The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1917-08-24

IN case or total or partial disability
and for re-education of the manned
and disabled man, so that he may
take up a new occupation and make
/ himself a useful member of society
We must restore their efficiency and
adjust their still available faculties
and functions to suitable trades and
vacations, which the injuries of the
battlefield have not wholly destroy.
ed. The heavy depletions in man.
/ power resulting from this conflict
which Is without precedent in his.
tory or imagination, will place new
and greater values upon all forms
and degrees of human energy, and
demand as first duty of intelligent
government that every remaining
, useful sense and limb of the blind
and crippled shall be reclaimeh under
the benevolent processes of education
and reapplied 10 economic uses for
the benefit of society. The millions
we shall be called upon to spend to
support the dependents of the soldiers
while they are in the fighting-line. for
indemnities and for re-education of
the crippled, are sums of capital ad-
vanced by the Nation to promote
utility, self-respect and economic de-
velopemeut. More than all, they are
essentially humanitarian and in the
highest sense discharge by the Gov
eminent of an essential duty to So
ciety.
Military service is now obligatory;
those who imperil themselves have
no election. The insurance companies
do not and cannot permit this fact to
affect their calculations. They must
protect themselves by charging prem
iums so high that they are secured
against loss no matter how severe the
rate of mortality may be. Conse-
quently, the very men who are called
into the service because their physical
condition is of the best and who as
civilians would for that reason be
able to secure the most favorable in
surance rate in peace time, are denied
as soldiers the necessary life insur-
ance to enable them to protect their
families and dependents. The tre-
mendous rates charged by private in
surance companies to protect them
against the extra hazardous risks of
war put insurance entirely beyond the
reach of the conscripted soldier.
Military necessity. has, therefore,
subjected the most fit subjects for in
surance to an insurmountable dis
elimination unless the Government
itself supplies insurance at cost and
upon a peace basis. II would. in fact,
be dastardly and undemocratic If the
should penalise the sold
Ter who is forced to render the high
est duty of the citizen by its failure to
provide war insurance upon peace
the pay of the enlisted men in the
Army and Navy is less than the
wages and salaries generally earned
in private life, which reduces their
investing capacity; and, second, be-
cause Government insurance is an
essential war and emergency meas.
ure, inaugurated for the specific bene-
fit of our military forces, and cannot
and should not be conducted for pro-
fit.
Such overhead charges as agents
advertising, promotion,
local rentals, etc, are eliminated. The
msst assume me cost of
this benevolent agency,
Just as it bears the cost of administ-
ering all other Government agencies
established for the benefit of the
people.
This legislation will be a great
step forward in the recognition of the
Republics duty to its heroes. l con-
slider it the most significant and prog
'tSSlNt iHtdSuIt pItSSnttu u tOhB-
'ess since the declaration of war. 1t
affects the well-being of
/ greater number of persons than any
ict with which l am familiar. 1t de- |
serves the earnest and vigorous sup
port of the country. 1t provides the /,
)roadest and the most liberal protec- |
ion ever extended by any govern !
nent to its fighting forces and their
dependent families. The United !
states, the most progressive and |
nation on earth, setting an
in the ideals for which en-
ightened humanity is fighting, should |
et the highest example of all the |
lations in the treatment of those who |
10 and die for their country and for /
world freedom.
We are proposing to expend during
he next year more than ten billion .
lollars to create and maintain the
necessary fighting forces to reestab-
ish justice in the world. But JUS
ice must begin at home; Justice must .