New-York tribune., 1921-09-19
League Appeals to
Employers to Put
Veterans at Work
More Soldiers Than Fought
at St. Mihiel in Army Of
Unemployed, 1t Asserts;
Holds Congress Clllpable
Frons rAs Trioune's Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1s.-Asserting
that from 100000 to 100000 veterans
Of the world war are out Of work, the
American Legion. through its national
legislative committee here, has issued
an appeal to employers throughout the
country ITO loosen their purse strings,
lengthen their vision and make Jobs
for the men who kept American busi-
ness safe from German indemnity"
The Legion declares a great army
Of unemployed veterans are walking
the streets, wondering where the next
meal is to come from. It suggests
that had Congress issued the bonus
bill the present conditions would not
have come about, and asks for Con-
gressional action and for representa-
tlon on the conference on unemploy-
ment soon to be held here.
According to the appeal, a careful
study made by the Legion in sixteen
states indicates that 100000 veterans
are out of employment in Pennsyl-
vania, 100000 in New York, $4,000 in
Illinois, 10000 in Massachusetts, 10 900
in Minnesota, $500 in Washington, 2. 600
IN Arizona and from five to twenty
thousand in all of the remaining six
teen states under survey.
Some States NeglectfuI
1t says that in number of states
veterans relief laws, originally en-
acted to help needy Civil War veterans
and amended to apply to World War
veterans, are enabling unemployed ex-
service men to obtain the bare neces-
sites of life; that in other states
where no such legislation has been
passed American Legion posts are
stripping their treasures of their last
dollars to keep "bread in the mouths
and clothes on the backs of needy
comrades The statement further
says:
than fought at St. Mihiel, more Amer
lean veterans than composed the first
American army, compose Americas
army Of thes unemployed.
six hundred thousand jobless vet
Grams, men Of Chateau-Thierry. St..
Mihiel and the Argonne, men of the
ships that braved the U-boats, men who
dropped their tools and their ledgers
to take up the grim new trade of war
IN far-fiung American cantonments, are
walking the streets of our towns and
cities wondering whore the next meal
is to come from.
Blame Placed on Congress
The American Legion believes that
had Congress passed the adjusted COM
pensation bill the present serious con-
dition would never have come about. ut
least not for the veterans of the war.
And it likewise believes that should
Congress immediately upon reconven-
ing pass the relief bill the condition
will be greatly alleviated. In the mean
time, however, awaiting Congressional
action, the Legion appeals to employ
ers, big and little, throughout the coun-
try to loosen their purse strings.
lengthen their vision and make Jobs for
the men who kept American business
safe from a German indemnity.
The Legion has asked for represen-
tatlon in the nation conference
on unemployment, soon to take place
and whether or not it secures repre-
sentation will present to the conferees
a vast amount of material and data Il
has gathered on the unemployment situ-
alton as it affects ex-service men of the
World War;" - @'S