Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1921-11-18
Survey by American Legion
Shows Desperate Plight Of
Men Who Went to Front.
FIGHTING FOR EXISTENCE
Former Service Men Battling Harder
Now and Under Greater Odds
Than They Fought In the
Trenches in France.

Observation-Disclosures 100000 and
100000 veterans Of the World war are
out Of employment and struggling for
existence. according to survey COM
pleted by the American Legion.
Many Of these men, the survey dis
closes, are fighting harder now and
under greater odds perhaps than they
fought In the trenches.
The survey was conducted through
the 1000 posts of the Legion.
Pennsylvania alone reported 10000
ex-service men out Of work. The
New York Legion department esti-
mated 100000 veterans jobless in the
state, and Illinois and Massachusetts
reported respectively $4,000 and 10000
ex-service men out of work.
Georgia was the only state that re-
ported Improvement in the unem-
ployed situation. Unemployment not
general enough to require aid from
Legion" was the report from that
state. Iowa reported that the indus
tries in that state were showing signs
Of life, although serious condition
this winter was anticipated.
Situation 10 Desperate.
The report from Pennsylvania de-
scribed conditions as deplorable and
the state of Washington advised ex-
service men not to 60 to that state
until conditions improved. Michigan's
unemployed war veterans were said
to number 10000, but Industrial con-
ditions weFe reported as better than
two months ago."
\ Commenting On the situation which
has come out Of the business depres-
sion, the American Legion Weekly
says:
Figures alone, however. do not tell
the plight of American unemployed
veterans, for the greater part Of these
jobless ex-soldiers and ex-sailors are
not only out OF work, but are engaged
at this moment In struggle for ex-
istence with their backs to the wall
Of circumstances. They are for the
most part men who have been econom-
ically on the defensive ever since they
left their country's service. Many are
men who found their old jobs gone
when they took off their uniforms and
no other jobs to be had. Those who
succeeded in discovering some work
after being discharged from the army
or navy found they were pitted In re-
morseless competition against men
who had not been in the service.
MANY EMPLOYERS dealt with them by
the rule Of last hired, first fred
Hard Winter Ahead.
IF they were lucky enough to have
savings from before the war awaiting
them when they were discharged.
those savings have long since disap-
peared. They found themselves with
out funds early in the period Of in
,tlustrial depression which set in while
this country was getting back to a
peace time basis. Workers who had
been employed steadily at high wages
during the war were able to coast into
the depression period living on their
savings, but for many months unem-
ployed ex-service men have been, per-
force, little more than industrial scav-
engers, compelled to seek odds and
ends of work desperately to meet their
simplest necessities. The more for
tunate have been largely dependent
upon relatives and kindly friends
Those lacking these have been roam
ing from city to city, restlessly seeking
work. Many Of them have wives and