New-York tribune., 1918-02-22
Experiment Will Be Made
ON Limited Scale; Boys
Also Will Be Used
Successful in England
General Use of System Is Not
Needed With Man Power
Still Available
LSfuf Correspondence

VI AS1iiNNl lCN, tSp. 81. nc SoN~
ernment is making plans to try out the
women on tho farms. The Departments
If Agriculture and Labor have decided
70 make the venture in q limited way,
working through the National Council
of Defence, state councils and local
vomcu's committees
From ;hc standpoint of the govern
mcnt this Will be only preliminary
to LAYING the foundation for broader
nlans ii tho continuation of the war
demands 4 more adequate structure OF
woman labor on the farms. The Agri-
cultural Department doesn't want to
disturb farm production with ineNperi-
cuced help, and the Department of La
bor doesn't want to disturb the labor
situation Accordingly, men and boys
Will still be used in 1918, wherever they
can be found. Women viii so to the
farms where the farmers arc willing
and ready to use their labor.
4 Success in England
The picture presented by England APP
pears to have found its way to the De
partmcut of Agriculture, but it has
failed to impress itself deeply. Eng
land now has land army of women
under government direction. Women
plough, seed, harvest. run dairy farms,
tend the horses and stock.
Engand's rule. enforced by war, has
been: "No mAn-labor where women can
60 the work" There has been no hap
hazard scheme evolved to put this into
practice. but q we'll ordered system dc
veloped under which women have been
schooled. examined as to their physical
Qualifications, tested for their endur-
ahce and psychological fitness for farm
werk. housed aud cared for as If they
had been soldiers and put to work
wherever their labor has been needed.
The English system Is one of centrall-
zation, based upon an Immediate sense
of tho dangers of starvation and under
standing Of the need OF labor economy.
The governments scheme here, for
The present, Will be one of dccentrali2a-
tiou. rather than Capitalization. In
stead OF we'll studied and developed
eystcm. centred in Washington and
branching out, organizing women and
aiming them and then transporting
.hem 10 varied scenes Of action, tho
plan Will be more informal.
Field operators Of the Department of
Agriculture and bureaus of the De
p&rtment Of Labor will cooperate with
agricultural colleges, with county farm
C1crsccrs, with state councils Of dc
fence and local groups OF women in
terestcd in aud organized for welfare
work.
They viii find out where women are
wanted BY farmers. where there IS
labor that can be undertaken by women
with little education by farmers
in their employment and where
women can be found willing to en-
icr INTO farm employment. Women
viii be organized into groups, so they
can be properly housed. If need of
their transportation arises, 1T viii be
looked after By the Department OF La
Dor Funds for these projects will be
raised locally.
Plan Will BE Limited
The government has various reasons
for working out the farm labor prob
ION in this fashion. Secretary Hous-
ton doesn't believe that the situation
IN the United States warrants such ex-
IRENE measures as England has adept
ed The man power of this country Is
nuch greater and has not been tapped
30 deeply. Neither the Department OF
Agriculture nor the Department of La
Dor has any wish TO rouse the women
of the country. turn their attention in
The direction of farm labor and then
lcaye them in their enthusiasm with nc
work provided for them.
Secretary Houston hasn't any money
on hand for so extended "A wA'k and
doesn't feel the situation warrants his
getting any. Therefore the develop
nent VIII be limited and informal. If
tho need appears to be growing with
tho progress OF the war and the cX-
pcrments promise successful results
with more intensive application OF
woman labor next year may bring a
broad national programme which will
cover the case of women in industry
as we'll as in agricultural pursuits.
Last year, the figures Of the Depart
ncnt of Agriculture show, more than
$4,000 women worked on farms in va
rious capacities. Farmers discovered
that women not only had unexpected ID
endurance, but showed d greater in
telligencc in what they did, greater
care and. most important Of all, mani
tested am interest that is rare among
farm workers.
The problem, as some experts in the
Department of Agriculture view it, is
one of cducation-of the farmers as
we'll as of the woman workers.