The Coconino sun., 1917-11-02
PROVIDING FOR WAR CRIPPLEs

One or the major costs Of war con- sists in the thousands of crippled and and disabled men which are left in its train. In the past, such soldiers have been indemnified for their inju- ries-and insufficiently at best-by pension bounty or admission to sol diers' homes. In either instance, they have been relegated to life of idle ness and dependence. These circum- stances tend to make for general de- moralization, and the popular concep- ton of the adult cripple as lazy, ill- hammered and incorporate has too often had considerable basis of expe- rience. This situation has been re- garded as unfortunate but inevitable. The cripple has been considered as a helpless member of society, to be pitied and maintained, but to whom constructive assistance was not feasi- ble.
 This attitude is in process of change, for it has been demonstrated that the cripple, though debarred by his handicap from some occupations, could, almost without exception, be fitted by special training for some trades in which he could become self supporting in spite of his disability.
 The choice of trades in which war cripples may wisely be trained is of primary importance. In addition to considering whether men with certain types of physical disability can engage in given trade, its present and pros pective employment possibilities must be taken into account. If it is a seasonal trade, if the number of work CTS in any locality is so small as to make difficult the absorption of many newly-trained men, or if the industry is on the wane rather than enjoying healthy growth, the indications are negative. The ideal trade is one in which the wage standards are high, the employment steady, and the de- mand for labor constantly increasing. In picking trades the present boom conditions should be discounted. Ma chinests in munition factories are now earning fabulous wages, but it should be considered whether there will not be an extreme reaction after the war.
 AS the choice of trades should be influenced by the labor conditions of the community, so must employment of the graduates be closly integrated with the course of instruction. Not only must a position be secured for the re-educated soldier, but he must be placed as intelligently as possible. To the man the work must be satis- factory and the environment agreed ble; to the employer the personality of the soldier must be acceptable and his product sufficient to the require ments.
 The first job for the man returned from the front is easy to secure-so easy that we should not be misled by the superficial indications. The em- ployer is patriotic and anxious to help the crippled soldiers. But when the war shall have been over few years, these motives will be no longer effec- tive. The man taken on in time of national stress will be just one of the employees, and his retention in service will depend upon performances alone. If the original placement was intelli- gent the man will have made prog ress, gained confidence and experience and made his position sure.
 The actual methods of placement need not here be discussed, but to one feature attention may be called. Dis abled soldiers must not be regarded as special class. The transition from military to civilian life involved in entering the first job is more rad ical step than is taken by the average employe going from one position to another. The placement must, there fore, be followed-up after the first few days of work, the apprehensions of the "green" employe must be dis pelled, his difficulties adjusted, and his confidence fortified. If this fol- low-up can be done by person whom the ex-soldier knows and trusts, it will be all the more effective.-Douglas c. McMurtrie. in American Industries for