The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-01
DISCOURAGE PEODLERS
IN SOLDIER UNIFORM

In a letter received from Mr. Baker,
secretary of war. Colonel Arthur
" GODS, in charge OF securing employ
ment Tor returned fighting meu, is
called upon to use every possible
means to prevent the misuse and COM
liberalization Of the United states uni
form ny discharged soldiers, who in
fearly every case are the dupes of
petty proGteers and swindlers The
fuhllc is asked officially not 10 buy
Anything out Of sympathy from Il ped
Gler who wears the army or navy uni
strm There are loo chances 20 one
that the panhandler does not want to
vs. erik at any regular jon, because there
is not "a place in the country where he
cannot get better job at better pay
than he. can possibly make as II ped.
dler.
Secretary Bakers letter follows:
War Department.
Washington. August %. 919
My nsag Colonel Woods;
am writing this to suggest that
you bring ALI the lscouraging inhu-
cuce YOU can to bear upon the practice
which has grown up here and therein
the country Of employing men still
wearing the uniform of the army TO
peddle upon The public streets.
The admtRnt~genera Of the army,
when Appealed to by some employer,
replied properly that the department
lad no legal right to interfere with
such employment by discharged men,
but obviously every sound considera-
ton ia against the practice. for these
OK soldiers are. in many instances
employed TO neddlc more or less worth
less devices and articles. and sometimes,
indeed. very shabby papers and momen
toes of "A pseudo patriotic character,
with the plain expectation that their
uniform and their recent military ser
vice will appeal 30 the charity OF
pa ssers~hy.
This brings the whole question OF
the uniform and of rhe splendid ser
vice which our soldiers have rendered
the country into disrepute and seems
to imply that the country Is failing tQ
| provide suitable and proper places OF
! employment for discharged men. The
| work which you are doing has co-ope-
| rated in placing agencies throughout
the country in such fashion that dis
charged soldiers ear ~f3ns afesttahlt
| and useful employment, and / heartily
wish that the people OF the country
could he induced to advise the youn :
men they hnd peddling upon the
streets to abandon such a dead-end
! employment and seek "A more produc-
l. tive Job, as wen as ono which has
In it for them the opportunity OF
growth and progress.
Cordially yours,
(Signed) NEWTON u. BAKER.
Secretary Of War
Several cities have passed ordin ances
aimed AT these petty people, In one
town where a cheap book was sold for
a big price with the promise that all
profits we're to so to help discharged
soldiers, the office of the publication
lad IN lyt m hNF htA
rooney went. Police chiefs throughout
the country have taken UP the matter,
and where there is the slightest in
tringement of any law. the perpetra-
tors will be Immediately arrested
These undesirable employers have no
use for the soldier without his uni
form. and real service men have dubbed
them. in soldier slang. Hun co"ttes. %
The same persons use soldiers TO hon
or tho running boards of automobiles,
to walk through trains or street cars,
/ and to stand on busy corners. in the
re pc Of hawking claptrap to the sym
| pathetic public.
1T is not necessary" says Colonel
/ " Gods, FOR any man to wear his ami
! form IN order TO earn a decent Giving,
! Not that want the soldier TO get
into trouble, but we ask every agency
Try to convey TO him that there is q
| l,t tier Job waiting where he can work
without the misuse of the uniform This
! Is badge of honor. 10 be worn only
in Specification Of his service to his
country, and not means towards
earning a living which is his of right.
There is no need for any soldier to ped
Gle in uniform, or TO panhandle. The
/ great majority of the men who are re-
I turning to civil life have made their
Uniform as sacred as the flag itself. and
are doing everything they can TO pro-
I tect II.
| IF the public will now bear in mind
! that there is job for everyone ri bet
ter pay than peddhng can yield. and
refuse to patronize these few men. this
sc rdid commercialization of the uni
I form Will die "A natural death in TWEEN