Show I JOBS FOR SOlDIERS ONE OF STATES STATE'S A ES E'S M BIG PROBlEMS Reconstruction Is Ably I Discussed by Active i War Worker 1 By Arch M. M Thurman Secretary State Council of Defense During the nineteen months of ac- ac active the tive w warfare Utah made a record that will ill stand as a lasting monument of cf loyalty and patriotism of her citizens More 1 than Utah men entered tle tl- tl fighting forces of the nation About 7 has been Invested by Utah cItizens In government securities Two million dollars has been given to war var work organizations In addition to the large sum necessary to finance I local Red Cross chapters and other organizations of like character Food prOduction has been Increased In Utah to such an extent that this state ranks among the first In the nation nation na- na tion in the production and conservation conservation conserva- conserva tion of food Altogether the war record record rec- rec ord of Utah is one that should bring pride to the people of this state During the war the energy of the people was to the task of making the war as short as possible UNPREPARED FOR PEACE November 11 found us as unprepared as April 6 We Ve were as unprepared for peace as we had been for war Consequently serious readjustments are necessary In order to establish normal nor nor- normal mal conditions Beyond doubt the most important problem brought about as a result ot of peace is the reabsorbing Into peacetime peace peace- time pursuits the men who have been In service during th the war To these men who are now returning from service the important question Is What shall we do after we are discharged discharged dis- dis charged from service There Is a general feeling among the boys In service service ser ser- vice that they will be provided with employment upon their return home This feeling Is justified by the promIses promises prom prom- which We made when they entered entered en- en the service and nd by their belief In the gratitude of the people at home At the present time We are faced with the he problem of providing profitable and agreeable employment for these men who have sacrificed so much for I us This problem Is now engaging the tite attention of the employment burkau bU- bU 1 au of the state council of defense ARTILLERY I Illustrative of the magnitude of the problem is the compiled record of the theOne One Hundred Forty fifth field ery rY which was obtained during the period at Logan Of the 1043 men of the One Hundred Forty Forty- fifth field artillery interviewed by representatives representatives rep rep- of the state council of defense defense de- de were Utah men who resided out of Salt Lake City Of this men had employment awaiting them of these were farmers returning returning re- re turning to their own farms were I engaged In miscellaneous work worl and had the assurance that their positions were awaiting them 22 were students who would return to school 5 were salesmen whose positions were held for their return or Of the number who hAve no work awaiting them 66 were farmers 93 were miscellaneous positions 23 students who would not return re- re turn to school 14 were yere salesmen who Continued on page 11 JOBS FOR SOLDIERS I 4 RS I Continued from page 6 had no io positions waiting them In Salt Lake City about the same proportion proportion tion holds There were ot of miscellaneous miscellaneous laneous trades with no work to go to 26 salesmen with positions 14 students who would not return to school and 7 farmers who have no farm to return to 69 miscellaneous tradesmen had positions awaiting them 19 students would return to school and 9 salesmen were assured ot of their old positions In other words the proportion between men who have employment awaiting them and those who have no employment employment employ employ- ment awaiting their return throughout through through- out t. t the state state is about two f. f to Ofte Of f Ofte the men vh who ha have be been dl discharged dis- dis charged up to the present time 1800 are faced with the problem ot of unemployment unemployment unless positions are found for them There are about Utah men still in service Six thousand ot of these have no employment awaiting their return The state must assume the tho responsibility of creating and pro pro- employment for these men upon their return to civil life ASKED TO CREATE JO JOBS S. S The employers ot of labor ii In the state have been communicated with to the end that discharged soldiers and sailors m may be given employment In the established industries of the state Employers were asked to create additional adam addi- work worle wherever possible In order order or- or der that the discharged men who have no positions to return to may be provided provided pro pro- I vided with work They were vere also asked by the state council ot of defense and the employment commission to give preference to discharged soldiers and sailors In the matter of employing labor during the period ot of jc In order to have available Information In- In formation which would be o ot value to the employer and the soldiers the state council ot of defense employment bureau has on file the qualification ot of the individual in- in applicant for tor position and also the tho kind ot of position open In the various Industrial and commercial establishments establishments es- es ot of the state Any discharged discharged dis- dis charged soldier may look through the flies files and ascertain there any requests for tor In his line ot of men work by the employers employers em- em ot of the state On the other i hand the card filled In by the discharged discharged dis- dis charged man enables the employer to know whether or not there Is ble a discharged soldier who has the qualifications required by him for any certain position As a result of the activities of the state council or of defense defense de- de employment bureau during the tho month ot of January snore more than soo returned returned re- re turned soldiers and sailors were placed in positions EXTEND PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT It was evident from the beginning that the regular Industries and commercial corn com mercial enterprises of the state could not absorb the men who had left the state for tor service Therefore vigorous campaign was undertaken by the state council of defense and other organizations for the purpOse ot of creating creating creat- creat ing work In order to provide employ employ- I for tor dl discharged Charged men To this end communications were sent to state county and municipal authorities urging urging ing that