The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-02-07
WELFARE COMMITTEES
FOR DISCARDED MEN

Results thus far secured by the
service and information branch OF the
war department in establishing nsw
welfare committees for discharged
men throughout the country have been
most successful. and the work Of the
soldier employment bureaus through
out the United States has been decid-
e6ly hroadened. Heretofore the war
department has been concerned prin-
tipally with iohs FOR ex-servfce men,
hot under the new program it's exist
ing employment machinery is linked
up with all the activities now working
for the welfare OF former soldiers and
sailors
cit has been found" says Lieutenant
CoIonsl Mathew c. Smith In q eulie-
tin. today. that there are many SOL
dters who do not reed a JOB. but
who do require our help in soiving
their individual problems. The gov
ernmenf has, provided abundant relief
for them. In many cases the men
do not know OF this relief or they dc
not know how TO go about getting it,
Our problem is to bring the intornna-
ton to the men ami have them reach
the government agents who can give
them the help they need.
In this work it is necessary TO
work through those who have contact
and traternai agencies have this con-
tact. ana II brought into cooperation
with the federal agencies they make
the connecting link between the two.
Some men are ignorant of the fact
that they are In line for government
assistance. ana others who know that
they are entitled to BENEFITS do not
understand how to go about securing
them. Others have been careieks. and
many letters are left UNDECIDED by the
men which would speedily bring as
sistarace In special cases, II answered.
For example. ex-enlisted men do
not yet general realize that the public
health service is at their disposal Our
hela- representatives are engaged IN
nation wide effort to reach cases of
disability and Illness which have re-
suited from war conditions The pub
lie health service has branches in every
state In the Union, as have our oHn
activities. and our joint work with
them Is solving many problems for
the ex-soidier who needs medical aid.
Similarly, we are working with the
federal representatives in getting &C.
ton on delayed cases OF voca tional
training for other men Wear now in
position to take up individual cases
through our various employment hu-
reaus. and we can practically promise
prompt action to every enlisted man
still in need OF help OF this character.
He has only to apply to our nearest
employment bureau for soldiers
War risk problems of soldiers and
sailors are now handled by these bu-
reaus. as we'll Our representatives
also 80 after liberty bond troubles and
adjust them properly"
In many important cities and towns,
representatives OF the civic and well
fare associations have been formed
recently into permanent committees
meeting regularly with officers OF the
public he's It'll service and federal board
for vocational education. wirh the idAa
OF uniting their efforts for the nation 3
fighting men 1t is pointed out that
when all the organizations work fnde-
pendentlv there is bound to be confu-
SION With a union of endeavor II II
expected that the soldier who neeo,
government aid will get the maximum,
OF assistance in the promptest manner
possible. These committees will b
wherever necessary.
The service and information branch
in charge OF soldier employment and
welfare. has headquarters IN the coun-
ell of national defense building, Wash
ington, y. G. All ex-service men who
cannot have their problems solved
locally will receive prompt answers to
latters and all possible action by writ.
ing direct