The sun., 1918-12-30
IT, AGENTS WILL
SEEK SOLDIER JOBS
Men to Receive Fare at Camps,
Then Will Be Left to Own
Resources.
BIG PROBLEM INVOLVED
Employment Service Assessing
Labor Needs of Country
for Benefit Of Men.
speciai Dsspatch 10 TIE srS,

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2S.-Work for the
homecoming soldiers as we'll as those
In camps here. the r~eintroduction OF
10000 900 men into gainfui occupation.
has been handed over by the Wal De-
partment to the minlstrations of nifty
representatives OF the Federal Employ
ment Service, a temporary body.
These agents are now stationed Mt
some of the military posts and canton
ments over the country. Eventually one
OF them will be located at each camp
and performing the function of telling
the soldier as he Is mustered out of the
service at the camp gate where he may
find employment,
The problems of putting the soldiers
back into industries and are
equal TO those OF taking men from peace
pursuits without destroying industrial
enterprises and merging them into an et-
fective and mobile lighting machine.
Emphasis has already been placed on
the speed and unanimity with which this
was accomplished. But the final effects
OF the measures that are being emplqhe ed
to .reintroduce the men into civilian pur-
suits remain to be seen. Through im-
provised methods, consisting chiefly of
community labor boards and industrial
advisers mere and there, the War Labor
Policies Board and the Federal Employ
ment Service are attempting to assess
the labor needs of the country, ascertain
ing the points of greatest demand, and
regardless of from where a soldier was
drafted into the military service turn
his footsteps TO one OF those places as
he IL discharged from the army.
Using same Mechanism.
The splendid mechanism which was
devised for drawing the men into the
military service with the least ~inconven-
fence TO industrial activities and de-
pendent families and relatives is not
duplicated in the makeshlft process OF
stationing the employment agents at the
camp gates.
Figures on the number. of men who
have already been discharged from the
army are not available for publication
from the War Department. II is stated,
however, that about 100000 soldiers in
camps in this country have been desig-
mated for discharge. Possibly half this
number have actually hcen dismissed,
As they are DISCHARGED each soldier gets
sufficient funds to pay his fare to the
BAuh l' 81 abN A"N0
and he lie left to his own devices in get
ting there. He is free to accept the in
vitation of the employment agent at the
gates to look for work in another locality
II he prefers to do so.
Reports at weekly intervals OF the De-
partment of Labor on employment con.
ditions and labor needs throughout tbs
country indicate the presence of a heavy
demand for workers in Industries. As
A. l
progresses the demand for workers Is
becoming larger. Yet these cities with
their reeonverted industries and new
enterprises have no assurance under the
present plan OF rehabilitation that they
win get back the men they sent into the
military service or that other cities vii
not profit by their sacrifices in the war.
The disadvantage to which the soldier
who goes Jack to home and family wheI
discharged may be placed under this con,
dition is manifest. especially If his dis
missal is delayed until the larger par
OF the military forces ave been turned
loose.
Gen. CrOwder's Plan.
A recognition of the moral obligation
OF the War Department to send back thu
soldiers for rehabilitation TO the place.
from which they were drafted is found II
the plan for this work that was put for
ward by Gen. Crowder when the armls
tice was signed. He proposed thai tn
soldiers be sent back to their local draf
boards and the final process Of demob
ilization completed there.
He argued that this programme woul
enable business concerns to reestablis,
their organizations that had been tor
apart by drafting their men into tn
army. He pointed out further tina
wanderlust among the discharged sol
diers would be reduced. Each commu
nifty would have opportunity to extern
q home coming welcome TO all Of It
soldiers at one time and TO join /
1nding jobs for them and fitting ther
into positions that suited their skill an
experience.
This plan was arbitrarily rejected b
the War Department. Instead OF send
ing the soldiers home In full unit
they are being dismissed at camp gate
singly and in small groups and left {
follow their W inClinations in goin
bach to their homes or Ia spending tn
money given them for travelling eA
penses.
The effect which this programme wi
have on the business and economic cor
ditions OF the country is not yet ar
parent. The degree in which the recor
VERSION Oh industries Is uelaNeu ana u
country is handicapped in speedily return
ing to a peace time basis cannot be d.
termined now. Certain it Is, hover
that the dismissal of millions Of INA
after months of restraint and neFvou
tension at points removed from the
homes and left to their own initiau v
In returning may be expected to hav
very marked effect on employmer
and economic conditions for some tim
to come.