The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-19

ion soldiers at the mont. They are torn
from their peaceful occupations by the
mobilization order and the hearts of all
those who had been In business for them
selves were filled with anxiety concerning
the fate Of their undertakings. They
asked themselves who would attend to
their affairs? And not only business
men. practically every man AT the front
had some AFFAIR on hand the course of
which was rudely broken of by the
mobilization. Bills nat to be paid or col
lected. court proceedings were pending.
orders had TO be filled and so on thr M
out the whole scale Of economic. business
and private life. Uncertainty and dis
orga imitation were the outstanding facts.
Something had TO be done to relieve the
situation. Not only because money mat
ters were at stake but also in order TO
ease the minds Of II soldiers al the
front. The least that could be done for
them was to attend to their efforts in q
manner that would safeguard their III
terests.
"Cities and towns, hamlets and VII
lagos each attempted 10 remedy matters.
All sorts Of fanciful schemes were tried
out. which did not work or worked per.
haps In one Instance n not at all IN
others. All sorts Of organizations made
4, their business TO interfere and try to
solve the problem on their " account.
There ~ no end 10 the failures which
attended these efforts. Persons. dlslnter-
estedly acting for the soldiers were not
recognized by the authorities. for lack
OF proper credentials. Others attended
10 matters they did no. kno anything
about. 60 that instead OF helping they
made u mesa OF things.
"Afy bureau carefully studied the
situation, investigated the workings Of
the various methods and finally We
worked out a plan which solved the
problem admirably.
" organized economic var relief
bureaus in every section OF the coun-
try. in practically all Of the larger cities
and towns. These bureaus are each IN
charge OF a local COMMITTEES OF seven.
the members being judges. lawyers. min
.s;ers. teachers and other dependable
members OF the community. They at
tend compcent,y and Gratui,ously to all
sorts OF business on behalf OF soldiers az
the front.
New Ideals 81 Government.
The entire work is carried on with
out much red tape. AL a soldier has
20 do n he wants his affairs attended
to is to write his wish on a piece OF
paper. as briefly and clearly as he is
able to. His commander. generally his
Captain or the commander OF the hos
pi,ai In which he may be. cer,inee this
document a. would . notary public. and
sends this wish paper as Il 10 known.
10 the headquarters Of the economic
relief bureau for the section Of the
country from which this soldier comes.
The bureau h delegates a competen;
local man to act for the soldier. he Il
in representing him before a court or
attending to any other business.
Tho cases in which the economic re.
lie. bureau interviewed are too numerous
TO mention. the most important being
the collecting Of bills. arranging for the
po~s;ponement Of payment OF debts owed
by the soldier or for payment In in
staIments. securing mortgages or other
loans needed TO continue business. draw
Ing up Wills. settling estates as executors
and securing inheritances for legateee
at the front and also procuring work.
Ing men and other help in order 10 keep
Industrial or agricultural enterprises
going. These bureaus deserve "A great
lea o! credit for keeping UP the eco
noin'c lifc Of the country"
] !eft the Prince deeply Impressed
with the fact that no matter which side
wins In this awful wa history will
record the triumph OF organization az
the most outstanding feature Of these
stirring days. The idea OF the state Of
hc!aily attending to the private business
o! hundreds OF thousands OF individuals
IS as novel az II Ia startling. However.
efficient organization accomplished this.
Organization and something else, with
out which II never would have been at
tempted. refe. to that feeling OF re-
spons!bility OF the Government for the
welfare OF the individual. which IL one
OF the results OF this war. Some see In
this a justification for socialism.
am inclined to give credit for f, TO
a more humane policy on ;hc par; OF
governments. The inexpress!blc horror
OF war has been brought home as never
before In history to the conscicnces Of
those who rule over the des;inles Of
European natlons. They feel 1t to bc
the'r duty not only to alleviate suffering
but TO help In every possible way the
innocent victims OF humani,yis creates.
tragedy.