New-York tribune., 1919-01-29
Albany Woman Is
Recommended as
Land Army Chief
Mrs. Otto r. Eichel Suggest
ed by State Convention as
Federal Director; Work
of Past Year Is Reviewed

Breaking through the upstate farm
er's she'll of skepticism was the hardest
job the New York State Woman's Land
Army encountered in its pioneer efforts
TO help Uncle Sam raise a bumper crop
last year. After that the rest was
easy. This is what the delegates to
the Land Army Convention, which open
cd yesterday at the Hotel Astor,
unanimously agreed as they scanned
the work of the past year.
The women farmworkers first were
organized in 1917 when they opened
the Bedford training camp for young
women. Last year the organization sent
out forty-four units to handle crops in
places where labor shortages were the
worst. Requests for more than 200
camps already have been received for
this year.
Mrs. Thomas f. Burgess, of Scars
dale, president, opened the sessions
with a review of the year 1918.
Purpose Of Army Described
She said in part:
The Woman's Land Army does not
interfere with anybody supplying farm
help. The girls are trained to handle
only definite work and are sent out IN
groups only to places where there is a
labor shortage saving crops or fruit,
helping a community which has an un-
usually large crop of some farm prod
uct and is in need OF quick assistance,
and similar work.
The Stuyvesant Unit of girls sent to
Columbia County last summer to do
farm work showed their metal when an
epidemic of influenza broke out Mrs.
Burgess said The girls volunteered
as nurses and helped to care for the
sick. AS result the residents passed
resolutions thanking them and made up
gift Of $25 to each girl of the land
army unit.
Albany Woman Nominated.
The name of Mrs Otto R. Eichel, of
Albany. has been suggested to the De
partment of Labor of the Federal gov
ernment for appointment as Federal
Land Army Director. Mrs Eichel is eX-
director OF the State Land Army and
was upstate chairman in the mem
bership drive of last summer.
Miss Monica Walsh, field secretary
o. the Metropolitan District of the
Woman's Land Army, who formerly
was with the Federal food board, viii
direct the work of recruiting farmer
cites for the Land Army and viii IN
vestigate sites.
Dr..George W. Kirchwey, Of Colum-
hia University director for New York
State of the United States Employment
Service, told of conditions now facing
that organization and the state dNe TO
the rapid rehabilitation of the army.
Unit System Looks Practical
THE land army idea holds out bet
for of SOly-iDcr no n fl
cult labor situation on the farm than
politicians or farmers have ever yet
DEVISED" Dean Kirchway said. "phe
unit system used last summer has re-
ceived the careful and serious consid-
Grafton of economic experts. To them
it looks practical and we are waiting
to see how you women viii develop the
idea You should solve TWO problems
one the high cost of living, through
agricultural labor, which is basic all
ways in any country's deve,opmens and
YOU should be able to give women d
decent occupation in the open air un
der good surroundings and at decent
wages
J. ". Robson, farm help specialist
widening opportunities for women in
farm work Miss Edith Diehl, formerly
head Of the Wellesley unit Of the land
army, urged women to specialize IN
their plans for the coming season.
Mrs Charles S. Whitman. a director
Of. the land army spoke briefly. Mrs.
Sporburg of Portchester, n. y. asked
the land army to indorse the Lane set
tlement bill proposed in Congress by
Secretary Of the Interior Franklin K.
Lane. This bill calls for the reclama-
ton of swamp lands for farms for re-
turning soldiers. The convention at
the close Of the morning session unan-
imously gave its Endorsement TO this
bill.
Army To Be Continued
Mrs. william Hubert, Federal direc-
tor of the Woman's Land Army, said
the organization is so highly regarded
by the government that it has already
been decided by the Department Of
Agriculture to continue it, even if the
volunteer forces should give it up.
The afternoon session was taken up
with committee reports and routine
business.
DR.. E. V. Wilcox, chief of tn bureau
g .x1 VVIp