The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-14
GIVE THEM JUSTICE

A well set up young man in uniform, with an overseas cap
on his head and an empty sleeve at his side, walked down Main
street. Nearly everybody took notice of him. Some looked with
curiosity, but most of them displayed a sympathetic interest.
In some ways this young man is more fortunate than his
companions who returned robust, strong and u~nwounded. A
grateful nation has made provision for him. All the days OF his
lite he will have the assurance of a pension that will take care OF
his pressing needs,
Memphis and Shelby county sent about 10000 men to the
army. Many of them went to the war, Only a few have
returned, and those few have not yet been aSsimnatcd by indus.
try, The rehabilitation is going to be slow unless there is
more interest in finding places for the men and better assurance
that they may get back the jobs they gave up when they were
called.
The situation is sufficient to demand the undivided atten-
ton of the community. These ,men were given a great scnd-off.
Already there is a movement under way for the erection of an
arch to commemorate the valor of those who gave up their
lives to the cause.
There are thousands Of men who walked through the he'll
OF sheitlre Just as courageously as those who fell, We must
never forget the debt we owe to the memory of those who gave
everything. 1t is fitting that their names should be preserved
and their heroism made a part of the permanent history Of the
nation.
But we owe something to the men who fought beside those
WHO fell, and who. we hope, avenged the deaths of their COM
rades. All they ask is a Job and an opportunity to work, They
could ask no less and we could afford to offer them a great deal
more and still leave them poorly paid for what they have done.
There is too much disposition to forget the part these men
have taken, too little disposition to measure them by their
achievements' 1T is true that we should get back to peace time
pursuits as quickly as possible that we Should accept the fact
that the war is over and that labor heneeiorth should be devoted
to construction rather than destruction, but our gratitude must
not be permitted to lapse with the end OF the performance.
When these young men went out from our midst to the
army some fine things were said about them, They got a royal
send-of w watched with eagerness for the accounts of their
valor, and the messages they sent home were read with con-
suminG interest. In New York there is a committee that extends
an official welcome to the returning transports. The men are
accorded the freedom of the city, and flags and bunting and
bands bid them welcome.
1t must not be said that our interest in them dies with the
vanishing echo of the last ringing sheer that greets their land
ing. We are not asking for sympathy for these strong Young
men, Most of them have fought their way through life, and
had attained a moderate degree Of success before the call TO
arms. They wrote in clear, bold letters which the world might
read that American grit was not a decadent quality of this
nation.
These men want no sympathy and they care very little for
the applause Of the multitude. They want to be at home Wit
loved ones, and they want a chance to begin again to make
good, They ask nothing but simple justice. 1t is up to the
employers to say if they shall have it.
There is one further thing that should be said in this con-
nection. There are a lot of men who are having their Jobs
rendered to them. provided they can secure their discharges.
There should be no obstacle in the way of the return of the
soldier who asks for a discharge, and accompanies it with a
tender of a lucrative situation, Except for the prospect of get
ting a young soldier i'll trouble we might relate a case that has
come under our observation. A private in one of the camps,
with a wife in a hospital, has asked for a discharge. He has
been offered a position paying $1,000 a year, His application did
not get out of camp. There is a growing belief that many men
in this situation are being held to prevent the mastering out
of the officers, We hope this is not true, and the officers them
selves have an opportunity to dsprove it by accclerating the
applications for discharge when it is shown that good Jobs are
awaiting the men. With all the difficulty confronting the men
already discharged nothing should be thrown in the way OF the
man who has a job awaiting him.