m to
th e s t a t e a t o n c e a p p a r e n t .
4 . A g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n i n M ontana w a s i n c r e a s e d d u r i n g t h e w ar
p e r i o d , d e s p i t e t h e JEhot t h a t t h e la b o r s u p p ly h a d d e c r e a s e d .
T h is r e s u l t e m p h a s iz e s t h e p o i n t t h a t t h e o u t p u t p e r w o rk e r w as
in c re a s e d .
5 . D u r in g tim e s o f l a b o r s h o r t a g e s , d o m e s tic l a b o r t e n d s t o
s h ift
to w a rd m ore h i g h l y s k i l l e d w o r k , l e a v i n g t h e s to o p l a b o r j o b s
t o b e f i l l e d I y im p o r te d I b r e i g i l a b o r .
6 . F a r a w o r k e r i n c e n t i v e s w o re i n c r e a s e d d u r i n g p e r i o d s o f fa rm
la b o r s h o rta g e s .
As s t a t e d i n t h e t e x t , w ages w o re g u a r a n t e e d ,
s u i t a b l e lic u s in g p r o v i d e d , m e d i c a l , h e a l t h and b u r i a l s o jn rio e
o f f e r e d , a s w e ll a s tr a n s p o r ta tio n
tim e s o f s u rp lu s la b o r ,
to a n d f ro m t h e j o b .
D u rin g
th e w o r k e r m u st s ta n d t h e s e e x p e n s e s .
7 . Farm w ag es w e re s t a b i l i z e d , t o som e e x t e n t , t h r o u g h c o u n ty
w age b o a rd h e a r i n g s a n d th r o u g h t h e i m p o r t a t i o n o f f o r e i g n
la b o r e r s and p r is o n e r s o f w a r .
8 . A lth o u g h th e c o s t o f t h e p ro g ra m seem s e x c e s s i v e , t h e e x p e n d i t u r e s
w e re w e l l w o r th w h i l e i n c o m p a r is o n w ar tim e n e e d s f o r t h e c r o p s
p ro d u ce d .
—9 4 —
9# J o b t r a i n i n g i s n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e m ost e f f i c i e n t u s e o f fa rm
la b o r•
10» J o b p la c e m e n t a n d i n f o r m a t io n s e r v i c e s r e n d e r e d b y t h e l o c a l
c o u n ty a g e n t , th ro u g h c o u n ty f a r m l a b o r o f f i c e s , p la y e d a v e r y
im p o rta n t p a r t i n
th e p r o c u r e m e n t o f f a r m l a b o r # a b o u t 68"? o f
th e i n d i v i d u a l s p l a c e d i n fh rra j o b s w e re l o c a l a n d t r a n s i e n t
w o r k e r s who w e re p l a c e d tiiro u g h t h e s e o f f i c e s *
1 1 , G o v e rn m e n ta l a c t i o n i s n e c e s s a r y i n h e l p i n g to s o lv e fa rm
l a b o r p ro b le m s*
In c o n c lu s io n , i t
can b e s t a t e d t h a t t h e f a r m l a b o r s i t u a t i o n i n
t h e U n ite d S t a t e s i s s t i l l a v e r y d e f i n i t e p ro b le m *
A s o lu tio n to th a t
p ro b le m w as a t t a i n e d , th ro u g h em e rg en c y m e a s u r e s , d u r i n g T o r l d T a r I I *
Uow t h e w a r em ergency i s o v e r - t h e p ro b le m s t i l l e x i s t s a n d w i l l h a v e
t o b e fa c e d *
The te n d e n c y f o r i n d u s t r i a l l a b o r t o becom e o r g a n i z e d w i l l , i n some
m e a s u r e , c a r r y o v e r to a g r i c u l t u r a l l a b o r *
I f th e p r o b le m i s h a n d le d
t h r o u g h l a b o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s , th e p a t t e r n w i l l b e f o r a g r i c u l t u r a l l a b o r
t o I b l l c w i n d u s t r i a l r u l e s and r e g u l a t i c n s .
