Bisbee daily review., 1919-01-11
Returning Soldiers

Reports being sent out from Phoe- nix that Arizona employerssare fail ing to measure up to the standard of loyalty and patriotism expected of them" in returning former employees to their positions when they are must cred out, teach two lessons. Whether the reports are entirely correct or are exaggerated, does not matter. They show that the man with the job is fortunate, and that some means must be provided for employment of more men.
 That the report is not accurate, in- solar as it concerns the Warren dis trict, is shown by the official state ment of w. R. Ashurst, agent of the federal employment bureau here, who early this week gave publicity to the fact that all soldiers formerly em- ployed in this district. are receiving back their places. In the same report. he gave figures as to the number of soldiers returned to employment, and he confidently anticipated that all others returning to their pre-war jobs will find them waiting.
 It is a proud moment for the War ren district, this period. Other parts of the state are finding it difficult to take care of the returning men. The Warren district may boast that this task is being performed well.
 Returning to the lessons to be found in the report from Phoenix, the warn ing of Mir Ashurst on labor condi- tions in the district, again takes on special significance,
 Hold onto your jobs, the federal agent advised. No matter what the pay or what the conditions. he de- clared, work now is better than no work and all work is becoming ex- tremely scarce.
 This is the first lesson to be learned from the report from Phoenix. Work is scarce. and for this reason some districts of Arizona are finding it diff ficult to return their soldiers to their former positions. Ten thousand more soldiers recently mustered out, are now beginning to return to the state. Work will become more scarce when they have reached home and absorbed their former places, and positions will become more valuable.
 The second lesson in the Phoenix reports grow out of the first. The opportunities for work in many dis tricts of Arizona are few, the demand for work is growing, and. more work must be found, more jobs made if re- turning men are to be absorbed into the states industrial life. Employ CTS of the state must give this phase of the reconstruction period atten- ton, and every citizen of the state must assist in developing opportuni- ties which will permit the soldier to return to his former position in the states industries. Solutions of this problem are now being worked out, under the suggestion of President Will son and other national leaders that an enlarged program of public con struction and improvement will pro vide work for many returning men.
 Bisbee first turned its attention to this problem when the city engineer was instructed to prepare plans for ex- tensiye street improvement and paw ing. These plans will be worked out in the next few weeks and within a few months will provide a large num- Der of men with work In the state a similar program is fast being worked out, and it is probably that a meeting in Phoenix the latter part of this month will see launched movement for improved highways in all parts of Arizona.
 From these facts it is apparent that error has been committed. in send ing out the Phoenix reports. Arizona employers are living up to "the stand ard of loyalty and patriotism expect ed of them but to live up to tho standard. they are sacrificing theil own interests to devote their time to development of projects which will make employment for the rctGrn;n. soldiers.
 Tne two lessons of the Phoenix 70 ports have taken root in fertile ground. Labor is holding onto its jobs. More places are being prepared for mere returning soldiers.
 Further. little can be said, exCep