BOOKLET OF INFORMATION U.S. BOYS’ WORKING RESERVE U.S. EMPLOYMENT SERVICE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR President Wilson “/ call upon the able- bodied boys of the land to turn in hosts to the farms and make cer- tain that no pains and no labor is lacking in this great matter What the U.S. Boys’ Working Reserve Is The World-Wide Need of Food Before the war the United States exported 5,533,000 tons of food- stuffs annually to Europe. In 1918 this amount had, through the ex- igencies of war, increased to 11,820,000 tons. Just before the armistice was signed, Mr. Hoover estimated that 17,500,000 tons would be needed for 1919. Now, with Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, and Turkey added to the list of nations urgently needing our food, the total tonnage which we must export will be prodigious. It will tax the resources of the United States to the utmost. All available help must be put into our fields to do their full duty to the principles of democracy now at stake in Europe. The trend of world history for the next century depends upon what the American farmer can accomplish in 1919. This is the reason why the United States Boys’ Working Reserve has become an institution of pro- found international significance. The Boys’ Working Reserve is today the chief source of reliable, well-trained, and physically fit farm help in America. In 1918 it produced sufficient foodstuffs to feed a million people for a year. Its production in 1919 must far surpass all previous records in every State in the Union if the world is truly to be “made safe for democracy.” The Purpose of the Boys’ Working Reserve The United States Boys’ Working Reserve was organized in May, 1917, by a small group of men who foresaw the need of boy labor to over- come the American food shortage. Chief among these men was William E. Hall, the present National Director. The Boys’ Working Reserve is a division (under the United States Employment Service) of the Depart- ment of Labor. It has branches in every State in the Union, the District of Columbia, and the Territory of Hawaii. Its purpose is to mobilize for productive service , chiefly on our farms, all physically fit American boys from 16 to 20 years of age; to see that their education is maintained ; and to prevent any exploitation of their labor. The work done by members of the Boys’ Working Reserve has been absolutely vital to winning the war. It is not a “new fad.” Unless enough boys enter the Boys’ Working Reserve next spring, we cannot raise sufficient food to supply ourselves and our gallant allies in Europe/ Membership in the Boys’ Working Reserve is entirely voluntary — like buying Liberty Bonds. No one is going to compel a boy to join. Only Uncle Sam is putting it squarely up to the consciences of American boys, to help him while so many of our farmers are away. 4 How the Boys’ Working Reserve Is Organized (Questions and Answers) 1. What national authority supports the Boys' Working Reserve? Under the statutory power granted to it, the United States Depart- ment of Labor has established the United States Boys’ Working Re- serve as one of the component parts of its organization. 2. What type of organization has the Boys' Working Reserve adopted? The organization of the Boys’ Working Reserve is centralized in administration but decentralized in execution. This means that the general policies of the Boys’ Working Reserve are formulated at its National Headquarters in Washington, but that the carrying out of these policies and the adapting of them to meet local and varying conditions all over the United States are put entirely into the hands of the State divisions of the Boys’ Working Reserve. j. Who is the chief official of the Boys' Working Reserve? William E. Hall, National Director of the Boys’ Working Reserve. 4. Has every State in the Union a division of the Boys' Working Reserve? Yes. In addition, there is a Boys’ Working Reserve organization in the District of Columbia and in the Territory of Hawaii. 5. Who is the chief official of the Boys' Working Reserve in each State? The Federal State Director for that State. A complete list of these Federal State Directors is appended (pages 14-15). 6. Who is the chief official of the Boys' Working Reserve in each county? The County Director of the Boys’ Working Reserve for that county. 7. How does the Boys' Working Reserve secure its enrollments of members? Through the Enrolling Officers of the Boys’ Working Reserve, one of whom is stationed in every High School and in every Public Library in the United States. 