Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-14
Elk VOLUNTEERS
In HARD LUCK.

"HSA hhC Oicoi0Shk ulaQe MS Two
calls on the country last year for vol
unteers to fight Spain. 100000 men left
their homes and employment to enlist.
Since the war has ended about 100. 600
of these have been honorably dischare-
ed. Many OF them went back to their
old employment and are engaged once
moro in the peaceful arts. A grsa,
number. however. have failed to ret
work from one cause and another. In
q great many cases these ex-soldle.s
gave UP good positions when the oouy-
try needed their services with tho un-
Outstanding that when they were NUS
| tered out they could go back to tho
work they left when the war began.
| In many instances the former soldie,s
now know that the specious promise,
| OF getting back their jobs were not
| made in good faith. and they arc now
reduced to very Strengthened nircum-
| stances. In many cases mon who lately
wore the uniform of Uncle Sans vol
| unteer army are obliged to practically
| live on charity.
| The same state OF affairg was wit
messed at the close of the civil war and
has been the case after every war in
the worlds history when largo numbers
Of men were suddenly thrown out of n
means of livelihood by beins discharged
from service after peace was declared.
| In olden times these largo bodies Of
| ex-soldiers have often been the cause of
much trouble to their county and have
| In some instances fomcIited riots and
other expressions of discomfort.
The Grand Army of the Republic was
first started TO help the men who were
then discharged, and much good was
done in the way of aiding tho cr-nght-
ers anu their families.
The men who composed the volunteer
army of the United States arc very tiit-
| ferent from the class who created trou-
Bile after many European wars. Those
| men were mere fighters and knew no
other trade, while in the present In
stance the ex-soldiers. in a great ma
| 1ority 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
tress is seen more prominently perhaps
than in any other place because moro
Of them have been attracted to that
city by the hope of work. They sup
posed that it would be easy to find em-
ployment in such q big place.
The Red Cross Relief association IN
doing what 1t can for these men. The
association has the names of between
700 and 1000 men for whom 1t is en-
deavoring to obtain employment and
can supply to employers workers ex-
perienced in almost any profession.
business or trade. They do not ask for
high wages. but wish only to earn
living
During the few heavy snowfalls that
New York has had this winter some Of
the eX-solders obtained work in the
street cleaning department and citi-
zens have several timos stopped to
watch men dressed in the army uni
form shoveling snow from the curb.
Among the men who have applied to
the Red Cross for work is preacher
from Texas who gave UP his charge
and enlisted as a private. He thought
that he could get mission work TO do in
New York after he was discharged. lie
could get nothing, however. until the
first fall of snow. when the parson went
to work in a light summer suit. When
asked why he gave up preaching the
gospel to shoulder musket, the Texan
said frankly:
II believe in teaching and preaching
the gospel of peace until an enemy at
lacks my country. Then the gospel of
peace becomes ineffective. Nothing but
solid lead. and plenty of II, is any sort
OF use. ! thought I could better serve
the Master by shooting Spanards than
by talking religion, and So just en-.
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