The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-02-04
Miss Wileman, Who Organ.
lied British and Canadian
Labor, Tells of Plans
FORESEES GREAT
NEED IN AMERICA
Expects War Demand Upon Man Pow
err and Food 10 Send Thousands into
the Fields-To Take Up the Work in
washington al Early Date.

the Fields-To Take Up the Work in
washington at Early Date.
NEW YORK, Feb. 4.--Etta St Jonn
Wilcman. prominent in England and
Canada ms au organizer of woman labor,
SIS in New York to promote the mobili-
zatjou i'm this country of vast corps
OF women for agricultural work Speak
ing of the movement at the Travel club
Saturday, Miss Wileman pointed out
that the withdrawal Of man labor into
munition industries and into the fight.
ing armies would eventually shift a
good share Of the agricultural burden
10 the shoulders Of American women.
In view of the fact that the allies, as
the war progresses, will become more
and more dependent upon this country
for food it was obviously important in
her opinion, 10 carry out the mobiliza-
tion and training of woman labor for
farm work as rapidly and upon as large
a scale as possible.
elm Great Britain, said Miss Vile
man, ''closc TO 100000 women were en-
ploycd in various capacities on the
land. This year the British government
is increasing the number of women in
farm work and before 1918 is out, close
20 100000 women will boz working the
land The prejudice aud opposition en-
countored i'm the beginning from so con-
e'rvativc q body as the farmers against
the introduction OF woman labor has
largely disappeared and ms now given
way 30 warm and general apprecia
ton of the useful and efficient serv
ices which women were able 90 render
"Farm work, if the woman is physi
callv tt 90 begin with, results in nC
injury ur impairment of health. II
France and Italy women are performing
every Kind of work, both heavy ani
light. aided by old men. I'm England
they are now being trained 10 driv,
farm tractors. During the agriculture
labor crisis in Canada last year womel
volunteered at1r the emergency in larg
numbers In British Columbia and Al
hcrta. where the residents were British
subjects and available for CONSUMPTION
the farms were left almost entirely il
10" care of women In British ColuW
hia the women carried on the work wit
the highest efficiency. Their work wa
especially evident i'm the fruit-growin
districts, where the. adapted them
selves quickly and successfully to al
the operations involved In picking
packing, aud grading the fruit The
have shown the same degree of pre-
ttcicucy iu poultry raising
Poultry raising is branch of agr
cultural labor upon which their ser,
ices could be used TO great extent j
this country. There are approximate
100000 farms in the United state
where no poultry is raised If tina
feature Of the farming enterprise coul
hc attended 20 by women there woul
follow q tremendous increase in a
kinds OF poultry products, which woul
relca for the use of the armies a grea
deal more Of the prime commolitie,
such AZ beef, mutton, and pork. that ca
Dc reserved at the present time unde
the strictcst program Of conservation
Tho women can take very easily ais
To- the growing Of all kinds of vcl
rtables
The utilization Of woman labor ON tn
farm, Miss Wilcmau pointed out. of
cred am avenue for useful cudcavor. NO
only for women Of leisure but also fo
great amount Of the woman labo
that would ucccs mrilv be thrown GU
81 employment from time 20 time b
the curtailmeut of noneascntial indu
tries, and the elimination of luxuric
Women engaged in seasonal occup;
tious, according to Miss Wicmai
should also be- turned 20 the farms whc
their own industries have NO need &
their rryiccs The transition. Mis-
Wtlcmau said, would not only add stiu
ulus 60 production, bat would result
great benefit 90 the health of the wor
am lgborer.
Miss Wilgmau intends 90 present
Washington in the near future a pls
of organization which would mobili
Che women of the country for far
work. The title OF her proposed woi
0u IS organization would be tine l.. S.
Women Is Land Corps Administrative
The members of the corps would j
cIuoc women from the lei5ured class,
college students, professional worke
trades Unions, and seasonal work.
women aud girls They would be
crmted IN the corps by womcu's
CARNATIONS all over the country. 1
fore being admitted 10 the corps eve
woman, according TO this plan, wo,
be examined as to her physical ftn,
Tor farm work. Then would follow
period of preliminary training. the
struetIon ia agricultural science bel
given through the universities agric
tural colleges and women Is collep
with the cooperation Of federal I
state agricultural departments. +
lowing the practice OF the British
thurities, this instruction wouId
given free Of charge.
''lu distributing and moving
woman labor said Miss Wilem
''thc most practical methods sbo
rrcyCiL IL would not do TO mr.
women unnecessarily, and drag I,
about In every direction. The mac
err OF operation should be under
control Of the women 5 division of
T.. .. 4. employment service, aided
divisional conmandants for subdivi
zones Facilities should he de,elc