public work ot of every nature be undertaken as a means ot of creating employment The school boards ot of the state were urged to advance their building program as a means of employment employment em- em for tor the skilled trades It is estimated that there will be during the present present year approximately expended In the state ot of Utah on various va- va alinus rious linus kinds of public work This will create sufficient employment to take care ot of all the men returning to Utah during the year who are willing or qualified for this kind of work SPECIAL OR SKILLED MEN There Is still a problem ot of providing I employment for that class ot of men who by qualification or Inclination are adapted to some specialized field of work which will not be necessarily Increased Increased In- In creased as a result of public work These men must depend upon the development development de- de of regular business enterprises enter enter- and professions as a means of employment There is however one Important tact fact that must not be overlooked over looked In this the connection expenditure expenditure of for public work in the state ot of Utah will ot of necessity stimulate private business to I a consid- consid enable erable extent The money so expended will be put in circulation locally and I business ot of all kinds will receive the benefit This fact will make possible the employment ot of more men in the regular business enterprises ot of the state The chief value alue ot of the creation ot of this public work Is that private business will thereby be stimulated to the e that the majority of men returning from service will be absorbed absorbed ab- ab into the regular business and industrial enterprises or of the state as asa asa a result ot of this artificial stimulation URGE PRIVATE BUILDING A campaign is also under way which I has as Its object the stimulating of private building Every inducement possible is bein being put forth to home builders The federal government Is advocating that every laboring man I should own his own home The state counties and cities ot of Utah should cooperate co- co operate in this movement ot of encouraging log ing the wage earner ot of the state to build homes during the present year The result ot of this building campaign should be to stimulate to a v vey y great extent the building of residences throughout the entire state with a result re- re suit sult that a considerable amount ot of work for skilled tradesmen will be created Incidentally this building campaign will have very beneficial results re- re suits upon general business and provide provide pro pro- vide additional employment In the regular commercial organizations of the state FARMS FOR SOLDIERS Another problem connected with the reconstruction period and one that should receive the best attention of officials ot of the state is the matter of putting agricultural at the disposal dis- dis of the boys By authorization ot of reclamation projects hundreds ot of thousands ot of acres of land can be made accessible for farming All indications indications in- in point to the fact that many of these boys now being discharged d from the service are anxious to start their new nev life on their own responsibility by securing from the state or federal government grants ot of land It ItIs itis Is an obligation which the state slate owes to tle t boys to give those who desire an opportunity to become land owners ot of the state Canada is giving acres of land and 2500 cash to each returned soldier from that country The dominion feels that Its obligation to the boys does not end with putting at their disposal certain tracts of land but these soldiers must also be provided pro pro- vided with sufficient cash to equip the theland theland land anti and finance themselves until the first crop rop is harvested Perhaps Utah Is not in a position to duplicate the generous action ot of Canada The state of Utah owes an n obligation to the boys who wish to become land owners and It should not only put at their disposal the land but it should provide them with some means of financing their 1 enterprises during the first few years I believe the state should provide a way of advancing money at a low rate ot of Interest which can be secured by these boys for tor the purpose ot of financing farms The result re- re suit sult ot of all this would be to materiallY increase the revenue ot of the state B By Increasing the ot of the theland theland land we would also win a material increase increase in- in crease in population ot of the the- state No o ogreater greater service can be undertaken by bythe bythe the state than this service to the boys which would at the same time act beneficially to the entire state MANY ARE STUDENTS Many 1 ot of the boys who entered the service have not completed their edu- edu cation These boys must be encouraged encouraged i aged to return to college or to the trade schools with an idea ot of completing ing their training In their chosen line ot of work Many other loys now in service ser sor- vice will not be satisfied to go back to their old jobs They should be given an opportunity f for r yoc tlona guidance and education In tile We line or 01 their preference in order that they may find themselves in some more agreeable occupation If even a small percentage ot Of the boys hOYs can he be supplied with more profitable and more agreeable agreeable agree agree- able employment as a result of vocational voca- voca undertaken by the state the whole scheme ot of vocational guidance will have been ju stifled It should therefore be the aim o of directing education In Utah to encourage ago age a readjustment of lof of these boys now in service who are not willing to assume their former fonner occupation patton pation and who ho feel that they desire some more profitable and more agreeable agreeable agree agree- able kind of employment EFFICIENCY IN INDUSTRY The rhe war has brought forcibly to the attention ot of the people ot of Utah the necessity ot of efficiency in industrial occupations The state must assume responsibility for increasing the efficienCy efficiency effi- effi ot of those boys returning from service whose experience in camp and abroad have shown them the necessity necessity sity ot of readjustment of their vocational vocational voca- voca life The state can never be greater than its citizens The greatness greatness great great- ness ot of the state must depend upon the success with which the state provides pro pro- vides vidt's for and encourages the efficiency efficiency effi- effi ot of its citizens |