New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-30
Men Who Are Slipping
Thousands Of Boys Who Went Opcr There Are Homeless
and jobcss-Epe7y Americans Privilege TO Help Them

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: When the war with Spain ended
many Of the boys who had served their
country in the army and the navy were
reduced to utter poverty. AS first New
York State chaplain of Spanish War
Veterans it was my lot to talk with
many of them and also with members
of their families. I know Of two men
youths or little more-who were
sent to Sing Sing prison because of
their honorable service, or, at least,
as the aftermath of it. Neither, I am
certain, would have taken what did
not belong to him save for lack Of
food and shelter.
One Of these, after his discharge
from prison, told me that many of 1.-THE
boys" had done time for like reasons.
and that at least one had passed
through the little green doorway, con-
victed of murder, because, in the
course of a robbery wherein he par
ticipated some one had been shot by
one of his pals.
The World War is over, the So
called period of reconstruction is under
way and history is repeating itself on
q greatly magnifed scale. Thousands
Of the boys who went lover there" are
to-day homeless and jobless Thou
sands more are jobless and either
RI h 70 %I,o;
heads in their homes, because when
poverty puts the screws on it too
often causes the dear home folks to
vent their discomfort in helpless
spleen.
About a week ago I called at the
home Of a sick-a-bed World War vet
eran, and was told by his uncle that
even tho young mans mother ode
spised" him because he had been so
long out of work before illness over
took him. 1t was with difficulty that
made it plain that the poor fellow
in question had come to me again and
again, as he had to others, begging
only for some lead-in the direction
Of work and wages"
Along the water frcnt every morning
one may see them-thesc shadows of
robust manhood and patriotism. arous-
ing themselves, stiff and rheumatic
after ftful sleep in the cold out of
doors on the docks You may see them
in the parks, in wagons; sometimes
49, l1Go
glances that they give those who are
more fortunate than themselves; and
metimes-saddest Of all--in a stage
of logged Indifference, the stage that
says: whats the use 2" and is ready.
always ready, for whatever nav come
next. Make no mistake about it. many
OF these lads are in the twilight stage
of patriotism, in the twilight stage of
pride and devotion to oldtime prin-
cjples.
The transmogrifcation of good man
into bad, an ambitious youth into
careworn cynic, a patriot into an out
andout radical and q vindictive one,
is not SO difficult to bring about, nor
so unusual, as we who are sure of our
food and shelter are inclined to think. 1t
is all very WE'LL in snug self-compla-
cency, to view the "crime wave" as one
in which only those who are deliberately
criminal have a part. 1t is acutcly prac-
teal to ''send away for long terms" MI
first offenders as we'll as hardened
CT iminals To the man who is desper-
ate from starvation or the near pros
pect Of starvation such examples bring
nothing but resentment.
Where arc the agencies--the men,
tho women, the various essociatloaas