The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-01
AMERICAN
\LEGION)

/ observed in many Kansas towns, as
| a part of the American Legion's cam
paign to give jobs to all unemployed
ex-serviee men. Have an ex-soldier
do it, has brought out old time kitch-
en- police whose knowledge of clean
! ing barracks has not. been, forsotten.
Employment bureaus have been es-
tablished- by the posts in Kansas City
and wichita. These cities had, at the
opening of the campaign, 400 and 900
unemployed ex-soldiers, respectively.
Many men who have not been placed
in permanent positions have been Civ
en- temporary work., until something
better can be found for them.
Posts in the. following cities have
reported a 100 per cent employment
situation; Lawrence, Anthony, Wash
ington, Harper. Osborne and Downs.
Smaller communities are reporting
that only two or three ex-service men
were unemployed 1.-The opening OF
the drive. and that they have now
been given jobs. 1t is the aim of each
Kansas post to care for its own men
locally. Probably by April 15, all ex-
service men in Kansas will be en-
ployed.
An ex-soldiere who tried to commit
suicide by freezing in a Kansas snow
bank has brought to light informa-
ton which may lead to Il mother get
ting back a son she mourned as killed
on the field of battle in France dur
ing the allied offensive of 1918.
Jobless, discouraged ana almost fro
zen, Chester Hagerman was picked
out of a drift in Emporia by the po-
lice. After treatment to thaw him
out he started life again by hunting
job.
Acting on the information of a
Medicine Lodge, Kan, woman that her
son, Chester Hagernlan, had died in
1918 but that she had never given
up hope that mistake might have
been made. the American Legion
started a probe into the war depart
one Chester Hagerman of Kansas had
been a member of the United States
forces during the World war
The man picked up in Emporia said
he enlisted at Camp Funston and that
his father lived in st. John, Kan.
These facts tailed with the informa-
ton which Mrs. Hagerman has fur
pished the Legion. In addition the
description of the man who attempted
suicide here and that of Mrs. Hager-
man are identical.
Tho a body Was brought back from
France and buried with fun military
honors at Medicine Lodge as the son
of Mrs. Hagerman. she has never let
up in belief that a mistake had been
made. Believing that enough chance
exists that this may be so, relatives,
police and the Legion are making
every effort to find the man who
station in search of a job.
1t is thought possible that Hager-
man is a shell shock victim, that his
memory is gone, causing him to for
get his home and family and that he
is now wandering aimlessly about the
country. Trails of the Emporia Hager-
man have all proved blind so lar. NO
trace of him has been found, as yet.
The Legion, however, is still working
on the case and Mrs. Hagerman is
growing more certain each day that
her son still lives.
The unemployed World war vet
eran is rapidly being given a Job. |
The American Legion campaign to
give him one shows that since the
start of the drive more than ESQ, 900
of the country's total of 700, 900 job
less ex-soldierS have been placed, ac-
cording to a statement received at
Kansas department headquarters, |
from Lemuel Bolles, national adjutant |
of the Legion. Many more, he states, |
have been given temporary jobs to |
tide them over until the permanent |
place is found for them. Adjutant |
Bolles also announced that the drive |
is not going to stop at 30-day limit, |
as originally planned. 1t is going on |
until the Legion's aim to make the |
country free of veteran unemployment |
has been attained.
Barracks and mess halls for those |
for whom work has not yet been |
found are being operated by Legion |
units in the larger cities.
offices, manned BY ex- |
service men, sprang up with the start |
of the drive. Chambers of Com |
merce, labor organizations. civic and |
fraternal units are cooperating with |
the Legion employment heads and are
making this help felt, national Off
GERS say.
Cumberland. Nd, wired Ad1utant /
Bolles before the drive was hardly six /
4
ployed veteran in its 900 popula- /
ton. Across the country came a tele-
gram which showed Port Angeles, |
Wash, the farthest western post of |
the Legion, had attained loo per cent
the first day.
A swapping OF the official ma
chinery for the making of citizens re-
suited from the Legion obtaining the
consent of Henry Ford to employ ex-
service men first, a Detroit dispatch
in Indianapolis states. A |
boom in the motor company's plant |
drew many aliens who took flight for
the nearest place where first citizen
ship papers may be had when the
success was made known.
Last minute reports issued from
Legion headquarters shows farming
are taking care of the
veterans with greater
rapidity than are the Industrial CEN
ters. State heads of the service mems
were warned by Adj
Bolles that regardless of the appar-
snt success of their local efforts no
let-uP in activity will be made until
The last man has been hired.
Mrs. Edith Irwin Hobart, national /
president of the American Legion |
Auxiliary, will be the principal speak
ar at the third annual convention of /
The Kansas department of the aux
iiary at Salina, April II and IS, I'M
der plans announced at state head
quarters here. State Legion Com
nander Wilder S. Metcalf of Law
renee, also VIII address the conven-
ion.
National E2rasi.5nr,t IIal,-,- - i