Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-12-20
There's a Big Reason Why

mobilization. and local community
organizations Of al. kinds, the United
states Employment Service is estab-
fishing a bureau for returning SOL
diers. and war workers in every city
aud town in the United States. 1t
also has stationed qualified represent
tatives In all army camps and posts
In this country to acquaint soldiers
with the facilities for assisting them
90 suitable employment after they
leave camp.
The reconstruction program Of the
Employment Service links UP all ma
tionai and local efforts both govern
mental and private. and centralizes in
every community. through these local
bureaus. al, Information as 10 proper
openings in industry. commerce. and
agriculture available to the nations
lighters and war workers. II calls
fnr assisting them TO the best work
The country can give them. the indy
iduars qualifications being. con-
dered nud for sending as many men
az possible To the farms.
since most soldiers are expected to
should be encouraged TO do so-the
task OF aiding them in finding work
a.. al L..
iiy. and the local bureaus enable its
discharge.
Of course we need not sug.
srst that complete record
may bo found on the cards OF
,ycry man IN the service-what he
has done and is Lest fitted for. what
he preferred TO do when he entered
the service. TO what sryice he was as
signed and 50 on. careful canvass
Of these cards from the various states
would show the L. $. Employment
Service who were most likely to be
looking for Jobs when they are dis
charged. and a canvass OF the re-
auirements along various lines in
each state would give the other side,
and opportunity for estimation Of the
fits and misfits.
Undoubtedly great number Of
these returning soldiers will need and
receive assistance from the govern
lions. but most OF them will return to
old situations In factories. stores, Of
fees and agriculture. The scheme to
which we object Is that of settling
the problem OF providing work for
soldiers" by unloading n gold brick
on them in the shape Of farm-a
farm rescued from tho waste lands Of
the South. the arid lands of the West.
ar the abandoned" farms Of the
Northeast
4 problem OF 'treadjustment," re-
construction" or re-anythingelse,
much bigger than caring for dis
charged soldiers Is confronting the
nation. II Is the problem Of bringing
about such conditions that farming
will be attractive TO soldiers, or even
10 experienced farmers who have ac-
cumulated outfits that new soldier
farmers could not acquire in years.
Thousands OF soldiers now in the
nations service and TO be discharged,
had. previous 10 enlistment or draft,
left the farms for good reasons. They
VIII have no interest in waste lands
- be drained. or in helping to pop
ulate uninhabitable districts because
these are gifts" from a grateful
government.
While the Council OF National De-
Tense. representing the heads Of ev-
cry department OF national govern
ment, IN busy placing. returning and
discharging soldiers. as many OF them
rs possible on farms (the Lord only
knows Why what Of the thousands
upon thousands Of farmers who rent
cd their farms TO neighbors for pas
turing. closed their homes and left
them 10 20 TO ruin. to rush to ship
yards. munitions factories and other
government big wage places? What
inducemcnt is there for them to re-
turn to their abandoned farms? And
Who Is providing places for them IL
they do or don't?
Government reports contain the
more or less surprising Ito them) in
formation that last years volume OF
production did not largely exceed that
OF other years. in spite of the endeav-
ors Of the government TO increase
acreage. and the aids extended. The
reason is that the government itself
put a premium on war industries
graft. and wages. through the guar
anteed percentage on pay rolls,
jumped to a height that not only at
tractsd farmers help. but farmers
themselves left their sinking agricul-
tural ships and went to work for I'm
Gle eam ut wages and hours they had
never before dreamed OF.