Gunnison news-champion., 1918-12-20
COUNCIL OF DEFENSE TO
AID RETURNING SOLDIERS
ConfinneA from Pneo One)

COUNCIL OF DEFENSE TO
AID RETURNING SOLDIERS
Continued from P1gs One)
for or against him, the final Dement'S
Of the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Re
lief Act.
The State and County Councils Of
Defense Legal Committees have in the
past rendered invaluable service TO the
L. S. army and the men entering the
army by helping the men to arrange
their home affairs in their absence.
During their absence. the Soldiers and
Sailors Civil Relief Act has held in
abeyance all litigation against these
men. Now when men are beginning to
return, and they may face lawsuits,
mortgages, and entangiements IN
business situations which have accum-
uIated during their absence, the need
Of our soldiers for competent legal ad-
vice in the period of demobilization
will be as great as or even greater
than in the period of mobilization.
Our duty to safeguard the welfare of
our soldiers and sailors does not end
a. least until they are again fully re-
instated in their former positions in
civil life.
The Soldiers and Sailors Civil Re-
lief Act protects the soldier from liti-
cation only during the period Of his
military service. Furthermore, it does
not in any way prevent the occurrence
or facilitate the solution of the legal
difficulties which may arise in his
absence. When he is away from home
for an indefinite period and his affairs
must be entrusted TO his wife or
friends, such difficulties are particul-
arly prone to occur. The accumulat-
ed troubles of his absence, therefore,
face him on his return.
Thirty days after discharge from
active military service, judgment
may be entered against the returned
soldier, and in 80 days his opportunity
to have opened by the court any judg-
ment entered against him during mill
tary service is lost. A few weeks de-
lay, due to accident of misinformation,
prevents the discharged man from
taking advantage of the Act. it will
be difficult for many who intend to
take advantage Of this privilege to
realize that two months before
they are resuired to cease wear
ing uniforms, they will be
in every. sense civilians before
the law, and must take immediate
steps if they are to enjoy the protec-
ton Of the Act.
Another source of misunderstanding
will be the status Of men discharged
and of men on furlough. The tech |
nical state of war may last many
months. 1t is easily probable that
attempts will be made to bring legal
action prejudicial to an enlisted man
or his dependents while the state Of
war continues on the assumption that |
the armistice has ended his period Of
military service. 1t should be made
clear that the protection given under
the act to persons remaining in mill
tary service continues for six months
after the proclamation Of peace BY the
president.
The returned soldier will often need
constructive legal advice. In many
instances, it will not be so much in &C.
tual litigation that is pending against
him. as in problems as to the title Of
his farm, the validity Of his debts, ad-
justment Of his relationships to the
persons who have been conducting his
matters that he will be most in need
men Of each state and the morale Of
sirsbility Of:
/: Continuing during the period Of
rehabilitation the present legal advis-
ory committees.
2: Providing thru these commit
tees free legal advice to all men re-
Gently discharged from military ser
vice who need this advice to straight
en- out problems and to settle litiga-
ton which has arisen during their ab
sence.
8: Advertising widely. 80 as espec-
tally to reach demobilized men, the
existence Of these committees and
their readiness to provide this service;
also the limitations Of the Soldiers
and Sailors Civil Relief Act and the
necessity for prompt action in order
to secure the final benefits Of its
protection.
In addition, there is immediate
work to be done in preventing the re-
turning soldiers from being mulcted
by loan sharks and others. It often
happens that an enlisted man will
part with papers authorizing pay
ments to him for fifty per cent Of
their value or even less. The steady
ing effect Of legal advice available on
the spot will make the campaign Of
these scoundreis, who are doubtlesly
at work, Of little avail.
In all this work it is, Of course, Of
fundamental importance to work in
close harmony with the Department
of Civilian Relief Of the American Red
Cross in its work for the relief Of
families Of soldiers and sailors. Any
case requiring relief which comes to
the attention Of Legal Committees
should be referred directly to the ap-
lprepriate Red CD0 Hene 6esviGe
Soe<ion. It vUu11 Soea 6oafxGhao -
ltlnk tAe Legal CemMittee eeutfnue
itAsir EslatiaaGAip - IL lsgal advisory