Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-07
MRS. HENRY c. BOYER
On Servino the ex-SoIdier

LTE ARE entering upon the most impor,,
w tunt phase Of readjustmcnt to normal
conditions in the life Of the eX- service man,
according to Mrs. Henry G. Boyer, who has
been chairman of the Red Cross home service
section since it's beginning in 1917.
''IIc is no longer in the formative period
with crying and urgent reeds for immediate
measures; nor on tho other hand. is he
completely rcabSorbcd into the texture OF
normal society" she declares. Now is
time of reaction when so many people are
prone to indulge in too apathctic attitude
about the war and the after effects on the
human beings who took part in it.
"With all due regard for the splendid
opportunities offered by the government. par
ticularly to the men disabled through the
great catastrophe. there still remains
large bulk of incOmplctcd rccOnstructivc work
to be accomplished. At this trying period
following rehabilitation, the hcroism and
enthusiasm. which made women'S work at
home something to go down in history side
by side with the story of the great offcnsivrS,
are again called upon with renewed tcrvor.
Popular interest in the service man and
his problems has wGncd. Memory is alive
with the picture OF youthful enthusiasts clad
in becoming uniforms. hustling and bustling
nbout on their many crrundS of service.
inevitably these are gone. AS is but natu-
raj. life has resumed n normal aspect in so
far as most of us are concerned
"But the tremendous rcGtleSsncss which
pCrmeatcS every stratum of society today re-
acts unCOnsciOusly on the man who iS still
in the formative stage of his REIMBURSEMENT.
Obviously this is especially true of the dis
allied man. 1t exists. however, though per-
hans less forcibly, among those who on their
return found industrial conditions 50 difficult
to SurnOunt.
Service Needed Now
'Ncvcr has there been II greater oppor-
tunity for service than at this moment. For
the first time women have been given part
10 play in the country'S administration.
low important this part is can be shown by
recalling that 100 bills affecting soldiers
LEGISLATION have been shClvCd until the more
evident issues Mt stake in Il national election
ara, met.
"Wc do not say that all Of these bills are
hcncfria, but we do wish to emphasize the
fact that the needs existing behind these
treasures must not be overlooked. They
exist now, as formerly. They arc not one
whit less vital.
"Iu tho past, the bulk ~ work accom-
plsllrd was prOdigious from the standpoint
Of numbers. The present reduction in rc-
quests for service should not mean n lessen
ing Of effort in this direction, but rather II
more intensive concentration of the problems
to be faced. What these problems are com
pri>cs almost every aspect of what is broadly
SPOKEN OF AS SOclNl WORK.
Furthermore, what was in the original
II technical government solution will as time
goes on, become involved with intermediate
difficulties in no way related to the function
of the federal agencies.
''Oncc more they will be state, municipal
or private undertakings. IT must be borne
well in mind that soldiers, disabled or other
wise. may be classified into three distinct
groups: First, the self reliant, self re
Spcrting individual, who needs but sli1ht
guidance during the process Of re establish
mcnt into civilian life; second, the person
handicapped by physical or mental, economic
or industrial conditions, who requires longer
supervision in this period Of transformation :;
and lastly, the man who inevitably falls
below the poverty line and must pcrforce be
given the helping hand Of charitable organi-
cations.
Dealing with These Groups
"With the first class our efforts should be
directed toward steering them to the proper
sources with as little interruption as posi- =
bic. Careful explanation should be given
about the various opportunities afforded them
through the federal channels. In the case
Of the disabled, for instance. the process
should be- without break in the chain from
the convalesceIt bed to the Occupational
thcrapist, then to the preliminary voca >
tional course and from there into industry.
I'm the second group pressure must be
brought TO bear In order to persuade them
that the position Of the future is more i'm
portant than the job of the present, even II.
as in many cases a larger remuneration Is
at stake. The point here is to suit the man \
physical requirements To the economic bark-
ground. This Is particularly difficult when
II involves the process Of Americani2ation.
The last includes the much talked of