The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-04
NEED OF TRAINED
 WOMEN FOR OFFICE
 WORK IS STATED
War Conditions Create De mand for Efficient Help in Business Circles,
 States New Yorker

That young educated women should, from patriotic motives, take up husi- ness training, is the opinion of Rob- ert Johnson, a newcomer to Blr1llis- ham.
 He states war conditions have ere Aed an urgent demand for e11lclent flee help and that women can serve
 cir country well by taking up tho
 lies of the trained office or busi-
 ss man. who has been called to the
 hors
 Mr. Johnson states his views in the flowing letter:
 the Editor of The Age-Herald: |W Your article, Local Merchants Will Employ Women Soon as Delivery Driv- ers.r is a very timely one, and not only applies to this particular field of en- deavor but applies more or less to every person, young or old, in every walk or life, and will become more aggravated as we proceed with our job of ever throwing Prussian militarism.
 The greatest failing just now is that we have not awakened to the fact that we are at war, and until we do wake up to this fact, every man, woman and child of us, we are going to have diff culties, disappointments and delays that will ultimately cost millions of dollars, thousands of lives and great sorrow in many of our homes.
 The writer has not yet gotten the viewpoint of Birmingham, as he has only been in the city several weeks, but where I come from in New York City +, h U reached down into the hearts of every one. men, women and children, and seemingly more conscientious effort is being made in the Empire City to in- sure our ultimate success at arms.
 As our business takes us into many different kinds of businesses, and espe- cially applies to the executive parts of those businesses, we see on every hand the urgent need of trained and efficient help capable of taking the places of thousands of our best young men who have been called or are being called, and will be called, to the service of their country.
 In New York City We have had in this particular line many, many examples of the sterling patriotism of the better educated young women, who under any other circumstances would not think of going into business or seeking employ lnent, who have entered the offices of business houses, and because of their better conceptions, more careful trahl- ing, better education and their great pa - triotism, enable them to much more thoroughly, efficiently and quickly adapt themselves to their environment, and the requirements of the firm institution with which they become connected
 If these young women were compelled to go through anywhere from six months to one year of preparation for transcribing or secretarial duties. as they would have to do if they were com pelled to resort to the acquiring o1 shorthand or stenographic methods. they would not be available for months, an6 not only would business houses, but many others who seek their assistance at this time, and many other lines oi endeavor, would be handicapped because men would be compelled to remain il these positions until these young wom- en were trained.
 It is an acknowledged fact that the operation of typewriter is orc purely of practice, and manual dexterity. The young women who have been fortunate in having the advantages of piano les sons, and through these have acquired control of their fingers to a very higl degree, soon acquires accuracy ant speed on the typewriter, and her better education enables her to punctuate prop erly, spell correctly and to dress up tn, dictation given her in very acceptable manner. Were these same young womei to take up the dictaphone in conjunc- ton with the operation of the typewrite they would become capable of starting in position in anywhere from one t three months, instead of six months t. one year, as through the shorthand an, stenographic methods, and her superio qualifications, would make her a mos acceptable help at this time in the win ming of the war through releasing fight ing men. that our high commission lately returned from France, advise tn necessity of at this time
 We have in our offices limited facili ties for the assistance of such person as would care to take up this matter ant prepare themselves for assisting in over coming the Kaiser and these facilitie are freely offered, without charge to a who care to avail themselves of thi courtesy.
 From what have seen of Birmingham it is very husky, ambitious, strivin young giant, eager to aid our country i