Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-07-26
AGRICULTURAL CAMPAIGN
National League for WOman's
Service Assists Washington.
bureau Appoints an Agricultural Chair'
man in Each state where There
Are Indications Of shortage Of
Farm Labor.

After surveying the woman labor needs
of fifteen States in which factories have
received large numbers OF government
contracts, and supplying hundreds OF
women operatives to expedite war or
ders, the bureau Of registration ana IN
formation of the national league for wom-
ans service, in cooperation with tne
department of labor at Washington mas
launched a campaign =. rccru women i'r
agricultural work with a view to aiding
the solution of the food supply problem
by making up the deficiency of farm work.
ers. Literally thousands Of women are
expected to be called upon for. patriotic
service i'm the form of farm work.
The shortage of men farm workers Is
already becoming severe, according 10
report of the bureau, and serious s1tua-
ton Is developing in view OF the armys
absorption of large numbers OF the agri-
cultural population, and the fact that
farmers have increased their acreage and
that the canneries located throughout the
country, in order to handle the increased
production. are needing more help tnan
ever before The bureaus plan for sup
plying this help has been approved by
Secretary Wilson of the department of
labor and is based upon cooperation with
various existing agencies. A formal an
nouncement by the national league for
womans service, whose branches through
out the 3S States in which the league is
| now organized will assist in the work,
explains the program as follows:
Through the State farm help specialists
and all other existing agencies, the bureau
is securing information as to the amount
and kind of labor needed in each locality,
and ascertaining to what extent women
can operate farm machinery and do other
( agricultural work without physical detri-
ment. Meanwhile. the machinery for
registering women and placing them at
work is being organized.
| In each State where there are indica-
tions of shortage of farm labor. an agri-
cultural chairman is appointed by the
bureau. She will get in touch with the
State agent in charge of farm help and
the State agricultural committee. Through
| them she obtains information as to how
much woman labor could be used in the
State, for what work, where, and when.
She finds out what training in agricul-
ture can be provided either by State or
private agencies, and gets all Informal
ton concerning existing training courses.
| On the basis of this information. the
chairman appoints local assistants and
takes registration through such registra-
ton agencies of the bureau as have al
ready been established. or through such
other agencies as desire to cooperate
This registration is taken in duplicate on
blanks furnished by the bureau. and one
copy is sent to the nearest federal en-
ployment office and the other retained.
The applications are classified and filed
according to kind of work and experience,
and kind of training desired.
Through the local divisions of the ma
tional league for woman's service and
other cooperating organizations. arrange
ments are being made for transporting
and housing large groups Of women. Com
mittees made up of women of experience
as well as prominence have been organic
ed to oversee the various phases Of the
movement, so that everything possible
will be done for the care and comfort of
the women workers, their hours, wages.
and general well-being.