Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-15
DAVID q. SIMPSON
On Treatment OF Service Men

TNHE spirit OF "buddies' which existed in
l. our army abroad should be continued az
the present time in regard to the treatment
Of service men. according to David y. elinp-
Legion. Department OF PENNSYLVANIA. ana
commander of the Captain Walter Nj.
Gearty Post Of this city.
While unstinted praise is due the legis
latve committees, the war-risk insurance
committees, iegal and medical aid commit
tees and state and national organizations,
in the opinion Of Mr.. Simpson. their WORK
in behalf of the returned soldiers is the et'
fort Of few for many and shoula De OK
tended to oil citizens Of the United states
Had the American Legion fathers at
the first convention in st: Louis written
'buddyism' into the preamble of our con,
stitution few perhaps would have IMPLIED
its fullest meaning" Mr.. Simpson said.
Some line a second reader in the per
son of an ex-doughboy even might have
hurled accusations Of the legion partlality
to some Oriental religion.
"Howevcr, the dignifed trainers Of the
American Legion constitution expressed our
ideal in 4 manner more civil--they cemented
into our preamble the eloquent words mutual
helpfulness.' 1t looks well In print. But
these trying days when so many ex-serVice
men are out Of employment, for some reason
OF other, It Is not stirring legionaries 10 its
depths.
"The promising acorn planted two years
ago in the broad field of legion Ideals has
reared its sturdy trunk to generous height
in the grove of American Legion accom-
plishmcpts, it's true, but
HAS the work of legislative committees.
war risk insurance committees. legal and
medical aid committees in post, state and
national organizations been the effort OF
'buddies one for another? These exertions
for constructive and beautiful things, l be
lieve, have been merely on the part OF few
for the many. They have not been mutual
in the true sense Of the word. The efforts
have not been on the part Of all the bud
dies.
Must Continue Spirit
ITO realize our ideal of mutual helpful
ness 1t will be necessary to continue in
practical manner the spirit of 'buddyism'
that was religiousy adhered to in the service.
Its principle is the same In civil life as It
was in the service. Only the application of
the principle is different. Doughboys' and
'gobs' in the service knew each other as
'buddes, 'shpmNtes' side kicks or
'bunkies.'
Each Of these vernacular terms OF fond
ness implied thing infinitely finer and
greater than a mere outsider would sus-
pect. Didn't buddy always have an extra
cigarette2 Wasn't his more fortunate can
teen ever at the disposal Of thirsty com
rade? A shipmate' never hesitated to stand
watch or pull an oar for fellow under the
weather. Who crawled into shell hole
when 'Heinie' was putting his 'G. !. cans
over to help a wounded comradef A man
| overheard drew q dozen 1.-the forms leaning
| from the decks. didn't he; Did 'bunkie
ever fail to share a blanket or an overcoat
on some of those cold rainy nights in the
Argonne' .,a.,.,o,
| "Its application under given circumstances
was spontaneous, unpremeditatcd.
! ITO apply mutual hepfulneSS' now in
| civil life seems to require suggestions. In
| other words, We former service men need Il
| Jolt. Just where 'buddyism begins and
| ends does not matter. The field Is vast the
| time always; and the effort little enough.
| "a young fellow who served in the Tooth
Infantry worked on the books of a large
local merchandise house before he went to
war. lie served through every major opera
| tion in which the Twenty eighth Division
| participated and was wounded on November
| ii. 1917, shortly before the hour of II a. m.
| He came home. His old job was offered
him. lie asked his firm for chance on the
outside He knew among his firms best
customers Il dozen or so ex- service men who
did the buying for their respective houses
lie struck out forthwith. armed with cour.
age, price lists and confidence. Confident
| that the Comradeship Of service was still
notent and yearning to function. The re-
sponse from the former service men was most
generous, even to the point Of discriminating
That chaps pay has been increased. lii
is appreciated and valued to the fullest ex
tent BY his employers.
THAT was buddyism in reverse Eng,
lish--but mutual helpfulness, nevertheless.
Some Timely Suggestions
THE Philadelphia county committee o.
the American Legion, which has opened al
employment bureau, will offer the, following