Benton County Committee Calls for Conscription of Labor
With food scarcity looming in 1917, local authorities propose closing schools early and conscripting the unemployed to save the harvest.
The Central War-Food committee appointed by Governor Lister for Benton county, because of the scarcity of food material, the necessity for growing large crops and the shortage of labor required to harvest these crops, have passed the following resolutions: 'Resolved, that the authorities of the State of Washington be and are hereby petitioned to use their best efforts to supply the necessary help to harvest and save all food crops being grown in this state and that they encourage all young men and boy students to enroll for membership in the Washington High Schools Harvesters’ League. Be it further resolved that it would be both patriotic and economical for the schools to remain closed until October 1 this year, thus enabling them to assist in completing the harvest. The committee also recommends that all unemployed, able-bodied men be CONSCRIPTED and put to work where they will be made to produce a share of the nation’s needs.'
“The committee also recommends that all unemployed, able-bodied men be CONSCRIPTED and put to work where they will be made to produce a share of the nation’s needs.”
This 1917 plea highlights the extreme mobilization of local communities during WWI, where the government viewed labor, including students and the unemployed, as public property. Today’s labor shortages in agriculture still echo these discussions, though the rhetoric of mandatory conscription for civilian work remains a historical relic of total war mobilization.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.