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Show LIFE AND LABOR. If Secretary Baker i3 able to work out a scheme by means of -which he will be able to send the farmer boys in the army to tbeir homes in the spring ' and fall to help with the crops he will have achieved a marvel, as our soldiers are being sent to Europe as soou as they are sufficiently trained. They could not bo brought back in either the spring or the fall without weakening tho line and endangering 9 success. Jf the drafted men who are to be called up two or three months heDce are to be released for spring and fall farm work, it would be just as well to grant them exemption at once and let it go at that. It is true that we must build ships, manufacture munitions and grow foodstuffs food-stuffs in vast quantities. But it is also true that we must have some millions of soldiers in the field, and. in our humble opinion, thp raising of an army of sufficient size to conquer the central cen-tral powers should first bo considered. There is no way to raise such an army except by ronpeription, and the obligation obli-gation to fight rests upon all citizens between the ages of '21 and 31, with- i out distinction. The exemption board" : are to exercio their discretion as t o r whether certain of these men will he of greater use at home in some particular par-ticular field of endeavor th.an in the ranl:s. Rut there are no class exemp- ; tions and the hoards should caruf-illy j scrutinize- all claims on agricultural as j well as other grounds. I The war cannot be successfully proe- j cutcd with high sohuol and college i youths, clerks and mechanic, who do j not happen to be engaged in any of ! the war industries, and in any event i it would not be fair to send them forth So die while the other classes remain at home and receive more wages than ever before in their lives. This war is a life and death proposition, and no man should be 6ent to the trenchos in order that another may toast his heels at home. There are more than 100,-000,000 100,-000,000 inhabitants of the United States and it should be possible to raise an army of three' or four million men without vitally affecting farm work or any 6f the industries. The main trouble in the agricultural regions is that the young - men can make more money in the cities and they have been deserting the farms for many' years. This, movement has undoubtedly un-doubtedly been increaspd since the war in Europe began, for fancy wages are being paid. Therefore, it is difficult for the fanner to find help when he needs it. But exemption of farm labor la-bor would not be fair, even now. We are conscripting the lives of men for war; let ue conscript labor for the farms if necessary. |