The Washington herald., 1920-02-15
lowa Girl and 10000 Like Her
Make War Risk Act Success
Miss Arcley R. Marshall Of
Mason City, Iowa, Who
Answered Call for War
Workers in 1917, Or
ganized First School in
Bureau for Training En-
ployees.

1t was Washington man
Charles r. Nesbitt. for many years
insurance commissioner of the Dis
trict OF CoIumbia-who is credited
with having first suggested that
Uncle Sam insure the lives of his
soldiers. sailors sud Marines.
But it has renamed for a slip
of an Iowa eirl-Miss Arcley Il.
Marshall. who has just resigned to
accept the position OF executive
secretary OF the Consumers League
of the District of Columbia, and
some 10000 other girls from every
State in the Union-to prove that
such a novel experiment can be
successfully carried out.
Miss Marshall. who organized the
first school in the Bureau of War
Risk Insurance for the training of
employees, entered the government
service as clerk November II.
1917. She was an unusual clerk
and demonstrated that fact SO
thoroughly to the officials of the
bureau that she has been mount
ing the ladder of promotions ever
since.
Story Typical Of Thousands.
The story Of how Miss Marshall
came to Washington from small
town in Iowa in response to the
call for war workers is in some
respects typical of that of thous-
ands of other girls who responded
to that call. In the case of the
War Riskers. their biggest war
job did not begin until the war
was over and the insurance ac-
counts and records Of the millions
of service men who were dis
charged had to be handled.
Miss Marshall came to Washing
ton from Mason City. Iowa. a town
of $4,000 people. There she had
already established a reputation as
a young business woman of consiG-
cradle executive ability. In one Of
the large novelty department stores.
she had served successfully "a
saleswoman, department buyer and
advertising agent.
Wider Field for Talents.
All this experience, plus her really
wonderful work in the training OF
the personnel of the War Risk Blu
reau, will serve her in good stead
in wider fields which will be opened
up to her talents as secretary of the
Consumers League.
This organization. of which Mrs.
Edward Costigan is president. is
located in the Mills Building.
Among it's more active members are
Mrs. Newton d. Baker. wife Of Sec
retary Baker. and Mrs. Louis d.
Brandeis. wife of Justice Brandeis
of the Supreme Court of the United
States.
Ioll te, IA rNz Nf a
great government bureau trom in
side, a story from the point of view
of the individual worker-different
from that of the bureau chief, radi-
cally different from that of the gen.
tlemen on the HILL" and quite diff
ferent from that of Private John
Smith, late of the A. l.. F., who,
peeved at not receiving d prompt
reply to his communications. re-
lieves his mind by addressing a let
ter to THE Bureau of Boneheads." "
Washington, d. c.
OF course there are 1000 John
Smiths who are policyholders of
government insurance. but the few
whose families did not receive an
swers to their letters, and allot-
ments and allowances on time.
make more noise than the vast ma
jority of the satisfied Smiths whose
claims were promptly adjusted.
Popular With Everyone.
Her popularity Is attested by the
number of her friends, both among
the employees and the officials of
the bureau. In resolution adopt
ed by the present training school,
appreciation of the exceptional
services she had rendered different
classes in the past years was Of
fered by Orlin NJ. Sanford. on be-
half of the members of the school,
and unanimously adopted.
In a little farewell talk to the
members of the present training
class. Miss Marshall. by weaving in
a little story Of her personal ex-
periences connected with the early
days of the bureau. vividly por-
trayed some of the difficulties
which the bureau had to overcome,
together with those that lie ahead
liz 1t is to accomplish the object
for which it was established. De-
were 50 high and involved such