Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-04
I'D TO THE FARM
FROM CLASSROOM
Transplanting of U. of P.
Students an Impor-
tant Task
FOOD MEMS BATTALION

Transplanting men from classroons &c
farms is the big job Prof. J. Russo! smith
Of the University OF Pennsylvania. now
superintends. Professor Smith is director
of agricultural service in the Wharton
School of Finance.
4. Students are being sent to the farms in
companies of 100 each They are classified
under two heads. Food growers ba1taiions
and a students placement of his own scrv-
ices through a relative or friend
In the first case. through the captain of
the battalion. the department Of agricul-
tural service knows the man is on the job
to which he was assigned. on this basis
credit is granted for the remaining part of
the school year.
Where the student works ON farm
found by himself the case must be sub.
mitted to the director of agricultural sery-
Ice and the following method plrsued: II
the assignment seems acceptable the stu
dent makes out an application blank for
leave of absence and goes to work. This
fact must be certified TO by some state Of
fcial or some official from the United
States Department of Agriculture. Ccrtn-
Gates are also valid when issued 10y a
member Of the state Board Of Health, state
Board of Agriculture or any officer Of TIA"
State National Guard or the United S'ttr-
Army or United states Weather Bureau.
The same method is employed i'm granting
credit for the second terms work in the
Wharton School AZ agreed upon by various
Instructors in writing on the Ieave-of-ab-
seucc blank.
given that they are ON the job until June y.
Great numbers Of people will face star
walton in Europe and America unless ther"
is large increase in food production hS
this time next year declared Professor
Smith today. Herbert 6. Hoover. who's"
success in handling the Belgian food relief
has caused him to be called more efficient
than the Germans. issued call To Ame'i-
can farmers to stem the tidc of the crisis
which is far graver than We Americans are
willing to believe
This back -the-farm' movement is only
a drop in the bucket. and believe the Gov
ernment should exercise the utmost care I'M
application of its selective-draft system he
cause of this economic fact
Il favor a citizen board to supcrintend So
lection and application now that IN" hiI
Is law. 1t Is well enough for the mill
tary to furnish the men. but. in my opinion.
the military is not equipped To judge prop
erly distribution of the human resources
in manner that viii net the Government
the best results per man
Professor Smith then pointed To hunder-
made by the Allied governments when a
hysterical wave of conycrlpton swept over
the European countries, He compared tn"
efficiency of the German system with the
efficiency of the French and British at the
beginning of the war when men better ar-
Quainted to serve in industrial armies were
rushed off to the fronts.
Asked If he thought men sent from the
University of Peunsy lvania would be re.
called from the farms to fight I'm Europe
because of physical qualifications Profess
sor Smith replied: THAT ! do not know.
should think not, but If such should prove
true, then it will be a sad bunder ON the
part of the Government and will expose
a decided lack of foresight and economic
Judgment
The University Eof Penusy lyauia's Food
Growers battalion are not restricted to stu
dents alone. Outsiders are CCCasiona ly
placed. but thus far not many have applied
under the category.