The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1919-05-23
Return Them to Suitable Employ
ment After Their Discharge
From Service.
GENERAL WOOD uRGEsAcT|oN
AL Lines Of Effort Should Be Organ.
lied and Every Opportunity Given
Men to Settle Down in
Civil Lite Contented.
BY LEONARD WOOD.
Major General Commanding Central De-
nartment sAlnited States Arnnx

~ 16SNAHO "OOO.
Major General Commanding Central De-
partn,ert, United States Army.
Appreciation Of the work done by
our soldiers, sailors and marines in
the great war can best be shown by
active measures to return them to
suitable civil employment upon their
discharge from service. It is a ma
honal duty and one not to be shirked
by nation that stands for justice and
square dealing. Our soldiers were
sent to their training camps-to the
battle line-with every demonstration
Of nations appreciation of the sacri.
flee that these men were willing to
make. Now that the active operations
Of the war are suspended we are in
clfned to lose interest in those who
made our success possible. This is
the time for the nation to show that 1t
understands and appreciates the sac
rifces which our men willingly made
when they answered the call for "a
tional service
The 100000 men indicted into the
service, less, the dead, are being re-
turned to their homes. We must Or
ganize all lines of effort so that every
possible opportunity will be given
them to settle down happily contented
IN civil life. Some of them we will find
a bit difficult to handle, and we must
have considerable patience with them.
They have been through big expert
ence. Some are bit unreasonable
in way, and perhaps it is hard for
i, them to settle down.
Ambition IL Aroused.
In seeing that they are returned to
suitable civil employment-and by that
mean employment in which they
will find contentment-we will find 1t
at times difficult to deal with them.
We must remember that many of thes3
men, before going for the great veil
ture, had never been far from home.
had never seen the big things of life,
had never had the opportunity of
finding themselves. During their serv-
Ice In the army they found out that
NIL men were equal except as distiD.
5guished one from the other by such
characteristics as physique, educa-
ton and character. They discovered
that men who are loyal. attentive to
duty. always striving to do more than
required, stood out among their fell
lows and were marked for promotion
Naturally many Of them now see that
their former employment will not give
them the opportunities for advance
5ment which they have come to prize,
and for that reason they want
change. They want kind Of employ
,,xnent which offers opportunities for
promotion. Many such men are fitted
for forms of employment. which offer
this advantage, and they must be given
the opportunity to try to make good in
the lines Of endeavor which they elect
to follow. 1t is not charity to give
these men the opportunities for which
/ they strive. It Is justice. Others are
not mentally equipped to take advan-
tage Of such opportunities if offered,
and with these we will find it more
difficult to deal. They must be Frea-
soned with, and directed, if possible.
into the kind of employment best suit
ed to their characteristics.
We will find many of the men have
temporarily lost efficiency in the lines
Of employment which they followed be-
fore entering the service, but for that
reason alone they must not be deprived
Of the opportunity to regain their eff
ciency In those lines, nor can they be
offered reduced wages during this pc
rod.
Give Them Square Deal.
Our soldiers, sailors and marines
offered themselves for the great ad-
. venture. Many of them have been
through the great adventure, in which
hey offered their lives, to the end that
Justice might prevail and the wcSld
ne made safe to live in. Those who
cid not come face to face with the
great adventure nevertheless we're
ready to do so, and it was through no
fault of theirs that they did not have
!he opportunity. In training camps
7,orl,ing from early morning until late
IT night, fitting their bodies to meet
he physical hardships Of war. fitting
belt minds to meet the mental shock
cf combat, and in the battle line TN
Ger soul-stirring conditions, tn use men
stood ready to make the greet sacri-
Zee.
Let us remember that squs re- dea,
Tor our hOnorabiy discharged spiders.
sailors and marines will strengthen
the morale of the nation and viii help
TO create sound national con scious-
ness ready to act promptly in support
Of truth. Justice and right.