5 8. What connection has the Boys' Working Reserve with the Y.M.C.A.? The Y.M.C.A. is closely cooperative with the Boys’ Working Re- serve, and hundreds of Y.M.C.A. men are officials in the Boys’ Work- ing Reserve. The Y.M.C.A. gives great assistance to the Boys’ Work- ing Reserve by inspecting the farms upon which members of the Boys’ Working Reserve are to work, by supervising the boys while at work, and by establishing wholesome recreation for their leisure time. q. What connection has the Boys' Working Reserve with the Department of Labor? Officially the Boys’ Working Reserve is a part of the United States Employment Service, in the Department of Labor. The practical sig- nificance of this relationship lies in the assurance which the Depart- ment of Labor alone can give, that the boys who enroll in the Boys’ Working Reserve will not be exploited, but will be safeguarded and protected by all the humane and modern legislation of which the De- partment of Labor is the chief governmental custodian. 10. What connection has the Boys' Working Reserve with the United States Employment Service? Since the chief purpose of the Boys’ Working Reserve is to train and furnish a reserve supply of labor for the American farms, it is logically a part of the larger United States Employment Service. 11. What is the official bulletin of the Boys' Working Reserve? “Boy Power.” It is issued on the 15th of each month by the Publicity Section at National Headquarters. How the Boys’ Working Reserve Operates 1. Who is eligible for membership in the Boys' Working Reserve? Every physically fit boy in the United States between 16 and 20 (both inclusive). 2 . Is a boy who works on his father's farm eligible for membership in the Boys' Working Reserve? Yes, provided that he enrolls in the regular way, and that he takes the regular service oath. 3. What are the Farm- Craft Lessons? , The Farm-Craft Lessons are a series of loose-leaf pamphlets with a binder, the purpose of which is to enable all boys in the United States, whether members of the Boys’ Working Reserve or not, to learn the elements of farm practice. This series will be made a course of study in every High School in the United States this winter, and thus should hasten the training of members of the Boys’ Working Reserve for their subsequent work on the farms. 4. How can a boy enroll in the Boys' Working Reserve? There is an Enrolling Officer of the Boys’ Working Reserve in every High School and every Public Library in the United States. Before enrolling, the boy must possess the consent of his parent or guardian, must pass the required physical examination, and must take the Boys’ Working Reserve Oath of Service. He is then given the enroll- ment button, and the Enrollment Certificate. Theodore Roosevelt, ex-President of the United States: “One of the great benefits you confer is that of making a boy realize that he is part of Uncle Sam’s team; that he is doing his share in this great war, that he holds his services in trust for the nation, and that although it is proper to consider the question of material gain and the question of his own desires, yet that what he must most strongly consider at this time is where his services will do most good to our people as a whole.” 7 5 - What obligations does a boy assume by enrolling in the Boys' Working Reserve? Every boy who enrolls in the Boys’ Working Reserve obligates himself for the faithful performance of the service for which he enrolls. Local conditions in different States cause varying requirements in the amount of work to be done. The irreducible national minimum period of work for earning the badge is six weeks of at least six days a week of at least eight hours a day. 6 . Does enrolling in the Boys' Working Reserve interfere with a boy's education? No, since the work is done in the summer vacation. 7. Does a boy enrolling in the Boys' Working Reserve have to buy any ex- pensive u outfit"? The only ‘‘outfit” which it is hoped a Reserve boy will procure is the National Reserve Uniform. The cost of this uniform is not over $10.00 at current prices. It will take the place of street clothes. 8 . What is the Boys' Working Reserve National Uniform? See page 12 of this booklet. q. Is a member of the Boys' Working Reserve under any expense by reason of his membership? Members of the Boys’ Working Reserve are under no expense, un- less they purchase the official uniform, which is optional. 10. What are Central Farm Training Camps? See page 12 of this booklet. William B. Wilson, Secretary of Labor: “It was because we felt there was tremendous man-power that could be organized and utilized in the form of the boys from sixteen years and upwards that we undertook the organization of the Boys’ Working Reserve.” Herbert C. Hoover, National Food Administrator: “The United States Boys’ Working Reserve must be the dominant organization in the effort to mobil- ize the working boys of the United States.” 