I t w ill be v e ry d i f f i c u l t
t o a d j u s t fa rm o p e r a t i o n s t o r i g i d l a b o r r e g u l a t i o n s su ch a s i n d u s t r i a l
l a b o r e r s f o llo w *
I f , o n th e o th e r h a n d , a g r i c u l t u r a l le a d e r s and fa rm e rs
r e c o g n i z e t h e im p o r ta n c e o f t h e f a r m l a b o r g ro u p and t a k e t h e i n i t i a t i v e
i n d e v e lo p i n g a p o l i c y f o r fa rm l a b o r t h a t i s s u i t a b l e to a g r i c u l t u r e ,
i t m y b e t h a t a g r e a t many l a b o r t r o u b l e s i n a g r i c u l t u r e c a n b e a v o id e d *
APPERDIX
COIT
O c to b e r 2 , 1945
OeHe Bingham
E x te n sio n I r r i g a t i o n S p e c i a l i s t
U ontam E x te n sio n S e n d e e
Bozcnani Montana
Mr*
Dear B ingi
Mr* George Didov/, su g ar company fioldxaan, and m y self h e ld fo u r su g ar
b e e t p u l l i n g and to p p in g d e m o n stratio n s w ith o u r grow ers and reach ed
a l l o f th e grow ers e x c e p t two o r th r e e , through th e s e d em o n stratio n s*
e a l s o h a d a g ro u p o f t h e P r i s o n e r s - o f - ^ a r S u p e r v is o r s o u t a t t e n d i n g
one o f o u r d e m o n s tr a tio n s t o g i v e th e m i n s t r u c t i o n s s o t h a t i n tu r n
t h e y o o u ld h e l p t h e o t h e r s * Wc s t a r t e d 11 g ro u p s o f P r i s o n e r s~of-47ar
o u t y e s t e r d a y t o t a l l i n g 2 2 5 men* F iv e o f t h e s e g ro u p s w e n t t o T eton
and s i x t o C a sc a d e C ounty i n g ro u p s o f 20 t o 21 men e a c h *
I am s u re t h a t the i n s t r u c t i o n s g iv en th e grow ers a s w e ll a s th e
s u p e r v is o r s w i l l b e o f h e lp to th e s e men* I n o tic e d t h a t many Of th e
fe llo w s even though w e showed them to hook th e b e e ts on th e end, p re ­
f e r r e d to hook th e n on th e to p * We to ld thm i f t h a t i s th e most
n a t u r a l f o r them , i t was okay Ixat th e main th in g was to g e t the jo b
done* I am s u re t h a t th o s e d e m o n stra tio n s w i l l p ro v e o f c o n sid e ra b le
h e lp in g e t t i n g Uie jo b done f a s te r *
Very t r u l y y o u rs ,
/ s / Theo• Fosse
County E x ten sio n Agent
-9 7 -
COPY
PARAGIiAPf! TAKES FROM A . L . JOHfJSOfPS LETTER OF OCTOBER 3 , 1915
O ur b e e t h a r v e s t t r a i n i n g p ro g ra m h a s b e e n q u i t e s u c c e s s f u l .
O ur h a r v e s t commenced a s p la n n e d o n S e p te m b e r 2 6 . On t h a t d a t e ,
b y d i s t r i b u t i n g o u r f l e l d ia o n a n d l a b o r s u p e r v i s o r s , we w e re - b l e
t o h o l d t r a i n i n g s c h o o l s f o r , a n d w i t h , a l l t h e f a n n e r s who to o k
o u t p r i s o n e r s o f w a r . I n a l l , we h e l d 17 t r a i n i n g d e m o n s t r a t i o n s .
S in c e t h e n , we h a v e h a d t r a i n i n g dem onst r a t i o n s w i t h o u r M exican
N a t i o n a l s a n d t h e f a r m e r s who h a v e th e m . Ke f i n d t h a t w h i l e
t h e f i r s t t r a i n i n g m e e tin g w e re s u c c e s s f u l , o u r f a r m e r s h a v e
a t e n d e n c y t o i e l a p s e i n t o o l d m e th o d s i f we d o n 't u s e a c l o s e
f o l l o w - u p . Ae a r e d o i n g t h i s now , a n d f i n d t h a t o u r d a i l y to n n a g e
p e r man h a r v e s t e d h a s Luen i n c r e a s e d m a t e r i a l l y . We f e e l t h a t
t h i s p ro g ra m h a s b e e n q u i t e s u c c e s s f u l , b u t t h a t some f o ll o w - u p i s
s t i l l n e c e ssa ry .
