The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-01-31
America May Face Loss
Of Farm Export Market
Wlckard Finds Less Production No Solution;
Army Undertakes to Build Morale
Among New Recruits.
BY BAUKHAGE
National Farm and Home Hour Commentator.

He tiiiIlhh IL easier 10 De Dough-
boy than a doughboy.
But a full stomach Is not all II
takes to make a fighting man. 1t
takes morale, and this time the gov
eminent has done two things to
build that highly necessary factor.
1t has begun early, before there is
war. It has taken over the whole
job to itself instead Of farming 1t
out, as 1t did in the last war, to
civilian organizations like the
Y.M.CA.
And it's big job, under the office
of the adjutant general. The divi-
sion in the long west wing Of the
Munitions building in Washington
has so clerks and Is officers just to
take care of the Washington end.
In the various camps and posts are
the many morale services all under
this division-the Army Motion Pic
ture Service, the Camp Publications,
Post Exchanges, Service Clubs,
Guest Houses, and even entertain
ment for soldiers in towns near the
training areas.
In the last war It was learned
what a valuable factor dramatics
played in camp life and they will be
encouraged. The Moving Picture
Service will offer regular CONNER
cial films, but 1t will also show edu-
cational films, and much military in
struction will be given by means Of
the moving picture. Top fight NOV
ing picture executives are serving
on committee assisting In the pro-
| duction Of these pictures.
2 Athietics, Of course. are o part Of
| morale and are considered irnpor-
tant also both from the standpoint
Of physical training and the build
ing Of an aggressive spirit which the
modern soldier must possess.
AS Major General Bell said In the
last war, IA singing army Is fight
ing army" and singing will be q
part Of the show. The army has its
own song book and mass singing
will be encouraged.
The Post Exchange, which Is sort
OF an army general store, Is q
business In itself. To get an idea
Of how much of q business a Post
Exchange can be, the one at Cha
mute field, Rantoul, ILL.,, took in
nearly 100000 in one month last
fall.
Already a number OF camp pub
locations have started. looked over
several OF them at Morale Head
quarters and some are exceedingly
businesslike looking sheets. no
ticed In the office was a file Of the
STARS & Stripes" the famous news
paper Of the American Expedition
airy Force in France. Harold Ross,
who edited it in Paris, is now the
highly successful head of the New
Yorker magazine; Alexander WOOL
colt, who was on the staff, Is one of
Americas best-known writer's and
story tellers. It was my privilege
to serve on that paper after the
Armistice and covered the Peace
conference under the able direction
of John Winterich, then a rear-rank
private but news editor Of the paper.
He is now Major Winterich, attached
TO the office of the assistant secre-
tary Of war. Probably many IA
nous journalists of coming gen
erations will get their training on
some Of these newspapers run I'M
der the auspices of the New Morale
Division.
Another highly publicized group Of
this new division are the hostesses.
But their job has been largely mis-
understood. Let me quote from
Lieut.. Col. Harry Terry, writing in
the Commerce magazine:
''The term hostess for these
business women is q misnomer-
they might more properly be called
secretaries, which in fact they
are. They are the assistants of the
Division Commander and carry out
his wishes in conducting their vari-
| Gus duties.
/ Providing social entertainment,
running dances and other entertain
ment for thousands of men is no
night club job. II will require q
high degree of organization ability
and no mean attainment in social
arts and graces. Operating a cafe
terra to meet the requirements of
both visitors and troops in such a
manner as to build the morale Of
troops and convince the mothers,
sisters and sweethearts that their
men are being adequately cared for
requires a high degree Of technical
knowledge and immense tact.
Finally, to supervise all these activ-
tiles as well as the buying Of food
and supplies will need q person OF
more than good looks and pleasant
smile"