Evening star., 1943-03-02
Lack Of Support Held
Reason Walker Quit
Land Army Post
Wickurd Sold to Have
FoiIed to Act on His
Personnel Requests

John Q. Walker, named by Sec
retAry OF Agriculture Wickard a
month ago to recruit a land army
of 3,500,000 to assist in harvesting
1943 crops. prepared today to leave
his post amid indications he had
failed to get department support
for manning key positions in his
branch.
In its announcement yesterday of
the formation of the Agricultural
Labor Administration which will
take over the job originally as
signed to Mr.. Walker, the depart
ment said Mr.. Walker had re-
Quested release to undertake a spe-
cial study on Government organ
ization for the Budget Bureau.
He headed the agricultural labor
branch Of Food Production Admin
1stration.
Critics of the departments farm
labor and food production programs
claim. however, he had handed in
his resignation to Mr.. Wickard be-
cause OF failure of the Secretary's
ONCE to act on his recommends
tions for certain personnel to carry
out his program.
Once an FSA Leader.
Mr.. Walker, who has been with
the department. nine years. includ-
Ing period as an assistant chief
OF the Farm Security Administra-
ton, becomes the third ranking Off
cial to leave the department this
year. Herbert w. Parisius, former
food production administrator. re-
signed in January after an attack
on the departments handling of
farm problems.
Later in the month Gardner Jack
son was discharged as a special as
sistant to Undersecretary Paul Ap-
pleby. Mr.. Jackson charged Mr..
Wickard with bungling the food
production program and claimed
Administrative confusion, indeci-
sion and fear" within the depart
ment
A fourth official, Don Montgom-
cry, former consumer counsel for
the department., resigned late in De-
cember after hitting at Mr.. Wick
ards food policies.
Mr.. Walker, a major in the World
War, had done extensive research
In municipal management and was
with FSA approximately five years.
Last summer he negotiated the Mex
ican farm labor agreement in Mex
leo City.
Darrow Named to Post.
Appointed to head the Labor Ad-
mlnlstration is Wayne H. Darrow.
. veteran farm official who now
holds the post of associate director
OF the department Office of In
formation. He formerly was in
charge OF the AAA information di-
vision. Before coming to WASH
ington in 1884, Mr.. Darrow was
active in agriculture extension work
In Texas.
The new Labor Administration.
Mr.. Wickard explained yesterday.
will be responsible for the develop
ment and direction of "all phases Of
the departments farm labor pro-
gram" 1t will take over the work
begun by Mr.. Walker and also will
integrate farm labor work done by
other department agencies, includ-
ing FSA, the Food Distribution Ad-
ministration and the Extension Serv-
ice.
Called for under the program is
the recruitment of about $500 900
voluntary workers by the peak har-
vest season, the transportation of
approximately 800, 900 seasonal work.
ers, including $4,000 foreign hands,
the recruitment of several thousand
additional high school youths and
woman workers and the movement
OF 900 year-around laborers.
preliminary work has already be-
gun" the Secretary said, but its
wide-scale application depends on
obtaining necessary funds" He said
an estimate Of S65, OTIS 900 for this
purpose has been submitted to the
President.