8 11. Who assigns the place and kind of work for a hoy in the Boys' Working Reserve? The boy is placed through the local enrolling officer with consent and approval of parents. Boys in cities are sent out through county or state directors, but always with consent and approval of parents. No boy who has a place on a farm is assigned elsewhere unless cir- cumstances require a change. 12. Does a boy in the Boys' Working Reserve earn any money ? Members of the Boys’ Working Reserve are paid fair wages for the work they do. The generally accepted minimum wage is about $30.00 a month and board. 13. Does a member of the Boys' Working Reserve have to work outside of his State ? A boy in the Boys’ Working Reserve may not be sent out of his State to work, save with his own consent and the consent of his parents. There will be almost no occasion for such transfer. 14. Do Boys' Working Reserve boys work alone on farms, or in groups? Local needs of farmers determine the answer to this question in each individual case. Whenever possible, boys are employed in groups. 15. What hours does a boy in the Boys' Working Reserve have to work? Reserve boys gladly accept the working hours to which farmers are accustomed and which differ widely in various parts of the nation. The work-day runs from eight to twelve hours. 16. What is there to prevent the exploitation of the labor of these boys? The active supervision of the whole State and National Boys’ Working Reserve organization, backed by the authority of the whole Department of Labor. William E. Hall, National Director of the United States Boys’ Working Reserve: “We must not waste our national boyhood.” Oliver Wilson, Master of the National Grange: “The National Grange is unqualifiedly behind the United States Boys’ Working Reserve. The Reserve is a wonderful school for the boy and a wonderful help for the farmer.” 9 iy. Can a member withdraw from the Boys' Working Reserve before his term of service has expired? A boy who has enrolled in the Boys’ Working Reserve may not leave the service until the term for which he has enrolled has expired, save by the request of his parents or guardians, or for reasons sufficiently weighty to his Federal State Director. 18 . Where and how do boys live while working on the farms? Boys’ Working Reserve boys working on farms live either with the farmer on whose farm they work, or in a nearby Supply Camp of the Boys’ Working Reserve organization. In either case they are under adequate supervision of the Boys’ Working Reserve officials. iq. What insignia devices are awarded for faithful service in the Boys' Work- ing Reserve? The Federal Bronze Badge of Honor, and the Honorable Service Bar Pin. 20. For what is the Federal Bronze Badge of Honor awarded? The Federal Bronze Badge of Honor is awarded for faithful per- formance of the service for which a Boys’ Working Reserve boy has enrolled. The term of service for which the Badge is awarded will be determined by the Federal State Director of each State, but under no cir- cumstances shall the Badge be awarded for a service of less than six weeks of six days a week of eight hours a day. 21. For what is the Honorable Service Bar Pin awarded? An Honorable Service Bar Pin is awarded each year to those boys of the Boys’ Working Reserve who have, in the judgment of the Fed- eral State Director, deserved this additional reward for especially long and meritorious service in the Boys’ Working Reserve. x J. J. Pershing, Commander American Expeditionary Forces: “The achieve- ments of the Boys’ Working Reserve are beyond praise. The American Expedi- tionary Forces thank one and all for the support which you are giving us.” P. P. Claxton, United States Commissioner of Education: “I hope you may be able to enlist in the United States Boys’ Working Reserve many thousands of boys from city and town.” io What the Boys’ Working Reserve Has Accomplished In the year 1917, the Boys’ Working Reserve carried its organization into forty-odd States; brought its program to the attention of the State Councils of Defense in every State in the Union; secured the endorsement of the Gov- ernors and State Councils of Defense in all the States of the Union; mobilized about 100,000 boys and placed them upon the farms of America. By October 1, 1918, the United States Boys’ Working Re- serve had completed its organization in every State of the United States, in the District of Columbia, and in the Ter- ritory of Hawaii; had enrolled and placed upon the farms of the United States about 210,000 boys; had trained intensively, through its Farm-Craft Series and its Central Farm Training Camps, about 30,000 high school boys; and had been indirectly the means of sending thousands of younger boys into food production under State auspices. What the Boys’ Working Reserve Plans to Accomplish For the coming year, these are the aims of the Boys’ Work- ing Reserve: 1. To enroll and place on American farms 500,000 boys. 2. To afford all these boys training in farm practice before they go to the farms, by means of the Central Farm Training Camps or Training Farms, and the Farm-Craft Lessons. 