S e p te m b e r 13» 19h$
D e a r S u g a r B e e t G row ers
The s u g a r b e e t h a r v e s t I s n o t t o o f a r d i s t a n t *
The S t a t e
E x t e n s i o n S e r v i c e , t h r o u g h i t s l o c a l c o u n ty o f f i c e , i n c o o p e r a t i o n
w i t h t h e s u g a r f a c t o r y , i s g o in g t o c o n d u c t tw o s e c t i n s i n M is s o u la
C o u n ty on T u e s d a y , S e p te m b e r 1 8 . The m o rn in g m e e tin g w i l l b e h e l d
on t h e f a c t o r y fa rm b e tw e e n 10 a n d 1 1 : 3 0 . The a f t e r n o o n m e e tin g
w i l l b e h e l d o n t h e fa rm o f R o b e rt E dw ards i n G ra s s V a l l e y , b e tw e en
2 :0 0 and 3 $ 3 0 .
T h i s m e e tin g i s n o t b e i n g c a l l e d t o t e l l t h e s u g a r b e e t
g ro w e r how t o p u l l , p i l e , t o p a n d l o a d s u g a r b e e t s , a n d t h i s m u st be
c l e a r l y u n d e r s t o o d . The p r im a r y p u r p o s e o f t h i s m e e tin g i s t o t e a c h
t h e g ro w e r how t o t e a c h I i s h i r e d h e lp — how t o g e t t h e maximum am ount
o f w ork fro m h im .
T h i s p l a n i s b e in g c a r r i e d o u t i n a l l t h e s u g a r f a c t o r i e s
i n t h e c o u n t r y . I t h a s p r o v e n s a t i s f a c t o r y . I t h a s d e m o n s tr a te d
t h a t when t h e w o rk e r i s t a u g h t how t o do a j o b e f f i c i e n t l y , much more
w i l l b e a c c o m p lis h e d . A man t h a t w orks l o n g h o u r s i s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y
a =Tood t e a c h e r , i f h e d o e s n o t know how t o i n s t r u c t . T h i s m e e tin g
t h e n , i s s im p ly f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f g i v i n g y o u a fe w fundam ent«Q .s o f
t e a c h i n g t h e o t h e r f e l l o w — t h a t i s , t e a c h i n g him w h a t y o u know i n a
c l e a r , c o n c i s e , d e f i n i t e m a n n e r, s o t h a t he w i l l do a b e t t e r j o b f o r
you.
I h o p e t h a t y o u w i l l p l a n t o a t t e n d t h i s m e e tin g — come t o
t h e p l a c e t h a t i s m o st c o n v e n ie n t f o r y o u t o a t t e n d . T h is m e e tin g
w i l l b e u n d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n o f J a c k G iv s o n , r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e s u g a r
f a c t o r y , a n d t h e w r i t e r , r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e M ontana S t a t e E x te n s io n
S e r v c e . May we h a v e y o u r c o o p e r a t i o n i n o r d e r t h a t t h e s e s c h o o ls may
be a s u c c e s s ?
V e ry t r u l y y o u r s ,
/ s / A . f t. I t o l l i n
C o u n ty A g r i c u l t u r a l a g e n t
-99
COPI
O c to b e r
M r. G« M. Bingham
I rr ig a tio n S p e c ia lis t
M ontana S t a t e O o l l t g e
Bozem an, M ontana
D e a r M r. Bingharas
The j o b t r a i n i n g s c h o o l s f o r s u g a r b e e t h a r v e s t vrero n o t
w h a t we a n t i c i p a t e d h e ro i n M is s o u la C o u n ty . A p p a r e n tl y t h e s u g a r
b e e t g ro w e rs w e re t o o b u s y t o a t t e n d . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , h o w e v e r, on
t h e s e c o n d d a y when we a n t i c i p a t e d a good a t t e n d a n c e , a b i g s a l e
was s c h e d u le d an d t h a t t o o k many o f t h e f a r m e r s . T h e re w e re h u n d re d s
o f c a r s g a th e r e d a t t h i s s a l e a n d t h e y w e re t h e r e p r a c t i c a l l y a l l
d a y l o n g . H o w ev er, we d i d c o n t a c t a l o t o f t h e s u g a r b e e t g ro w e rs
a n d g av e th em t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s t h a t t h e y w ould h a v e h a d i f t h e y h a d
a t t e n d e d t h e m e e t in g . T h i s p r o c e s s i s c o n t i n u i n g a t t h e p r e s e n t
tim e .
