Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-20
ADOOURGEs ENACTMENT
OF WAR INSURANCE BILL
Imperative Duty of Government to
Make Provision for Those De-
pendent on Fighting Men.
NATION is UNDER OBLIGATION
Most Significant and Progressive
Measure Presented to Congress
Since Declaration Of War-Recog-
nizes Debt to Heroic Sons.
BY w. &. NicADOO,
Secretary Of the Trennury.

from military duty under the draft law
has caused painful impression in
many quarters. but after all. does not
the fact that no provision has yet been
made by the government for the sup
port of tho wives and children. moth
| ers. or fathers. of the men who have
been drafted explain many of the claims
for exemption:
| Under the draft law the government
has the power to require every able
| bodied man between twenty-one and
thirty-one years OF ago to perform mill
tary duty. Thousands of the drafted
! men are wage earners who married
| years ago, and are the sole support
of dependent families. So long as the
government has made no provision for
the care OF these dependents. 1t Is nat
| ural that such drafted men should seek
to protect their loved ones by staying
at home. ! am sure that IL the Con-
gress should promptly enact the pend
ing war insurance bill, which makes
definite allowances for the support OF
the dependent wives and children. faith
ers or mothers. of our soldiers and
sailors. claims for exemption on that
score will cease. This Is an impera-
tive duty OF the government We can
dren Of the support of the wage Garner
by forcing him into the military service
Of the country unless the government
substitutes itself as their support
Imagine tho emotions of tho man
who Is called into the military service
Of his country with full knowledge
that his loved ones arc left without
means Of support. and may be reduced
! to want unless the charity OF the COM
munity In which they live comes to
their relief. 1t would be nothing less
than crime for a rich and just gov
eminent to treat its fighting men SO
heartlessly and to subject their de-
pendent wives and children. who are
unable to fight. to greater suffering
than II they could fight
The morale OF an army is as essential
to It's effective fighting power as guns.
ammunition and other instrumentalitfes
OF war or equal Importance is the
morale OF the civil population, which
must support the armies in the field.
We cannot have this essential morale
unless the nation comforts the men in
the ranks with the knowledge that
everything possible will be done for
them and their families, and renders
to the civil population at home the as
sistance which will make II most ef-
fective in UNFOLDING the government
and the fighting forces.
PURPOSES OF BILL
NOW IN CONGRESS
The purpose Of the war insurance
bill now pending In the Congress Is
to secure the future of Americas SOL
dters and sailors by insurng their
lives and providing adequate compen-
sations and indcmnitics for loss of life
and total or partial permanent disabil-
ity; also to protect their families
against poverty and want by providing
them with sufficient means Of support
during the absence of the men at the
front.
The nation. having been forced to re-
sort to the draft In order to create
quickly an army to save the country
is under higher obligation to do these
things for It's fighting forces than II
volunteer army only was created This
great and rich republic cannot afford
to do less and 1t must do what Is pro-
posed in spirit OF gratitude and not
as charity. Every soldier and sailor
who serves his county in this war will
earn everything the proposed war in
surance bill provides; to be a benef.
ctary of the proposed law will be a
badge OF honor.
When we draft the wage Garner,
we call not only him. but the entire
family to the nag: the sacrifice en-
tailed is not Invisible. The wife and
children. the mother. the father. are all
involved In the sacrlfce-they directly
share the burden of defense. They suf-
fer just as much as the soldier but in
W
generously discharge as a proud privi-
lege the duty OF maintaining them
until the soldiers and sailors return
from the war and resume the respon-
sibility.
We have drawn the sword to yindi-
cate Americas violated rights. to re-
store peace an Justice and to secure the
progress Of civilization. We cannot
permit our soldiers. while they hold the
front. to be stabbed in the back by
| the uncertainty as to what is being
done for their loved ones at home.
our to-morrows are in their hands
theirs IN ours. The national conscience
VIII not permit Americas soldiers and
their dependents to go unprovided with
everything that just. generous and
noble people can do to compensate
them for the sufferings and sacrifices
| they make to serve their country.
Aside from the care and protection
of their dependents while the soldier
is alive. the proposed war insurance
act provides for definite compensation
| for his dependents In case Of death,
for definite and adequate indemnities
in case OF total or partial disability.
and for re-education of the manned
and disabled man. SO that he may take
up new occupation and make himself
= useful member of society. we must
restore their efficiency and adjust their
still. available faculties and functions
to- suitable trades and vocations, which
the Injuries Of the battle field have not
wholly destroyed. The heavy deple-
| lions in manpower resulting from this
conflict. which is without precedent In
history or imagination, will place new
; and greater values upon all forms and
degrees of human energy, and demand