The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-06-05
PREFERS TO KEEP OUR
YOUNG MEN NEAR HOME
Eber L. Taylor Says Conditions Are
Not Like Those at Close OF
Civil War
Editor of the Banner:

MOI Like muse AZ SioSc W
Civil War
Editor of the Banner:
The protest published In the Ban
ner written by Edward F. Host is in
I line somewhat with my ideas. | have
no doubt that Secretary Lane has
good intentions and is anxious to dc
a good turn TO the soldiers and sail
ors, by his scheme of furnishing farms
for them and extending government
aid fer that purpose. have read a
great deal concerning the problem of
what Will be done with the boys when
they are all back from the war. Many
writers seem TO think that about three
million young men are to be landed in
the United States and that there is
no place for them, and no jobs avail
able. Every one of these ladies was
occupying some niche in this country
when war was declared, and to be
pitied is the boy who has no home,
friends or job to come back to-
1t is probably true that many of
them will be looking for something a
little more desirable in the way Of
employment and don't blame them
one bit They are qualified for pro-
motion. Don't we expect them to be
better equipped for anything? ! do.
The school they have graduated from
is far more beneficial TO them than
1--we stay at homes have had advantage
kof. They are so per cent better men
than they would have been il they had
tbeen slackers. Several of my friends
back home have buckled right into
work and respect them for all
work and / respect them all the more
highly for it, but with wages at the
present time as high for ether work
! would hardly expect a young man to
so in debt for d farm equipment even
though he had farm given him. Be
sides ! expect that only small num-
Der, comparatively, were farmers
when they we're called, not above 20
or rs per cent. OF course their Job
has waited for them.
This "give-to-the-soldier scheme at
the close OF our civil war was diff
ferent proposition altogether. Then
we had plenty of available farm lands.
that the settler could stick plough
right into and raise a crop the first
year. There, the young man, home
from the war could take Betsy, Annie
or Sally or whatever her name was
who had waited for him three or four
years. right ON to a farm, throw vi
sod house and live "snug as bug
in rug" right off the bat" Thous
= ans OF the boys in blue did that, with
out reclaiming swamps and deserts in
the west" as Mr.. Horst puts it,
e Under the present scheme it would
: be brave young woman to say yes
!. TO Doughboy, Marine or Sailor IL ask
. ed to share a home where alligators
!, crocodiles, mosquitoes. etc, build theil
: nests or in the desert with prairie dog:
= and rattlesnakes as neighbors No
~ LEI us be square with the boys. Dom
ask them TO take what no one else
q has wanted. If the government II
% anxious to aid the soldiers, expend tn,
q. proposed amount in helping them (,
acquire farms or other property
wherever they like on easy terms
/ fancy II would not be wise for |
2 young couple to hamper themselves
with what must OF necessity be al
unproductive farm forrtwo or thre'
years for good many reasons. FRS
7 the days Of the pioneer are past in thi
\ country Our young people hav
Z tastes and ideas that are IN advance
! from fifty years ago. Perhaps a yer,
: few would take advantage OF this la,
!. to secure homes, but would Il pay
{ Second, an able young man can CON
mand good wages at any kind OF wor
- he may choose. II he can see chanc
m and would like farming the govern
r ment can, in my opinion. do him
q better turn by helping him to a farI
h and equipment where he is known an
we arc most assuredly not over Grove
n ed by desirable young people as fa
as my knowledge extends.
am not one to discourage or OF
n pose any plan that will advance tn
n industrial or social interests of on
country, but it does seem to me ths
the plan outlined for settling the r.
turned soldiers is too visionary. TIL
boys are not wards OF the nation
n BAG kin civil life they should have tn
n same status as every other youn
man among us, and as Lord Kitchen
er put 1t the United States "expes
h every man TO his duty"
In these unprecedented times
peace we want to see our youn gme
and women build homes and mai
every other nation or the footsto,
enyious Of our home life and nations
n prosperity. The prospects are thi
we shall do this very thing for hay
b faith that the influence OF this "Wor
i War" will not be lost on our peopl
d Truly yours etc,
Il EBER l.. TAYLOR.