The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-03-22
Chief Executive Of keokuk Talks on
Duties of People and Govern
ment to Discharged
Soldier.
HE NEEDS HELP OF ALL
BUT II Must be Intelligent Aid in Sc
curing Work for Which He is
Fitted and He is a Good
Employee.

az am glad of an opportunity III
nv official capacity to call attehtioh
Ito the subject OF safeguard :
ling the economic welfare ot
soldiers who have been discharged
from the service and are returning
home to reestablish themselves III
civil life," said Mayor Ed. S. LOTION
TODAY as a soldier left the city hall,
and he talked on:
"The government, both federal ana
local. has the prime obligation OF aid
ing these men. With unbounded en-
jthusiasm they responded to the call
of the government to serve the world
emergency. They did not count per-
sonal cost. Their achievements as
soldiers have written one OF the
brightest pages in American history
"They are now returning home full
of well earned pride and animated
by high ambitions. They want jobs
good jobs-with the least possible
waste Of time in taking up their in
dividual responsibilities as citizens.
| "They do not all understand how
much the delicate machinery OF our
industrial and commercial life has
been thrown out of adjustm by the
WAR. Most of them only know that
they have done their duty at the
nations call-and their disappolnt-
ment will be very bitter If the gov
eminent which called them does not
actively cooperate to replace them
in civil pursuits.
"The opportunity that the war de-
partment has to actively serve the
enlisted men expires, 1t might be
thought, with their separation from
the service, fully paid, and with a
$50 bonus and transportation home.
They go from that service in good
health, or if physically disabled,
compensated by the system of war
risk insurance.
/; But while the actual responsibility
of the war department does end
there, the moral responsibility does
not end until the soldier has been
absorbed by normal civil life.
/ Feeling this moral obligation as
we do, the purpose of the war de-
partment is to coordinate the vari-
GUS activities of the federal, state,
and city governments as well as
those of private organizations, look
ling to system which will minimize
the injustice and the peril of unem-
ployment of discharged soldiers.
"In talking as l do, | am fully
aware of the fact that our citizens
are as deeply impressed by its i'm
portance as is the war department.
and that they want to help supple
ment it and do their part as citizens.
We cannot be of much help to the
vast majority of discharged soldiers
and enlisted men, who return to
their pre-war occupations quite natur-
ally, or who are equipped to make
their own readjustment unaided. We
are directly and vitality concerned.
however, with the minority who need
guidance.
81 believe that the services of a
discharged soldier are an excellent
buy for any employer.
/ In the first place. these men are
animated by an elevated spirit Of
citizenship which accounts for the
sparkle in their eyes and the firm
ness Of their handgrasp They re-
turn to us proud of their achieve
ments They come back benefited
by army discipline. The reactions
of army discipline are on the side
Of good citizenship and fine personal
conduct.
Throughout the country there are
hundreds of city, state, federal and
independent agencies at work to
solve the problem Of placing dis
charged soldiers in jobs. Up to the
present time Keokuk has been very
fortunate in securing places for
those returning, through the labor
bureau and Commissioner Hemmy
who has the labor situation Of the
city well in hand.
The failure of congress to appro-
pirate funds for the United States
employment bureau has closed these
offices in the cities Of the different
states, thereby throwing. a greater
burden upon our citizens to obtain
employment for the returning soldier
1t is hoped that the Iowa legislature
now in session will set aside a fund
to retain labor bureau Offices in the
cities of Iowa.
"The local press has also done it's
Part in securing positions for the re-
turning soldier. but now the boys are
coming back In large numbers and
we must do all we can to secure
them places.
"The discharged soldier is not look
ing for charity-charity is repug-
nant to him. He wants all the prac-
teal advice and guidance that one
could reasonably expect. He has
been away from home for a long
while, and he will appreciate the
assistance of any friend who put him
in touch with the present status Of
industrial and commercial activities.