Clem Blangers to Senator Arthur Capper
Creator: Blangers, Clem
Date: January 30, 1946
A telegram from Clem Blangers, Salina, Kansas, to Kansas Senator Arthur Capper of Topeka. Blangers, Secretary of the Salina Building Trades Council, requested something be done for the returning war veterans and the jobs that they had left behind that were now being filled by German prisoner of war workers. He asked that the prisoners be removed so that the veterans can have work available.

Earl M. Smith to Senator Arthur Capper
Creator: Smith, Earl M.
Date: April 20, 1945
This is a telegram from Earl M. Smith, Concordia, Kansas, to Kansas Senator Arthur Capper, Washington D.C. With World War II taking much of the male labor force overseas, prisoners of war were brought in to do many of the jobs left behind. Smith, the president of the Cloud County Farm Bureau, requested that more prisoner of war workers from the Concordia camp be available to help with a labor shortage that the area was having.

E. J. Brosa to Governor Andrew F. Schoeppel
Creator: Broza, E. J.
Date: February 16, 1944
E. J. Brosa, a farmer living near Valley Falls (Jefferson County) writes to Governor Andrew F. Schoeppel of Topeka (Shawnee County) requesting an Italian prisoner be sent to his farm as a laborer. The United States military held Axis prisoners of war at internment camps at several locations in Kansas. The use of war prisoners as farm laborers was a controversial issue for local communities. Some citizens worried about personal and community security and the protection of military intelligence. Other citizens were concerned about the shortage of farm labor and resented Axis prisoners being allowed to work their farms while their children were off fighting the war.

Farmers to Arthur Capper
Date: June 2, 1944
Concerned about the possibility of a shortage of labor during the upcoming harvest season, several farmers in Concordia, Kansas, write to Senator Arthur Capper in the hope that he can ensure that German prisoners of war will be available to work during the harvest season.

Governor Andrew F. Schoeppel public notice
Creator: Schoeppel, Andrew Frank, 1894-1962
Date: May 18, 1943
Governor Andrew F. Schoeppel of Topeka, Kansas, announces that Axis prisoners of war held at the "Camp Phillips Internment Camp" are available as laborers for farm or construction work. Interested farmers were instructed to contact their county extension agents for applications and information. The prisoners were to be paid eighty cents a day. This work program was controversial in the local communities because of security concerns and a preference to keep sons at home to help with the farming.