Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-01-28
ENCOUNTERS
In HARD LUCK.


When the president made his two
calls on the country last year for vol.
unteers to fight Spain. 100000 men ieft
their homes and employment TO enlist.
Since the war has ended about ioo.ooo
OF these have been honorabiy discharr-
cd Many OF them went back TO their
old employment and are engaged once
more in the peaceful arts. A great
number. however. have failed to get
work from one cause and another. In
n great many cases these cx-soldlcrs
gave up good positions when the coun-
try needed their services with the un-
Outstanding that when they were mus
tered out they could 30 back to tho
work they left when the war began
In many Instances the former soldiers
now know that the Bpccioua promises
Of getting back their jobs were not
mnde in good faith. and they are now
reduced TO very Strengthened circum-
stances. In many cnscs men who lately
wore the uniform Of Uncle Sans vol
untcer army are Obliged 70 practically
live on charity.
The same state OF affairs was Wit
messed at the close OF the civil war and
has been the case after every war In
OF men were suddenly thrown out 81 n
means OF livelihood by being DISCHARGED
from service after peace was declared.
In oldcn times these large bodies OF
cx.soldicrs have often been the cnune of
much trouble to their country and have
In some Instances fomentcd riots and
other expressions OF discomfort.
Tho Grand Army Of the Republic was
FIRST started 10 help the men who wcrc
then discharged. and much good wa,
done In the way Of aiding the ox-nght-
crs and their families.
The men who composed the volunteer
army OF the United States are very diff
fcrcnt from the class who created trou-
bic after many European wars. Those
men were mere fighters and know no
other trade. while In the present In
stance the cx-roldicrr. In "a great ma
Iority Of cases. were holding good posi-
lions before the war. Among them are
ministers. doctors. lawyers. electricians.
bridge builders iron workers. mechan-
les. nurses and men In other walks Of
life. and they are. besides. from every
state Of the Union.
In New York city. however. the dis
trcrs II seen more prominently perhaps
than In any other place because more
| of them have been attracted TO that
city by the hope Of work. They sup
posed that II would be easy 10 md ems
ployment In arch u big place.
The Red Gross Relief association IN
doing what II can for these men. The
association has the names of between
200 and 1900 men for whom II Ia en-
dcavorlnE to obtain employment and
can supply to employers workers eS-
pericnccd In almost any profession.
business or trade. They do not ask for
high wages. but wish only TO earn q
living.
During the few heavy rnowfalls that
New York has had this winter some %
the cx-soldi,rH obtained work In tho
street cleaning department. and clti-
gems have several times stopped to
watch men dressed In the army uni.
form Stooring to shovel snow from tho
curb.
Among the men who have applied to
the Red Cross for work IN preacher
from Texas who gave up his charge
and enlisted N private. lie thought
that he could get mission work 20 do In
New York after he was discharged. lie
could get nothing. however. until tho
first fall OF snow. when the paraon went
Go work In light summer suit. when
asked why he gave up preaching the
gospel to shoulder muske,. the Texan
said frankly
Il believe In teaching and preaching
the gospel Of pence until an enemy A.
tackH my country. Then the gospel ~
peace becomes Ineffective. Nothing but
solid lead. and plenty OF II. II any sort
Of use. I thought I could better serve
the Master by shooting spaniards than
by talking religion. and 10 Just en-
listed"