Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-12-20
Wake Up, Georgia! Soldiers
Must Be Provided Work

oURELY the loyal people of Georgia will
not let themselves be written down as
Indifferent to the future of the boys
who left all they had and followed their
country's flag in service to freedoms cause!
But there must be a speedy awakening 20 GER
tain present and practical obligations if this
charge is rightly to be refuted.
Weeks ago Commissioner Stanley, of the
state Department of Labor. issued an urgent
appeal to chambers of commerce and similar
organizations throughout the Commonwealth,
asking Their cooperation in procuring posi-
tions for sUfdie-s who are being mustered
out. Speaking for both the State and the
Federal authorities he suggested that in each
community bureaus or committees be organ
lied to inquire definitely aud fully into the
prospect of employment for discharged sol
diers and to report regularly to the central
bureau for that purpose in Atlanta. So i'm
portant and patriotic request. it was ex-
pected, would win instan- and unanimous re-
spouse. The rag-ettable fact IS, however,
that little OF nothing vet has been done to
provide the imperativeIy needed local aid.
This will never do II is not like Georgia.
II is not like America. These Selective Sery-
ice men are the very flower OF the country's
viriIe youth. Judged in the rank and file.
they would make citizens worthy to be priced
TTrrIF 70 for
that out of body of one thousand of them
recently interviewed at Camp Gordon, fifty
per cent expressed a wish to remain in Geor-
ga as lament settlers after the d
I charge from the army. Commissioner Stanley
observes:
Fairly averaged. the great majority
OF these young men are thrifty energetic
and ambitious and will make our State
mighty good citizens. They are the kind
of people we want, and IL they have to
go somewhere else to build their future
lives, we can blame nobody but
selves"
Self interest as we'll as patriotism should i'm
pei every community to earnest efforts to
secure as many Of these hale and gallant
men as they can find employment for. There
he's been deal Of talk in recent years on the
Importance OF inducing desirable settlers from
other parts of the Union to come to Georgia
and aid in developing our vast empire of
latent resources. Much time and money have
been spent. and spent well. in advertising to
distant regions the manifold advantages
which the State has to offer homeseekers.
Yet, when he opportunity to secure hundreds
and thousands Of uncommonly valuable work
ers and citizens knocks at our very door,
we are amazingly apathetic.
The explanation is. of course, that Commits
sioner stanley's request has not yet received
either the currency or the attention which
it deserves, has not been brought home to
the minds and hearts OF the people. For in
a State as ardently loyal as Georgia, there
can be no indifference on a matter like this.
once it is duly understood. 1t is earnestly to
be hoped, therefore, that newspapers. to-
gether with chambers of commerce and all
patriotic organizations. viii emphasize and
continue to emphasize, each in its own com
munity, the need OF prompt and wholehearted
Incorporation in providing jobs for discharged
and returning soldiers.
What the Red Cross wants is a dollar, not
an alibi.