through which they run and in distributing labor to the points where needed.  Newspaper offices served as employment bureaus.  The operators of nearly 8000 rural telephone companies weekly called up the homes of two million farmers to inquire as to needs.  State and county councils of defense, chambers of commerce, labor unions, farmers’ organizations, and other volunteer agencies afforded channels through which the farmer and the laborer were brought together.

From January to the end of October 1918, approximately 2,500,000 workers were directed to employment (not all farm workers).  In that year the enormous wheat crop of the western states was entirely harvested by labor forces organized and moving northward as the harvest ripened.  “Teamwork between the county agricultural agents and farm-help specialists of the Department of Agriculture and the harvest emergency force of the United States Employment Service is considered largely responsible for the excellent results.”  In a similar manner assistance was given in harvesting the corn and cotton crops, the fruits of orchards and vineyards, and the vegetable crops of the country.

The Boys’ Working Reserve constituted one division of the Employment Service.  In 1918, 210,000 boys between the ages of 16 and 20 were enrolled for work on the farms during the summer.  The Reserve was responsible in 1917 and 1918 for saving millions of dollars worth of crops.  It is estimated that in 1918 it raised enough food to feed a million soldiers for one year.

EMPLOYMENT SERVICE IN PEACE TIME

With the passing of the war emergency, the elaborate machinery of the Employment Service was in large measure allowed to fall to pieces through lack of appropriations for its maintenance.  This is true of much of the emergency organization of government developed during the war period.  It illustrates the tendency in our country to leave business control as fully as possible to individual initiative excepting in times of great emergency.  So important is the problem of bringing the worker and the job together that many believe that the Employment Service organization should be revived and continued.

The central office at Washington is still maintained.  In most states there are still (1919) state directors.  The local machinery has been largely discontinued except in cities where volunteer agencies, such as the Red Cross and other welfare organizations, have taken over the work, chiefly to find employment for discharged soldiers and sailors.  A few states have made appropriations to continue the Boys’ Working Reserve.

NATIONAL VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE

One division of the Employment Service is the Junior Section, for the guidance of boys and girls from 16 to 21 years of age seeking employment.  Local junior sections were organized as branches of local employment offices and in schools.  A “junior counselor” was placed in charge of each local junior section to study the needs and qualifications of those who applied for employment, and to give them advice.  The Junior Section is still maintained with a director in the Washington office.  The duties of the junior counselor are stated as follows: