Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-09-27

men In Jobs, assisting In obtaining
employment for 1888 others, pro-
curing the government bonus for
10,2S5 and giving the instructions
through which 2,S53 got their allot-
ments or allowances are but a few
of the many things accomplished by
the Eastern Department of the Y. NJ.
c. A. in carrying out the demobili-
cation program. And the good work
is to be carried on until all OF our
men in uniform are sent back from
overseas.
The noise of Armistice Day had
hardly died down before the Ma
tional War Work Council of the Y.
NJ. G. A. met in convention at At
lantic City to reconstruct its work for
soldiers and sailors along new lines.
War work, as such, was over, but de-
mobilization work of a new and diff
ferent character confronted the or
ganization. 1t was the last link in
the "Y" chain and 1t had to be forged
Immediately.
Disqualification Service.
The Eastern Department, consisting
of New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl-
vania, Maryland, Delaware, Dis
trict of Columbia, Virginia n West
Virginia. took the lea n developed
a gigantic program of service for re-
turning men, which was followed
by other departments in a general
way and only changed when local
conditions demanded.
Two hundred special demobiliza-
ton secretaries were appointed in the
Eastern Department as the first step
in the new undertaking. These spe-
cial secretaries were assigned to one
hundred cities and towns where per-
manent "Y" headquarters were To-
Gated ere they set up in business for
the service men who were coming
home to act as first aid in any emer-
gency that might arise during the
period of readjustment from military
to civil life.
Fifty district secretaries also were
appointed in this department, these to
travel around throughout the rural
districts to act in the same capacity.
unteer committees OF local business
men.
"Y" service to demobilized men
embraced every phase of the mans
existence. The principal object of the
Y. M. @. A. was to help the nan get
back to normal life again quickly,
and with as little loss to him of time,
money n energy as possible.
Getting a job was perhaps the most
important thing to most returned
service men, n in this work the
'FY' was especially helpful. placing
26,168 men in the Eastern Depart
ment, and assisting to place the TO-
648 men which the Central Re-Em-
ployment Bureau of New York city
handled. These figures do not include
the work of the district sscretaries
but only that of the 200 special secre-
taries at fixed posts.
If a man had no vocation the 'Y'
was on the job to talk 10 him about
his future plans, to help him make
| htQ nhntOa nf U00afinna and than m
provide the necessary training for
skill In that vocation. The special
secretaries in the Eastern Depart
ment conducted 1884 interviews
with men who were confronted with
the problem OF a change of business,
and placed 1.400 in the War Depart
mont vocational college. The "Y"
itself conducted many lectures and
classes in Industrial and vocational
subjects.
Develop Community Spirit.
A notable effect that the war has
had on soldiers has been that of
developing their social consciousness,
munity. After months, or perhaps
years, of group activity. the men in
uniform have learned to see the ad-
vantages of social organization. They
have expressed their desire to the Y,
M. c. A. to get together with the
nome Iolks, ana the I mas tnus
been able to direct them to ways and
means by which they could enter the
life OF their community. Church
work, open forums. public health
work-all these have been attractive
to the men. and 1924 discharged SOL
diers in the Eastern Department have
accepted personal responsibility in
some definite community organiza-
ton through the Y. M. G. A About
40, 900 have accepted the Y. M. c. AS
offer of a three months free member
ship extended to soldiers and sailors
upon their return home.
Miscellaneous items of 'Y" service
cover everything from Welcome
Home" parties, of which there were