The midland journal., 1943-01-29
FARMERs mo- GET HELP

washington, -. u, january lo--
Far-reaching liberalization of agri-
cultural deferment requirements
have been announced by the War
Manpower Commission in Washing
ton. Congressional farm groups have
demanded more consideration for
farm workers, and they have made
progress. The Selective Service has
started its machinery to increase
production of food supplies and
meet the essential requirements
which the Department of Agricul-
ture has been demanding the past
three months.
Among essential products listed
are corn, cotton, wheat, barley,
essential fruits, vegetable seeds and
honey. Reports from Government
sources show that when corn prices
were frozen at January II levels
that the purpose was to make sure
that there would be plenty of corn
for feeding hogs and forestalling
the danger of an upward pyramid
on meat prices. Feed wheat sales
will be continued by order of the
Agricultural Department, and the
Government has stock of 65,000,-
900 bushels of wheat for farms.
Corn requirements and restrictions
have been relaxed, in an effort to
maintain meat production.
The War Production Board has
also approved an increase sin the
production of repair parts of farm
machinery and equipment, which
has been one of the obstacles that
has troubled farmers. 1t is of in
terest and Importance to be told by
WPB that it has ordered tin and
steel to be allocated to increase this
years pack of canned soups by 4
million cases.
The farmer has had his multitude
of troubles, and that explains why
Congress has gone to bat and gain
ed some improvements in the situa-
ton.
The Modern Molly Pitchers
We have seen plenty of evidence
of the growing Importance of wom-
en- in war work today. The slacks
wearing distaff side is doing every
thing in arms production in this war
from operating huge machines to
welding and riveting. Off the produc-
ion line, they are working as drafts
men and junior engineers in some
plants. The women have crashed
he gate in many occupations that
ormerly were considered mans do
main.
Take the origin of the phrase
the distaff side" if you want to see
how far women have gone in the
working world. The word "distaff"
$ defined as 'the staff with the
icture of a woman of ancient
ireece holding a distaff and spindle.
10 commentary is needed on the
omparison of that picture with
mother of the modern worker, be-
soggled and holding an acetylene
orch and welding iron in her hands.
Jumping from ancient Greece to
he America of the Revolutionary
War, the most vivid picture carried
by Americans of the woman war
worker of that day is the legend of
Molly Pitcher, who is said to have
arried water for thirsty soldiers
ind then manned a cannon when
her husband fell.
The women workers of the Hyatt
3earings Division of General Mo-
ors are carrying on today in the
tradition of the Revolutionary War
,eroine. They have formed Molly
Pitcher Brigade, supplementing the
work they do at their machines with
,rigade activities in behalf of the
Iyatt men who are in the armed
forces.
These modern Molly Pitchers are
raising money to send cigarettes,
books, magazines and gift packages
% the Hyatt fighting men. Knitting
socks and sweaters for them, writ
ing letters regularly to them and
arrying on other activities of SER
vice to their men away in uniform.
Some of these Molly Pitchers have
husbands in the services and are
thus even closer to the conception
Of the Revolutionary heroine. Feel
ing that there was a need to bridge
last summer, open to both plant and
office workers, and have been work
ing with zest in their spare time.
Such features as the penny pitch
er" they maintain in the plant
cafeteria to raise money have made
them we'll known to all Hyatt work
ers. Last Christmas they raised
$1,000 and sent $50 Christmas box
es to the Hyatt service men.
The modern Molly Pitchers of
Hyatt, reserving the right of being
the charter unit, have extended in
vitations to fellow women war work.
ers to join them in similar Molly
Pitcher Brigade units throughout
the country. These women, q far
cry from the distaff holder Of an
sient Greece. deserve the pride of all
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