The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-12-27
GRATITUDE IS
BELOW PAR NOW

At the beginning Of the war there
was a general understanding that
returning soldiers and sailors would
get their positions vacated when they
entered the service of the United
| States, but many employers forgot
their pledges when peace first spread
its white wings over the land. They
forgot they owe a debt Of gratitude
| to the men who risked their lives in
defense of liberty and property, and
! for a few paltry dollars are refusing
to reinstate these men in the jobs
they quit to serve their country.
The Spokane Labor World Of last
Friday thus handles the unglateful,
unpatriotic employers of that city:
"Although but few soldiers have
as yet returned to the city after
being released from the army, some
of them have received their discharge
andea1e ready to take up again the
civilian occupations held by them
before their entry into the army.
"And these few men, or some of
them at least, are already facing the
deadly fact that their former jobs
are gone, that others have been en-
ployed in their stead and that the
employer is desirous Of making no
change.
"This is not a theory, but an ac-
tual fact. There are men in this city
today who are looking for work,
men with families, too mind you,
who were assured of their positions
by their employers when they re-
turned.
"But certain employers are not
keeping the faith, their promise and
pledge is broken. Cheaper labor has
been secured, more profits made, and
that is all that counts in industry,
according to the standards of the
employer who refuses TO welcome
back the man who faced death that
his employers business and prosper
ity may be protected.
"And the returned soldier is en-
titled to the highest consideration
that we can bestow upon him. He
willingly sacrificed all for his native
land and for the democracy of the
whole world, while his employer sat
complacently at home, his business
and his life safe.
The thought uppermost in the
mind of the soldier when he ac-
cepted military service was the pro-
lection of America and all that it
meant to him. He had an opinion
that his country was the best in the
world, and he was willing to lay
down his life for it. And in re-
turn he also believed that his coun-
try would appreciate his service and
when he returned to peaceful pur-
suits the country would recognize
his part in the struggle for democ-
racy and decency and make for him
a place in industrial life which he
had earned
"But what does the soldier think
who returns home to find his old job
gone with no prospect of another?
Do you believe he is going to accept
this situation uncomplainingly and
without protest? Well, hardly. He
is going to protest against this de-
plorable condition and his protest is
going to be heard in one form or an
other, and how it is to be heard de-
pends altogether upon the actions of
his former employer.
"The returned soldier wants peace;
he fought to gain that, but he did
not fight to gain it only because
there was a war but that there might
be peace in industrial and civil life
as well, And this peace is being
endangered by unscrupulous employ
ers.
"The business men of this city
know the duty they owe to our boys
who have come back to us. Because
there are men in business who are
turning the deaf ear to their former
employers because they think they
can save a few dollars should be
caught up with sudden jerk by
the more considerate employers and
made to do the manly and just thing.
If other business men don't do this,