Ellen D. Davis to Woodrow Wilson

As one in need always turns to a friend, so I now turn to you for help and some information. I have been appointed one of the Executive Com. for Penna of the Woman's Land Army. I am no longer an active farmer neither can I be passive and as I am better & stronger than I was I can do some work.

The Woman's Land Army in Pa. is quite flourishing and especially in the neighborhood of Philadelphia good work is being done. The help & information I ask of you is this. Cannot the whole Woman's Land Army be made a Federal Association under the Dept of Agriculture or the Dept. of Labor? We receive letters from the Food Conservation of Pa. with questionaires to be answered to the Dept. of Agriculture! Now to my feeble brain that is a trifle bewildering. What can be done, or what can we do?Our Chairman, Miss Gibson attends so called "National Meetings" in New York but New York is not the Capital of the U.S. and in the minutes of these meetings members of the W. Land Army are mentioned as "guests." I have no objection to being a "guest" at any time anywhere, but if one belongs to an Organization one should be regarded as a member n'est pas? New York loves to be regarded as the Metropolis of the world & we poor non-voting Pennsylvanians feel that we should like equal rights for equal work especially as we receive no pay except the satisfaction of doing one's bit & carrying on. We had a meeting this morning and after this matter came up for discussion I made up my mind to ask you our Beloved Commander in Chief to use your good offices and place The Woman's Land Army of the U.S. on a solid Federal Basis. As you probably know England has her W. Land Army under Government & 300,000 women are doing so called men's work better in health and giving satisfaction this I have direct from Headquarters in London. I can send you a copy of the interview my English cousin had with Miss Talbot the Sec. if you wish to see it.

This letter is not official, it is only written to you as my friend feeling sure that now more than ever you will understand that for good progress we must have a firm foundation.E. P. and I returned last night from a trip to Madison Wis. and Chicago. E. P. spoke at a Tri-State Med. Society Banquet on Thursday night. surely your right ear must have burned! I have never heard him speak so well - he was truly inspired. The women wept, the men would have liked to for their faces showed their emotion. There were about 250 persons present & I felt very proud not only of my Husband but of my President of whom he spoke. I wish Mrs Wilson could have been there she would have been proud too. E. P. is booked for a speech at Louisville Ken. on Sept. 5th where I also hope to go, but I fear a telegram just received gives no hope of hotel room he has room reserved but that was before he knew how much I enjoyed the western trip - of course I can stay at home, but trying my wings for the first time last week has made me very eager to fly again & more. However I am trying to be as little bother and worry to E. P. as possible so that he may have a free mind for the Volunteer Medical Corps. he has had quite enough anxiety about me this last year. It was good to shake your hand the day Mrs Wilson launched the Ship. I had not seen you since March 5th 1917 a long time. We were so glad to have your Jessie to lunch last Saturday week although very sorry for the death of Mrs Sayer. Jessie looked very beautiful and is always so sweet & dear, it was a real joy to have her.

Now having worn you out with this epistle I close with many apologies, but no promise not to write to you again if I have to please forgive me this time. My best love to Mrs Wilson I am as always