The sun., 1918-09-08
GOLFERS MAY HELP
MANNED SOLDIERS
Expert Anderson Sketches
Plan for Giving Heroes
Employment. q .
MANY POSITIONS OPEN
NJ JOHN @. ANDERSON.

'ctic privilege In the giving of positions
70 those soldiers and sailors who re-
turn from the front MANNED In such
ways that they canpot perform the gen.
efai run of required tasks It Is i'm
possible to estimate the numbers thus
ehected other than to say that 1t may
run into thousands. 1t Ia not far from
eNe mark to state that the golf clubs OF
she country can take care Of about five
Thousand OF these men with not the
slightest diminution OF efficiency. No
other outlet for the reclamation process
u as potent ms car. be secured by a
canvas Of the three thousand or so golf
cubs. Few II any opportunities OF
work can present more congenial sur
foundings-
Perhaps one can digress for the mo-
nent to speak OF the meaning of the
reclamation system which has been
made lately matter of, Government
supervision. There have returned to
our shores a few overcome by gas 30
that their normal efficiency has been
reduced 20 to 40 per cent. there have
returned a few with one or both
egs cut on below the knee. The natu-
raj feeling Of these men has been that
OF willing sacrifice combined with a
little despair because Of what the future
seemed to hold out for them.
One chap in particular in a hospital
not far from New York city had been
q good college athlete. At the out
break OF the war he enlisted in a Ca
hadian. army division and while wait
ing for his transfer to the American
troops was wounded severely, necessi-
Eating the amputation OF one leg. He
bad been a fairly good golfer. and the
thought OF being unable to play golf
Tor the rest Of his days preyed on his
mind continually.
Then was brought to him the news
that Ernest Jones Of Chislehurst Eng
land, had negotiated his home course
In a II and that he too had had a leg
amputated. An artificial leg. II It did
not help. at least did not hinder mite
IN the playing Of the game.
At once the mental attitude of this
golfer changed. the world looked a bit
roster, the green grass again meant a
good lie for the rubber core, and the
material energy necessary to obtain and
keep sustenance for material wants was
supplied. The next year will be spent
in college and then II desired there is
q position as a paid secretary of a golf
club in western Pennsylvania offered at
. salary OF ninety dollars a month with
board and room.
Back to the Soil.
Then there was the case of physi-
clan who collapsed under the strain Of
constant work on the lighting line. the
climax coming when a sudden surprise
attack made II necessary for him to
night for his life. In the counter attack
he bayoneted q Boche. Night after
night he dreamed the act over again.
plunging the bayonet through again and
again, until 1t seemed best to have him
take rest
In this country everything possible
was done for a cure. but to no purpose
until farm life was suggested. The
doctor helped with the light garden
produce, entered into the life of his
farmer neighbors and te day is pre-
pairing to go back to France.
Now these two examples OF wounded,
physical and mental. may seem to have
little to do with the game OF golf. but
i will be noticed that in both instances
the outdoor life proved a tonic. In no
other business Is there presented a bet
ter chance for offering such positions
- by the golf clubs of the country.
There are very few clubs which have
not sent to France a number of golfers.
OF the three thousand clubs. more or less,
which are scattered throughout the
length and breadth OF the land there
are 500 which have paid secretaries. or
Dooretaries' assistants. each performing
q work which 10 Of a sociable nature,
not hard and quite essential to the up
keep of. the game and the convenience
II the players In addition there are
another 500 clubs which would give
better service to the membership II they
bad q paid secretary, which makes at
least 1000 positions available for those
who arc IN need Of q partial outdoor
life
Golfers who have thought on these
Shings have said that they intend to put
She matter before their clubs so that
Dositions will be available, especially
for their own members now fighting in
Trance. No better way Of showing APP
0rsciation can be manifested. for every
gDlfer knows that there Is no charity
Of any sort connected with any plans
OF this nature. The service rendered
calls for a good wage and the respect
of the best sort Of men.
There will be many incapacitated
men who will be unable through lack
C the necessary qualifications to I'LL
me office OF secretary but who will be
able to take places as caddy masters.
This position has grown in Importance
from that Of q makeshift job to one de-
mand!ng respect and authority. No
where could greater respect be given
than to a returned soldier and no one
70 exact and ask for obedience.
An Army of Boys.
Too few people realize that the
handling OF two hundred boys or more
Is required at several hundred Of the
clubs In the country and that this posi-
ton pays about twenty dollars a week
at the present time with the chances
for advancement with increasing years
OF service. At several hundred other
clubs The pay may not be quite so high
out IN any event there woLid seem to
be unfoided at least n thousand outdoor
tobs of. the kind best suited for the
Individual The chances, therefore, are
present: II some means is taken to m
rare the adoption OF this 'hea
How best then to go about this impor-
amt phase OF the matter? OF course
II Is likely that the reclamation bureaus
gill delve into the situation, but mas
much as the need is apparent there
seems to be an excellent opportunity for
the governing bodies in the different
Statse to take the matter up with the
separate clubs-nnding out how many
clubs will prefer Jobs, the salary to be
.Sffered, the kind Of a chap desired. ard
90 on. In other words. they are to start
as q general agency with the thought
in mind Of. turning over all this infor-
nation to any central committee which
may be appointed to look over the dis
trict. A word from the parent body
would do world OF good ard act as an
incentive to tho local State organiza-
lions. Surely some purposeful action