Evening star., 1933-04-12
na.mher of fhe Associated Pres.
Recruiting the Forest Army.

Recruiting the Forest army
Because Of the method with which
the Nations relief agencies have gone
about the selection of men Tor tht
Presidents first army of foresters, the
recruiting to date has been rather slow
although such large cities as Philadel-
ptia and Newark have already filled
their quotas and New York City Is ex-
pected to complete its allotment within
the next twenty-four hours. Here In
Washington, with an allotment OF soc
men. there have been less than zoe
chosen up to this morning. In other
cities the enlistments are just be-
ginning.
The explanation is found principally
In the fact that the first effort has
been to confine the choice OF applicants
TO the unmarried men, between the
nxes of IS and 25, in families that are
already on public relief rolls. The
method has been to examine the names
of members of these families and to
send welfare workers to seek out the
single men who come within the speci-
fed age limit. These are then recruited
and, If they pass the physical ex-
animation, are sent of to the camp for
their preliminary training.
This weeding-out process, to alleviate
o. much as possible the already heavy
drain on public relief agencies, has now
proceeded to the point where the bars
win be let down to some extent and the
call made for volunteers. The second
phase Of recruiting is now beginning.
There have already been more applica-
tions from volunteers-men who have
not applied for public relief-than the
recruiting officers can for the moment
take care OF. But these volunteers must
still meet certain qualifications. They
must be within the age limits, able to
show they are without work and must
be willing to make an allotment Of pay.
through the War Department. for the
support Of relatives. It win no longer be
necessary, however. that the dependents
live In the same city from which the
recruits are chosen. The money from
thslr forestry pay win be sent anywhere
n the country.
The theory On which the forestry
army - now being recruited h that
the benefits Of this scheme should ct
nrst be extended to unmarried men
with dependents, thus avoiding break
ing up families and, at the same time,
taking care Of . portion Of those who
otherwise would be regarded a. bene-
nciaries under the Wagner relief bill
soon to be enacted. But there are
scores Of thousands Of young men who
come within the fixed age limits and
who have not asked for charity in any
form from public funds. These,
It might be said, are going to form
the cream Of the new army now being
recruited. Those in authority have no
doubt that when the opportunity Is
given them, the ranks will fill quickly.
Those who have been placed In
charge Of the selection of men have,
on very short notice, been given tre-
mendous task. They realize how quick
" blame will follow error and how
easily the purpose Of this entirely new
experiment can be placed In jeopardy
by false moves. They are establishing
their own precedents as they feel their
way along. Their job is not merely to
send 250,000 men into the forests, but
to make the selection Of these men
accomplish the greatest good toward
the relief Of distress from unemploy-
ment.