The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-08-19

without precedent In history or .lnagi-
nation, will place, new and greater
values upon all forms and degrees Of
human energy. and demand as first
duty % intelligent government that ev-
cry remaining useful sense and lin h
Of the blind and crippled shall he re-
claimed under the benevolent pro-
cesSes IF education and reapplied to
economic uses for the benefit Of sp-
CietY. The millions we shall be call
ed upon 70 spend 70 support the de-
pendents OF the soldiers while they
are in the fighting line. for indemnities
and for re-edncation of the crippled.
are in The last analysis investments of
the best sort. they are sums of ca pital
advanced by the nation to promote
utility self-respect and economic de-
veiopment. More than all, they are
essentially humanitarian and in the
highest sense discharge by the gov
eminent of an essential duty to So
clety.
Service Obligatory.
Military service is nov 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 pre-
niuns so high that they are secured
against loss no matter how severe the
rate Of mortality may be Consequent
". the very men who are called into
the service because their physical con-
diticn Is of the best and who as civil
ians would for that. reason be able TO
secure the most fa%nrabe insurance
rate In peace time, are denied as sold
iers the necessary 10 insurance TO
eDa BILE them TO project families and
dependents The tremendous rates
charged by private insurance COM
panies TO protect them against the ex-
ira hazardous risks az war put In
surance entirely beyond the reach of
tho conscripted soldier.
Military necessity has. therefore,
subjected the most III subjects for in
surance to an insurmountable discrim-
ination unless the government itself
, supplies insurance at cost and upon
+ a peace basis, II would, in fact, he
da$tardly and undemocratic II the gov
eminent should penalize the soldier
who is forced TO render the highest
duty OF the citizen hy it's failure to
provide war insurance upon peace
terms and at net cost, first. because
i the pay of the enlisted men in the
army and navy is less than the wages
and salaries generally earned in pri-
waite life. which reduces their invest
/ ing capacity; and. second. because
government insurance is an essential
war and emergency measure, inau-
! gurated for the specified benefit OF
our military forces. and cannot and
should not be conducted for profit.
( Such overhead charges as agents
commissions, advertising. promotion,
local rents, etc, are eliminated. The
goyernnn ent must assume the cost Of
administering this benevolent agency.
7 .Sg1st ast-l4 hsRss We nasA ne4 I'D n lis s-
tering all other government agencies
esta blished for the benefit OF the peo-
I pie
| This legislation will he a great step
/ forward In the recognition of the re-
/ publcs duty to it's heroes con-
slider 1t the most significant and pro-
gresslve measure presented to con-
gress since the declaration Of war II
! Immediately affects the we'll being Of
q greater number of persons than any
i act with which ] am familiar. II de-
serves the earnest and vigorous sup
| port of the country. 1t provides the
| broadcast and the most liberal protec.
! ton ever extended by any government
to its fghting forces and their de-
pendent families. The United States.
the most progressive and prosperous
nation on earth, setting an example
J in the ideals for which enlightened
| humanity is fighting should set the
highest example of all the nations IN
the treatment OF those who do and
die for their country and for world
( freedom.
4 We are proposing TO expend during
the next Year more than ten billion
dollars 10 create and maintain the
necessary fighting forces to re-estab-
/ ltsh justice in the world. But justice
must begin al home; justice must be
done TO the men who die and suffer
! for Us on the battief1elds and for their
wives and children and dependents
who sacrifice for us at home To do
justice TO them requires only 1.-THE
! OF the money we are eXpending for
the general objects of the war Let
{ it rot be said that noble America was
flEnoh.e n the treatment of her sold :
iers and sailors and callous to the fate
I of their dependents in this greatest
war of all time.
The pending war Insurance bill
gives compensation, not pensions; II
fixes amounts definitely in advance in =
stead OF holding out the mere chance
Of gratultes after the conclusion Of
peace. II saves the dependents from
want and gives them the necessities
Of life while their men are at the
front 1t deals with its heroes llber-
ally for the sufrerings that result from
their disa Element on the field of bat
tie and, If they die, IL makes Just pro-
vision for the loved ones who survive
them. 1t fosters the helpless and de-
pendent, the MANNED and disabled
and recognizes the immensity OF the
nations debt TO the vaior and patrio-
tlsm Of her heroic sons.
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