Evening star., 1918-12-01

N war Of all time, problems of
v " peace now confront the peo-
pies of the world. America
sent more than two millions of
its citizens 5000 miles overseas to
help turn the balance in favor of rule
by the people. No finer fighting force
was ever assembled under any flag.
Here at home an army less spectac-
ular, but not less important has la
bored faithfully and we'll to keep
the war machine in opcraton--the
great army of federal civil employees,
nearly million strong, almost one
for every two of fighting men. They
Wore no badge or uniform; their
work has been all work, with little
of thrill or romance but the United
states could not have remained in
the war n month without them.
Before the war began the govern
ment employed approximately 100000
persons in the civil branch. There
We're considerable increases during
the period OF war before the particle
patton of the United States. After
Uncle Sam cast his lot definitely with
the allies the great army or workers
behind the fighting forces grew by
tens of thousands until it numbered
almost Il million men and women.
:;
The maximum of increase has been
passed, and now that there remain
but the details of peace adjustment
and of reconstruction there will be
gradual decrease in the civilian
personnel until a stable basis is
reached, but it is certain that the per-
manent government service will be a
larger institution after the war than
before. Aside from other govern
mental activities, the tendency toward
government ownership or control
which was we'll under way before the
war began and which acquired added
impetus during it's progress, must
necessarily affect the civil establish
ment.
While all of this vast civilian army
centers in and is directed from WASH
ington. the greater part of it is dis
tributed over the country. Tho postal
service alone, the largest single branch,
has more than 100000 employees.
In the nineteen months of American
participation in the conflict the force of
civilian employees of the government III
the District of Columbia Increased from
Residents of Washington. those who
belong" saw the city transformed as
If by magic from comfortable, easy
going residential city to a busy, crowd
ed world capital, throbbing with activ-
1ty. tense with earnestness and not so
comfortable place Of residence as
formerly.
The war workers. most of them
women, poured into Washington from
all parts OF the country, the greater
t,aS <Nf
desire to do their bit, even at personal
sacrifice, toward putting the kaiser out
of business. or stenographers nnd
typists alone the number in govern
ment service in Washington increased
from ABOUT 5000 to nearly 10000.
gers of these soldiers of the notebook
and typewriting machine have faith
fully clicked out the tremendous volume
OF correspondence and records required
by great nation at war.
). *
In the face Of the great demand for
labor of all kinds in private as we'll as
in public business, the task of the
United States Civil Service Commission
to keep the personnel Of the civil estab-
lishment equal to the war demands of
the government offices has not been an
easy ono. The commission found it
necessary to resort to advertising meth
Ods, which had never been considered
under peace conditions. Throughout its
advertising campaign the commission has
had the hearty corporation of publishers,
motion picture producers and exhibitors.
other business men and of practically
all citizens who were asked to help.
Without this assistance, given free of
cost to the government, the recruiting
campaign for the civil establishment
must have failed. Every available
means Of bringing the needs of the
civil service to the attention Of quail
fled persons were used.
Three thousand local boards Of civil
service examiners in as many cities and
5000 postmasters at third-class post Of
fees in the smaller towns constantly
kept the announcements of the Civil
Service Commission before their respect
i've communities. More than O million
posters Of various kinds were dis
tribnted and displayed, lantern slides
were thrown upon tho screens in
$4,000 motion picture theaters; cards
wero displayed In 5000 trolley lars.
notices were printed in 5000 news
papers and more than zoe magazines
and trade periodicals, posters were
displayed upon the bulletin boards OF
5000 libraries. 1900 chambers OF COM
merce and boards OF trade and in many