New-York tribune., 1919-01-25
Baker Notified Continual
Arrival Here Is Causing
Serious Work Problem
President Is Criticised
Employment Director kirch-
wey BlamesWilson for Neg
lecting After-War Issues

OHlcl2IS OF the w ar department.
have been urged to consider the feas-
ibility of diverting some homecoming
troopships to ports of debarkation
other than New York. They have been
told that the continual arrival here of
discharged soldiers is seriously COM
piicating the problem OF unemploy-
ment. The War Department has been
asked to send to Charleston or New
port News such ships as carry soldiers
whose homes are in the West or in
New England.
"New York City simply cannot pro
vide jobs for every soldier who thinks
he would like to live here" said a local
official connected with the work OF
finding employment for discharged
soldiers. eve have put it up to the
War Department. We find that how
ever homesick d soldier may be while
en- the homeward voyage, he becomes
fascinated with New York and elects
to stay here. Six out of every ten
soldiers remain here until their funds
are exhausted. Then they have to look
1OT WOCk- lUdl accounts LOT LIc 1dCC
that there are 10000 iobless soldiers
IN New York. 1t makes it harder for
the unemployed civilians who live here
to get work. Many of these civilians
were engaged in war industries until
the government stopped the contracts.
"If the soldiers from states other
than New York can be taken to Charles
ton or Newport News. or to any other
port, they Will not be tempted to re-
main away from home. The govern
ment should give them not money for
sportation, but tickets good only
en- specified trains. This would send
the men back to their home towns
promptly, where they easily could find
their old jobs. and it would relieve the
situation here
Says 1t Increases Problem
DR.. George ". Kirchwey, director of
the United States Employment Service,
said yesterday he did not desire to
criticise the present rehabilitation
methods of the War Department, but
he declared the preference shown by
soldiers to remain IN New York was
increasing the problem of finding en-
lloyment for the idle.
with the job of finding work for who
ever applies for it, regardless of where
he comes frCm." said DR.. kirchwey.
IF half Of all the soldiers in Europe
take up their permanent residence here
4 SIMPLY because they like the city, we
lave to COPE with the situation. OF
course, all efforts are being made to
induce the men to return to their old
home Jobs. We are doing everything
In our power to induce the industrial
centres to open UP business on peace
basis so as to offer attractive positions
to those who have done their bit dur
ing the war"
Criticism Of President Wilson for
his alleged attitude of indifference to
the problems OF reconstruction before
he sailed for France was voiced last
night by DR.. George W. Kirchwey,
Federal Director of Employment for
New York State. DR.. Kirchwey ad-
dressed the victory rally of the au,il-
larry of the Booth Field Artiley in
Manual Training High School, Brook
lyn.
Left Problems to People
In commenting upon the difficulty of
getting suitable jobs for returning
soldiers, DR.. Kirchwey said that Presi-
dent Wilson, before he left for Europe,
said he would leave the solution of the
problems o. reconstruction to the good
sense Of the American people"
Why didn't President Wilson" "
asked the speaker. go before Congress
at the start of the war and say: 4
have 10 plans for this war and | don t
care to bother you with it. We will
leave it to the good sense of the
American people'"?
The period of fitting soldiers back
into civil life. will be mot terrible, but
serious DR.. Kirchwey said. He added
that the state and national governments
might do more to help the situation.
Lester d. Mayne, director OF the
American Soldiers and Sailors Pro-
tectiye Association, 1440 Broadway,
SAID that his organization purposes to
induce soldiers TO return home. He
said special committee, appointed by
the National Civic Federation. is now
investigating the associations work,
with view of having it backed by
prominent business men.
Demand for Workers Elsewhere
While the number of unemployed in
New York is reported to be steadily
increasing, word came from Philadel-
phia yesterday that $4,000 men are
needed at once in the anthracite coal
ields. Send by the next train all
the mining men you can lay hold Of"
SAID a request to the United States
4.inptoHhshV service, 4o9 Fifth Avenue.
Unemployment would become less
Of a problem" said Lieutenant Com
Iaander Wickersham, naval recruitin,
officer here, yesterday, "if the return
ing soldiers would stop for a moment
and consider the advantages offered bv
d navy career"
Practically all the ratings in the navy
arc now open. and the recruiting Of
iicers arc seeking men skilled in fifty
i've trades.
The recruiting service has opened
ncw Offices mt % Broadway. Yonkcrs.
in the postoflice building at Newburph
and the pcstoffice building at Kings
ton. Offices soon will be reopened in
Brooklyn.
Speeding up the employment Of re-
turning soldiers is the most important
problem facing Governor Smiths re-
contraction commission. in the opinion
of Ara. William II. Good, Of Brooklyn.
one OF the commissions five women
members.
After working in the naval hospital
OF Brooklyn Mrs. Good said, "and
seeing men who started off superb and
strong, and now barely able TO lift an
arm or touch foot to the floor. / feel
mat II ~ time we stopped merely taJk-
ing about how much We owe them.
Would Make Servants Scarcer
Restriction Of immigration for few
years might help the uncnployment
fss~