The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-02-25
Director Virgin Shows How
They May Be Used at
Mines.
lots OF OCCUPATIONS.
Mine Managers Are Urged
To Study the Situation
Now.

anled soldiers and sailors 4, tte sasI
lnlnes after they are properly trained
are set forth IN an article prepared Nv
.soDeft !. q. Virgin, acting director Of
,ne extension department of mines and
instructor in mining in West Virrinia
University, Morgantown. -,'tS.
I MT. Virgin writes as follows:
NOW our soldiers and sailors have
returned from the war, we find II nac-
Iessary to device some ways and means.
ior the disabled ones to make q liyli-
mood, and this in all probahNty viii
nave 70 be provided In the industry In
winch they we're employed before our
great National army was raised.
'fhe coal industry has problems Of
reconstructinE to solve, which must
take into account the cripples that
nave been made by the war. These
men must be educated, reclaimed.
trained and prepared for positions that
WIN male them self-productiye useful.
and Influential men in the communis
ties in which they reside. We must
not allow ourselves to relax to a po-
sition where the future of our fighters
is OF no moment to us, but rather
should be, vigilant and active IN prs
pairing plans to make their future the
brightest we know how, this is ttily q
small effort on our part to repay these
men for the service they have so noblyi
performed.
Whatever is necessary for their re.
storation to the mining industry, We
should see that 1t is done as far as it
Is in our power, and we should at once
prepare for il. as shifting 1t OFF from
day to day viii. not make the problem
solve itself.
There are many important posi-
!tions in ani about the coal mines that
the returned soldier can fill, and also
become a power for good II he be
given the proper training and ground
work.
"What we should do is to prepare
these men for the positions that are
skilled or killed, we should not.
merely give them a Job out Of pity for
them, but educate them 80 they may
not be objects OF charity. II their
education is CT skilled nature, they
will not have to compete with the
thousands OF common laborers, so that
In slack tines, the laborer that can
have both size and strength and is
physically fit, will be retained, and
the soldier that is not quite up to mill
itary requirements will be fired.
"This preparation OF the soldier Is.
approved by the government and with.
ali powers cooperating the plan OF
restoring thens to the industry can not
be any. other than successful.
Managers, superintendents, fore
men and all others in official author
ity, should now make q careful survey
of all the requirements necessary to
do the work In the different positions
over which hey have control. II this
is done NOW. and a very careful list
is made cf the qualifications neces,
sary for such work, when soldier or
sailor applies for work, the operation
of hunting a Job for him viii be elm
mated, and you will be in position to
place him a: once, and don't say to
bin: II think can use you" but
rather say to him: I'm glad am in
Ia position to give you work" OF, I'm
glad to have your appl tion, call tor
your answer tomorrow.
I'm a good many OF our mining COM
munities tho industry has grown or
developed more rapidly than our ethi-
cal standards. insofar as they relate
to the taking on OF new employees.
Cooperating officials should not be
so stiff, but when these returned figh.
tiers apply for work, the official appli-
ed to should give them sympathetic
encouragement, It is humane to do
this, and remember his problem in
seeking employment is Just as big to
him. as your problem OF lowering
costs and raising quality and quantity
Is to you.
These positions can be filled by dis
abled soldiers and sailors after proper
training:
Minus one arm superintendent.
mine foreman, fire boss, weighman.
stationary engineer. lamp man, oiler.
timekeeper. watchman. receiving
clerk. switch turner, pumpman, stock
feeder.
Minus one leg superintendent,
mine foreman, fire boss, weighman,
stationary engineer, lamp man, oiler,
Continued on page four.l
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