3. To help raise enough foodstuffs to feed Europe in 1919. 4. To maintain the education and welfare of all American boys of high school age. 5. By completing the organization of the Boys’ Working Reserve’s Industrial Unit, to maintain the vocational training of all American boys from 16 to 20 who are engaged in industry. 11 Miscellaneous The Boys’ Working Reserve National Uniform The National Uniform of the Boys’ Working Reserve is olive drab in color, and of military cut. It includes a trench hat ; a single-breasted coat, with turndown collar, shoulder-straps, bellows pockets, United States Boys’ Working Reserve chevron on upper left sleeve, and standard United States Boys’ Working Reserve bronze buttons; military breeches lacing below the knees; the same khaki leggings as are worn in the United States Army, laced in front; and a shirt of regular United States Army pattern and material. Any boy enrolling in the Boys’ Working Reserve is privileged to wear this uniform at once, with the chevron. The Federal Bronze Badge, and the Honorable Service Bar Pin are awarded as outlined on page io, questions 20 and 21, of this booklet. Farm Training Camps The purpose of the Central Farm Training Camps is to train selected boys in the elements of farm practice under a semi-military discipline, which greatly increases their value as farm hands. Usually these camps are located at state agricultural colleges and schools, where Boys’ Work- ing Reserve boys have the benefit of a complete modern and scientific equipment for study, as well as the teaching of the faculties of these schools — the best farming specialists in the nation. By a system of drill and calesthenics, boys are also hardened and strengthened at these camps, so that they are physically effective when they begin their work as volunteers on the soil. In some States Training Farms have been established, whose purpose is identical with that of the Central Farm Training Camps, but whose operations are found better suited to their particular locality. Among the most highly developed Farm Training Camps are those located at the University of Colorado; at Winsor and Storrs, Conn.; at Purdue University, Indiana; at Winthrop Center, Maine; University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada; State College, Pennsyl- vania; and Camp Vail, Lyndonville, Vermont. This movement for an intensive agricultural training is, however, rapidly spreading, and 1919 promises to see “Farm Plattsburgs” estab- lished in every State in the Union. 12 The Industrial Unit The Boys’ Working Reserve as an organization has amply demon- strated its value in directing American boys into agricultural labor. Owing to the greater importance of the immediate production of food, almost the whole force of the Reserve movement has so far been expended upon its Agricultural Unit. The time has now come, however, when the Industrial Unit must be similarly organized and perfected to meet the even more difficult problems presented by boy labor in the indus- trial field. SIGNIFICANT TENDENCIES Investigation of present conditions existing among these junior indus- trial workers reveals several significant tendencies to which the Boys’ Working Reserve must give heed. The mortality in attendance among high schools has been so great as to threaten America’s whole educational establishment during the war, as well as the consequent intellectual pre- paredness of her rising generation after the war. Moreover, these boys who have left school for industrial occupations have in the main found their work through blind chance rather than through any well-considered system of selection. Owing to the unprecedented high wages readily obtained by unskilled labor, these boy recruits in industry have mostly undertaken unskilled work of the type known as ‘‘blind alley jobs,” where advancement is almost impossible, at the ultimate risk of becom- ing “job floaters” later on. Furthermore, the “turnover” among these boys who have entered industry is now even greater than the heavy percentage obtaining in peace times. APPEAL TO PATRIOTISM Previous attempts to direct this great flow of boys from school into industry have mainly been undertaken by educators, and have proved ineffectual through the educator’s lack of authority and the scanty information at his disposal regarding employment conditions. The Boys’ Working