V/e a r e h a v in g h o p e s o f g e t t i n g a g ro u p o f men who a r e now
on s t r i k e a t t h e B o n n er m i l l a n d i f wo c a n g o t some o f t h e s e m en,
we a n t i c i p a t e d o in g a good j o b o f t r a i n i n g b e f o r e th e y a r e p u t i n t o
th e f i e l d s .
I t i s n o t d e f i n i t e t h a t we c a n g e t t h e s e m en, b u t I
vfant t o c a y t h a t t h e t r a i n i n g we h a d w i l l b e a g r e a t h e l p i n g e t t i n g
t h e s e men t o d o a s a t i s f a c t o r y j o b .
P e r s o n a l l y , I w as much im p r e s s e d w i t h t h e j o b a n d I
a n s o l d on i t 100% . N e v e r t h e l e s s , ^ e d i d w h a t we c o u ld - - ^we u s e d t h e
a i r — h r . C l e la n d a n d h i s r I e ld to tin , a s w e l l a s t h e w r i t e r , c o n t a c t e d
a s many a s we c o u ld JX Y raonally a n d t o o , t h e e n c lo s e d c i r c u l a r l e t t e r
w as s e n t t o e v e r y s u g a r b e e t g ro w e r i n M is s o u la C o u n ty ,
I
V e ry s i n c e r e l y y o u r s ,
/ s / A. R. R o l l l n
C o u n ty A g r i c u l t u r a l A g e n t
-IQOCOPT
F a i r f i e l d , M ontana
O c to b e r 1 9 , IS 1JiS
Mre Ge H» B in jiham
Bozem an, M ontana
D e a r M r. Bingham :
I w is h t o t a k e t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y i n t h a n k i n g y o u a n d t h e E x to n s io n
S e r v i c e v e r y k i n d l y f o r y o u r tim e a n d e f f o r t s p e n t on t h e s p l e n d i d
j o b y o u d i d on th e t r a i n i n g p ro g ra m s b o t h f o r t h i n n i n g a n d t o p p in g
su g ar b e e ts .
The t r a i n i n g p ro g ra m t h i s s p r i n g on
d i v i d e n d s i n m ak in g i t p o s s i b l e f o r
p r o p e r ly and f a s t e r and a s a r e s u l t
a n d b o t h t h e f a r m e r s a n d l a b o r w e re
j o b w as c o m p le te d .
nHow t o T h in S u r a r B e e t s n p a i d
t h e w o r k e rs t o I e a m t h e jo b
we g o t b e t t e r a n d f a s t e r work
much m ore s a t i s f i e d w hen t h e
The t o p p i n g t r a i n i n g p ro g ra m i s d o in g a f i n e J o b f o r u s t h i s h a r ­
v e s t s e a s o n . T h ro u g h y o u r s p l e n d i d p ro g ra m we now h av e a u n ifo r m
w ay o f h a r v e s t i n g s u g a r b o o t s w h ic h i s b e in g f o llo w e d 100% . I am
s u r e we a r e g e t t i n g a g r e a t e r to n n a g e o u t - p u t p e r man a n d a b e t t e r
jo b o f to p p in g w ith l e s s l o s s .
/ i l l b e e t s i n zny d i s t r i c t a r e l o a d e d m e c h a n ic a l ly t h i s y e a r .
p r i s o n e r s a n d M ex ican s a r e w o rk in g o u t s a t i s f a c t o r i l y . "
The
Thank y o u a g a in f o r y o u r f i n e c o o p e r a t i o n .
