South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-09-30

Every country that has sent men
10 the front must face the possibility
OF having some returned crippled
and disabled. What 20 do with these
men and how 20 do il viii be the
gigantic problems that must be fac
ed and our ability 10 solve them
successfully will depend 20 "A great
extent upon the amount Of previous
planning and preparation. II is not
a pleasant subject for thought; one
would readily shut his eyes 10 it un-
I'll we find ourselves with our quota
Of crippled workers for whom there
seems little means of providing a
livelihood.
Almost a thousand members Of the
National Association of Manufactu-
rers. representing great industries in
every section Of the country have
sent written expression of their de-
sire % participate in a practical way
in the economic rehabilitation Of
men injured i'm the war
That disabled soldiers and sailors
have an inalienable right TO main
tain their positions in their com
munities with self-respect and in
dependence is unquestioned, and any
suggestion that the situation be
handled through charitable organi-
cations shows a shocking disregard
Of the rights and feelings of those
who have made supreme sacrifices
for their country: to force them TO
become public charges is obviously
as unfair TO them as il is 10 the COM
munity.
The consensus of opinion among
manufacturers so far questioned
seems TO be that the fairest way of
helping wounded men is by helping
them 10 help themselves, and they
unanimously pledge their eoopera-
ton.
Few Openings i'm Iron and Steel.
So far as the employment Of dis
abled men is concerned, a safe gen
eralization is that occupations need
ing strength and endurance rather
than skill are for the most part
closed to such workers. The vari-
GUS lines of the iron and steel in
dustry come under this category and
as a Pennsylvania iron and steel
company writes: "OUr rt erations
would afford poor plsc, for the
employment of men crippled i'm the
present war as the work is danger
Gus and unless a man is able TO take
care of himself. he is at a serious
disadvantage"
From the same industry comes
this expression. Our work is more
or less dangerous on account of the
handling Of heavy masses Of iron
and we would have very little OPP
portunity TO give employment to
crippled men on the lines indicated.
but we can assure you that we will
do everything we can to alleviate the
conditions of such suffering by Civ
ing them such employment as is
available The writer merely gives
the above information so that you
will know that while we have every
wish 10 help along the lines indi-
Gated our opportunities for doing so
are relatively small"
The same difficulty is faced by a
lumber company in Nebraska which
states: we think it would be a
for disab led soldiers but do not know
what we could do to help out. in as
much as all our work is heavy and
requires standing on the feet all the
time" The natural gas industry
makes a similar report and when we
consider the number of industries
where this condition is true il would
seem that a great many fields of
employment are closed 70 disabled
men. But it must be remembered
that even in such occupations where
the main work requires strong men.
there are various odd jobs that can
be performed by the disa bled. There
is no douot that crippled man,
suffering from the loss of either arms
or legs could become a highly effic-
lent timekeeper or elevator opera
tor and if he could tend boiler
he could obtain a license which
would enable him TO hold a position
as day or night Waterman. Solicit
ing and collecting offer numerous
opportunities.
Assure Square Deal for Soldier.
a Cleveland. O.. foundry writes
that il is very much in favor of
the proposition as outlined. We are
ready az all times TO do our patriotic
duty as regards taking care OF such
of our fellow citizens who have been
crippled during the present war
a firm dealing i'm electrical supplies
At Niagara Fails assures us. We
should not only provide occuption
for these men and train them 70 be
just as useful as possible considering
the handicap they will have. but we
should seriously consider keeping
the men i'm employment later i'm place
of the men who did not enlist should
III be necessary to reduce the num-
Der Of workers owing to the falling
off I'm business" and another COM
pany i'm Buffalo says, When such
time comes YOU can depend on the
company 20 do its share and we
feel an the members OF the assoc
citation viii do likewise" From the
brass industry in ohio comes the as
suranCe that the firm is i'm hearty
sympathy and viii he pleased 20 fur
nish employment 10 our fellow citi-