The sun., 1919-06-15
JOBLESS SOLDIER IS
SEEN AS REDS PREY
Gen. Wood Urges Federal and
Other Employment Bureaus
to Complete Work.

In support of the proposition that the
Federal employment bureaus for dis
charged soldiers should be maintained
until they have fully completed the task
they were assigned to do and that all
official and unofficial agencies now en-
gagged IN the same work should have
the hearty support of Congress, a state
ment was issued by Major-Gen. Leonard
Wood yesterday carrying the warning
that there Is fertile field for the doc
trines Of Bolshevism in the mind of the
Jobless soldier. and that the agents CT
radicalism and disorder are doing all
they can to poison his mind with their
propaganda.
All the bureaus in this city which as
sumed the work OF placing demobilized
soldiers in occupation after the signing
of the armistice are suffering from lack
of money and the Federal employment
bureau is no exception to the rule. Gen.
Wood Is especially anxious that the Fed
eral bureaus keep up their work until
next autumn at the least, and urges
that appropriations now being coEsid-
cred by Congress for this purpose be
put through with all possible expedition.
Must Keep Up the Work.
His statement was transmitted to this
city from the headquarters Of the Gen.
trail Department Of the Army in Chi
cago. 1t says:
Many men who have returned are
sick mentally and physically and wait
ing about with nothing TO do. and with
radical orators on every hand only too
willing to SOW the seeds of discomfort
their minds are open to such propa-
ganda.
1T will be a mistake for any agency
now contributing to the great task of
finding places for these men to slacken
its efforts in the slightest degree. con-
slider 1t absolutely essential for the Fed
eral Government to continue its efforts
to place discharged military men and
civilian war workers in profitable peace
time Jobs and for this purpose funds
should be Immediately made available
to continue the United States Employ
ment Service. which has proved a po-
tent factor in helping to solve this prob
lem from a national standpoint.
Here in Chicago. for example. we
have had to contend with a number of
radical units. most of which were made
up of discharged soldiers out of Jobs.
We found the principal antidote for the
soldiers state of mind created by idle
ness was employment; and acting upon
the theory that mischief is always found
! for idle hands to do we Immediately,
through out bureau for soldiers, sailors
| and marines, secured profitable employ
ment for as many OF these men as we
could find, with the result that the sit
| uation is much healthier to-day.
Praises Civilian Workers.
There are a lot OF civilians in this
country who were not fortunate enough
to wear the uniform and fight in France,
! but who did contribute to the winning
| of the war through their efforts in MAX
| ing war supplies. We must not lose
sight OF these boys. and the Government
owes them a debt OF gratitude as we'll,
which can in a srrght measure be repaid
| by an intelligent EFFORT to secure for
them profitable peace time employment
1.-THE Federal Government first OF all
must assume the major responsibility for
| this work. and this is why consider II
20 essential for the Federal Employment
Service to be continued and for all other
| agencies to continue their efforts to solve
| this problem as long as a single soldier
| or Civilian war worker remains jobless.
| I'VE cannot lay too much stress upon
our responsibility in this matter The
| soldier naturally feels that his first help
in finding Job should come from the
Government to which he so cheerfully
| submitted during the war and the nation
must continue TO be able to offer that as
/ sistance.'