V ary t r u l y y o u r s ,
/ s / G eorge Didow
U. Sc I . S u g a r F ie ld m a n
COPY
O c to b e r 1 0 , 19h$
K r . Q. H* D in g h a a
I rr ig a tio n S p e c ia lis t
Bozem an, M ontana
D e a r M r. Bingham :
As o u r f a n n e r s i n L ake C o u n ty w e re t o o b u s y t o a t t e n d l a b o r
t r a i n i n g s c h o o l s f o r b e e t h a r v e s t a n d t h e f a c t t h a t I know
v e r y few o f th em w ould t a k e t h e t im e t o t r a i n t h e i r M ex ican s
a c c o r d i n g t o t h e s p e c i f i e d p ro g ra m , we g a v e a l l o f o u r tim e t o
t r a i n i n g t h e M oxic a n s th e m s e lv e s i n t h e b e e t f i e l d .
T h is w ork w as d o n e im m e d ia te ly upon a r r i v a l o f t h e M ex ican s a n d
.vas c a r r i e d on t h r o u g h t h e a i d o f a l o c a l M exican b e e t g r o w e r.
The r e s u l t s h a v e b e e n v e r y s a t i s f a c t o r y a n d t h e f a r m e r s a r e
v e r y p l e a s e d w i t h t h e p ro g ra m . I am s u r e i t w i l l go a l o n g
w ay to w a rd s u p p le m e n tin g o u r a c u t e s h o r t a g e o f b e e t l a b o r i n
th is y e a r.
V e ry t r u l y y o u r s
/ s / K.
Ir.
F itz g e ra ld
C o u n ty E x te n s io n a g e n t
O c to b e r 2 , 19li£>
I i r . Ge H, Bingiiam
E x te n s io n I r r i g a t i o n S p e c i a l i s t
Bozem an, M ontana
D e a r " B in g " :
I w a n t t o th a n k y o u v e r y much f o r y o u r n i c e l e t t e r a b o u t t h e
T r a i n i n g P ro g ra m a n d w h i l e we h a v e n o t b e e n a s s u c c e s s f u l i n
t h i s t e r r i t o r y a s I w o u ld l i k e , we h a v e h ad some v e r y good
m e e tin g s a n d I t h i n k t h e f a r m e r s a n d o u r f io ld m o n h a v e g a in e d
s o m e th in g fro m t h i s p ro g ra m .
a r e s o s h o r t o f l a b o r a t t h i s tim e t h a t o u r f l e l d m e n , a s
w e l l a s t h e e m p lo y e e s h e r e i n t h e f a c t o r y o f f i c e , a r e j u s t
swam ped w i t h f a r m e r s a s k i n g f o r l a b o r a n d i t t a k e s a g o o d p o r ­
t i o n o f o u r tim e p a c i f y i n g them s o t h a t we liave v e r y l i t t l e
tim e t o p u t i n on t r a i n i n g m e th o d s a f t e r t h e w o r k e rs a r e a c t u a l l y
p u t in th e f i e l d s .
fo u rs v e ry tr u ly
/ s / P ra n k A . C le la n d
M anager
-103
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S t a t i o n , P u llm a n , W aeldngt o n .
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HOTTc IN CALIFORNIA, 1 9 3 8 , U»S• Farm S e c u r i t y A d m i n i s t r a t i o n ,
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M oyer, A gnes B*, 1 9 4 5 . A d d re ss t " P r o t e c t i v e M igra to ry W o rk e rs D ig UeSe
P ro b le m " , g iv e n b e f o r e t h e I n s t i t u t e o n M ig r a to r y L a b o r
P ro b le m s a t P r i n c e t o n , ! I ,J e J u n e , 1 9 4 5 .
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t h e W e s te rn F a r a E co n o m ics A s s o c i a t i o n , J u ly 1 9 4 0 ., S t a t e
C o lle g e o f W a i i i n g to n a n d U n i v e r s i t y o f I d a h o , P u llm a n , W ash#
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PEOPLE, D .S . P a r n S e o u r i t y A d m i n i s t r a t i o n , I n d i a n a p o l i s , In d •
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A g r i c u l t u r a l E e o n o iaio s a n d t h e Farm S e c u r i t y A d m i n i s t r a t i o n ,
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M ontana A g r i c u l t u r a l S t a t L s t i o i a n r S R e p o r t 1 9 4 5 , H e le n a , M ontana
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
K37d
41291
M S5 s
D AT E
iee iiE D
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