The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-26
NEEDS Of VOLUNTEERS
More Material Things Than Re-
captions With Brass Bands.
WILL WANT EMPLOYMENT
Gerald Sullivan, a Returned Officer,
Makes Suggestions as to the Man
ner of Caring for the Ana
conda Soldiers

Does Anaconda intend to take part in
the reception of the returning soldiers?
| That is the problem which few of the
| friends of the soldiers are endeavoring
| to solve.
| So far there has been no activity dis
played in Anaconda in the matter, pos
sihly because the initiative has not been
| taken by anyone. The news of the
| generosity of Butte, published in the
Standard yesterday, was commented on
| with favor yesterday. Only three of the
Butte, and yet that city proposes to
| bear all the expenses of bringing all
| the volunteers from San Francisco to
| their homes, an expense probably
| amounting to 100000.
Anaconda sent two companies to the
| 'front.' in which two companies the
| casualties were greater than in any
| other two companies in the regiment.
| The friends of these two Anaconda
companies are of the opinion the peo-
| pie of Anaconda should do something
| for them in addition to what Butte pro-
| poses to do.
Gerald Sullivan, formerly first lieu
tenant of Company NJ, is one of those
who takes deep interest in the return
| of the volunteers. He will go to San
| Francisco to meet the boys.
| 1T is hardly just" said he last night,
that Butte should do everything for
our boys and Anaconda do nothing.
believe the Anaconda people are both
| patriotic and generous and that If their
sentiments could be crystalized into
| concerted action substantial sum
could be raised here for the boys.
Il do not believe the volunteers want
| much of the hurrah- brass band recep-
| ton. That is all very well in its way,
but it is not substantial. Many of
tfese volunteers, it should be remem-
| bered, are returning home with little
| money and no work. After having been
| in the service of the government for
| l6 months they will be suddenly turned
| out to shift for themselves. Many will
| become destitute unless work is pro-
vided for them. Their health, impaired
| by the tropical climate, will prevent
| them standing the rougher kinds of
| manual labor for a few months.
| ''All this being true, is it not the pa
| triotic duty of those who have remain
| ed at home to help the soldiers into EN-
| ployment and to assist them in picking
up the threads of the careers they
| abandoned when they sacrificed every
thing and went away to fight for the
| flag?
| an San Francisco the committees
| having in charge the reception of the
California volunteers are doing very
| sensible thing. Here is a copy of a cir
| cular, 5000 copies of which have been
mailed to San Francisco firms. The
| circular follows:
| San Francisco, Aug. 81, 1S99.-Dear
| Cir-. 1,,,itf 1a J, Nvl
been appointed to secure employment
! for the members of the list California
| regiment and the heavy artillery now
returning from the Philippines.
| I'VE address you as an employer and
| ask If you cannot lend us some as
sistance. The men who have fought in
| the war must be cared for in time of
peace.
| IF you have any vacancy in your es-
| tablishment, or can find employment
for any men, kindly address the secre-
tary of the employment committee,
| headquarters tent. Union square, in
| sorting the character of the work and
the wages attached. Very sincerely
yours,
| COMMITTEE OF EMPLOYMENT"
Now, as to what should be done
| here" continued Mr.. Sullivan. L speak
| only for myself and because no one else
| has done so and what / say Is merely
| suggestion.
I'm the first place, if Anaconda is to
| do anything an energetic committee of
| citizens is necessary to guide that eff
| fort. There are two ways to secure the
| appointment of such a committee: One
| by mass meeting and the other by the
| mayors appointment The first one
| cannot be considered. People in Ana
| conda, like those in many other cities,
| will not attend mass meetings. There
| is abundant warrant however. for the
| appointment of the committee by the
mayor. This has been done in many
cities in the west from which volun-
| teers were sent. recent notable in
| stance is where Mayor Humes of Sc
| attic has appointed a large committee
| and set it to work with excellent re-
| suits. 1t has taken the initiative in pre-
pairing for the reception of the Wash
| ington volunteers.
However appointed, it seems to me
the formation of a committee is the
| first step to be taken. 1t could then &C
| ahead, raise funds with which Ana
| conda could bear her proportion of the
| cost of the special train from San
| Francisco and then arrange for find
| ing employment for such of the return
ed volunteers as are fit for work and
the care of those whose physical condi-
ton will not allow them to earn their
| own living. The matter of arranging
for a public reception on the arrival OF
| the boys at home should be secondary
| to those more material things. 1t could