Reserve, however, together with the United States Employ- ment Service of which it is a part, for the first time in the history of American industry can provide this authority and this information neces- sary for a successful solution of the problems arising from ; unior labor. The Industrial Unit of the Reserve should prove a constructive influence, both for educational, physical and economic welfare, in the lives of thousands of American boys of Reserve age. 13 Officials of the Boys’ Working Reserve <7 JSldtional Headquarters National Director William E. Hall Assistant to National Director. E. G. Jenkins Associate Directors H. W. Wells, C. A. Parcells, J. A. Van Dis 1. Section of Education H. W. Wells Library Cooperation G. A. Deveneau School Section Dr. G. W. Edwards 2. Section of Field Organization C. A. Parcells Farm Training Camps E. G. Jenkins National Field Organizers. . . .L. H. Dennis, H. E. Gayman, C. B. Fritsche, H. Allen, H. E. Blakes- lee, E. S. Shortess, H. V. Kepner, E. G. Dudley, F. G. Moran. 3. Section of Welfare and Supervision J. A. Van Dis 4. Section of Industrial Placement Jesse B. Davis 5. Section of Publicity and Information Richard Hatton Assistant Director J. Edw. Meeker The Federal State Directors of the Boys’ Working Reserve Alabama W, Nash Read Alaska R. E. Robertson Arizona Lindley B. Orme Arkansas W. J. Jernigan California B. H. Crocheron, U. of Cal Colorado Judge Edward C. Stimson Connecticut W. D. Hood, State Capitol Delaware Charles Warner, Old Federal Building District of Columbia Robert C. Howard, Wilkins Building Florida Cortland Buckman Georgia Joseph T. Derry, State Capitol Idaho Harvey Allred, Director Farm Markets . . Illinois Burridge D. Butler, 120 W. Adams Street . Montgomery .Juneau . Phoenix . Little Rock . Berkeley . Denver . Hartford Wilmington .Washington .Jacksonville . Atlanta . Boise . Chicago 14 Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland. . Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York Nevada North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Hawaii . Isaac D. Straus, 83 State House Indianapolis . R. K. Bliss, Iowa State College Ames . Charles W. Green T opeka v .Philo C. Dix, 34s Association Building Louisvill# .T. H. Harris Baton Rouge .Jefferson C. Smith, 70 State House Augusta . Clinton L. Riggs, McCoy Hall Baltimore Stephen R. Dow, 160 State House Boston ,H. S. Earle, 922 Ford Building Detroit Judge T. D. O’Brien St. Paul J. T. Calhoun Jackson Uel W. Lamkin, State Supt. of Schools Jefferson City L. R. Foote, Deputy State Supt. of Schools Helena Leonard W. Trester, Farnam Building Omaha Geo. H. Whitcher, Asst. Supt. of Education Concord % .Wesley A. O'Leary, Asst. Commissioner of Education. . .Trenton J. H. Wagner, Supt. of Public Instruction Santa Fe Brewster Adams, 202 Nixon Building Reno J. M. Johnson West Raleigh William Louis Van Horn Fargo C. H. Mayhugh, State House Columbus A. L. Farmer Tulsa J. W. Brewer, 704 Oregon Building Portland L. H. Dennis, 60 Union Trust Building Harrisburg Edwin A. Burlingame, State Council of Defense Providence S. H. Edmunds, Supt. of Schools Sumter Paul J. Scarbro Brookings Albert Williams, Jr., State Capitol Nashville H. H. Williamson, College Station Dallas *J. Challan Smith, 202 Newhouse Building Salt Lake City Rollo G. Reynolds, Supt. Vail Agricultural School Lyndonville T. D. Dason, Presbyterian Publication Building Richmond Robert Moran, 4037 Arcade Building Seattle Charles H. Winkler Morgantown H. N. Goddard, State Capitol. Madison Edward P. Taylor Cheyenne W. R. Farrington, 125 Merchant Street Honolulu ♦Acting for Federal State Director pi. • “Boy Power,’’ the Official Publication of the Boys’ Working Reserve — can be obtained at any High School or Public Library in the United States or from the Publicity Section at National Head- quarters, in Washington. The Farm-Craft Lessons may be obtained from the Section of Education, National Headquarters, or from the Federal State Director; or from the principal of the nearest High School. The Boys’ Working Reserve National Uniform may be obtained by application to the Enrolling Officer. (This includes device for the hat.) The Insignia of the Boys’ Working Reserve will be issued by the Federal State Director and through the Enrolling Officer. Information Regarding the Boys' Working Reserve can be obtained by writing to the proper Federal State Director of the Boys’ Working Reserve or to the Director of Publicity (United States Boys’ Working Reserve, United States Employment Service, Department of Labor, Washington, D.C.), or from the principal of the nearest High School or the Librarian of the nearest Public Library. Material Issued from the National Office may be obtained by writing directly to Associate Director H. W. Wells.