Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-24
MAJOR MAYLiN J. PICKERING
On an Important Work Of the American

Legion
0NE of the most important but little
~ known services which the American
Legion performed for the country was done
right here at home after the war. according
to Major Maylin ]. Pickering. who himself
took nm active mart in the work. This con.
sisted in what might be termed the restOra-
tiOn of the faith of the former service men
in their own cOuntrymen and in themselves.
This was done in two ways said
Major Pickering, ''by finding employment
for the many who found themselves not only
out of work. bur actually without means or
subsistence in many cases, and secondly by
the attention which the members or the
Legion paid to the return of the bodies OF
those who had made the great sacrihce
abroad. There is not the slightest doubt
that the feeling among the cx-service men
was becoming very bitter and the Legion
realizing this. did what it could to remedy
what might have become n serious matter.
by assisting in every manner possible every
eX-service man, no matter whether ne was Il
member of the Legion or not. The only
thing required was that he be able to show
an honorable discharge.
A Hard Winter
1.-THE winter of 1020-21 found many ex-
service men out of work, and the condition
of many of them was so distressing that 1t
created n situation which simply had to be
renewed AT once. I OlOIlcl TuIhllH - CiieI,
then the National Commander. was abroad
that year and upon his return became
familiar with the situation and organized
the County Committee of the American
Legion. with Colonel Thomas +. Mcehan as
vice chairman and myself as treasurer.
"Our committee Immediately got busy to
relieve these bad conditions. We put in
wounded ex service man, ii. Is. Chapman.
as employment officer and he at once got
into touch with the Committee on Cnem-
4, lad ,trr
Edwin +. Holenback. The first step was
to raise fund Of money to take care OF the
men while employment was being found for
them and this sum was raised from our own
membership. This took on the streets a
number of former service men who were
actually compelled to sleep out Of doors in
February and provided for their immediate
needs.
'The next step was to get in touch with
employers and find places for these unfor
the Inasmuch Mission and the Friendly Inn
to look after tn" men, providing for their
food and lodging at Il very reasonable price.
Many Were in Philadelphia
There was an unusually large number Of
former service men in Philadelphia Mt that
time even considering the size of the city.
Many of them belonged here. but there was
a very large number from other points, men
who had been drawn to this city on the
chance Of finding employment. or who had
been brought here by employment agencies
which were unable to keep the promises
they had made. or by promises from other
sources which had not been made good.
These men had come from all over the
country and all their cases were considered
carefully In most instances. where we
found It impossible to obtain work for them
we wrote or telegraphed their relatives, ask
ing that money to pay their fare back home
be sent to us.
.The various agencies of the American
Jepion were able to look after so many
mon effectually that it literally broke the
hncL' of the situation. About this time,
too things began to improve in the business
world and II great many more situations
hecnmc available. 80 that the Legion agencies,
instcnd of finding an occasional position
were able to place men In groups OF ten or
more at time.
,,ot members of the Legion ut that time
hnt every one received whatever assistance
,wc were able to give. as long as his record
| in the army was clear.
ANOTHER and perhaps even more i'm
nortnnt work which the Legion did TO re-
i,nve n bad mental condition among ex-
"orvicc men was in the reception Of the
Lndirs of those who had died or had been
hiIlcd in France. When the first bodies of
thr soldiers began to arrive In this country
fcw people paid much attention TO them.
~" ! r"ion say tie danger OF this IN IT,
,s q upon tie l"rne. soldiers and their
families and fricnas, and did everything
I which it could to make the men aud the