New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-12
MILITARY SERVICE AND JOBS
How One Frequently Puts an End
to the Other.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: There is more general admission o.
the necessity Of an adequate national de.
fence to day than ever before. WIKI our
traditiOna! military policy, or lack Of it, as
guide, it is plain that our land defence
must depend in a large measure upon the
maintenance, efficient training and discipline
Of TIE national guard The effectiveness Of
the guard is greatly developed and strength
eneG by camp service, which has become
recognized as the prime essential in the
years work OF. the guardsman. 1t Is pa.
triotic duty on the part Of employers, at
least, TO permit their employees who are mem
Der. OF the guard to take part in these exer-
cises without being Disseminated against or
suffering the loss of their positions Many
enlightened employers, following the lead
Of the Chamber of Commerce and other lead
ing associations Of business men, do Their
part in this respect, but d very measurable
minority do not
IT. the company to which I am attached
there are several cases Of men who have lost
their positions by reason of camp service.
To be specific, one man, employed as CLERK
by lumber firm, after arranging 10 be away
during the camp tour, found at his house on
his return a letter from his employers TINS
letter, which saw, read substantially as i'l'
lows Il quote from memory;
"Mr.
Dear Sir: am sorry not to have seen
you before you went away. Your services
have not been entirely satisfactory and We
are trying out new man IN your position
If you will call at our Office you Will receive
a weeks salary, so that you will not be PREF
udiced in seeking another situation.
"Verv truly, yours"
The fact that this letter came at the tn'
it did and that the man states that no pre-
vious expressions Of an intention 70 as
charge him or of dissatisfaction Win DE
work were made is significant
In another case the man, who was ma
ch mist, had arranged, as he thought 70 Iea'
during the camp tour, and had been tod 'n''
he would be put on a day instead oil n's''
shift upon his return When he repoFs@
for work he was told that there was noe,
FOR him, and upon inquiring Why was gov
There is none for you; that is all lh'"
was work when he went to camp u was ~"
when he returned -.
You cannot expect men TO give their N-s
and undergo the real labor which the mli,N'!
branch of the public service now en'sn' y
the expense of their livelihood NO one W.. W..
sooner avail themselves Of the pro'e.~s
which military body gives m time OF - ".
than these very employers who thus uHO -,
mine the efficiency and existence Of W
guard -,
| could cite still other instances 70
same purpose In few, if any, IS the efhp'.i
discharged because he is member o. IL
guard. Section 1850 Of the Penal W
makes this a criminal offence, but me 80
ton is so easily evaded that 10 IS OF -,
value. This evil must be wiped out 'niO's
the education Of the employer 70 d sens.
his personal patriotic obligation. Less.s
ton will not do it, Education along PIOE,
lines of thought will. In this the
papers must bear their part, for they' ia
greater extent than any other force H'''
public opinion. cu
First Lieut., c. A. C., y. IT, " .
New York Aug 7, 1915.