Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-27
ROOSEVELT FOR PASSAGE
OF WAR INSURANCE BILL
Writes to Judge Mack, Hts Author,
Vigorously Urging Favor
able Action.
MARKS GREAT STEP FORWARD
Puts United States Where 1t Ought
to BE, as Standing In Forefront
Among Nations in Doing Justice
10 It's Defenders.
Especial to Tho Times-Dispatch. Z,

Especial to Tho Times-Dispatch.]
WASHINGTON, August 26.-Secre-
tary of the Treasury McAdoo to-day
made public letter written by Theo-
dore Roosevelt to Judge Julian Mack.
author OF tho military Insurance bill.
in which the former President Wig
orously urges the passage Of the
measure.
Colonel Roosevelt regards the pro-
vision made fer the dependents Of \
dead or manned soldier as highly inn
portart. Also he praises the plan for
rc-education. on the ground that it
will prevent many men, who otner-
Wise would be pensioned tho rest Of
their lives, from tecomiaS content with
tt.ir government income. Some OF
CDlnnr; ROOSEVELT views arc rs fol-
lows:
Il have read the bill for compensat-
ing and insuring the soldiers and
sailors with the keenest interest. 1t
marks a great step forward. 1t puts
the United States where it ought to
be. as standing in the forefront among
the nations in doing justice to our de-
tenders.
WHEN MEN ARE DRAFTED,
DEPENDENTS ENLISTED
II am particularly struck by tho en-
phasis on the family. instead Of. as
heretofore, on the man. When we
draft men into public service we en-
list their dependents; and of these
we must never lose sight. They must
be cared for while their breadwinner
is away. They. not he alone. must be
considered in fixing the compensation
for disability; and If he dies as a ro-
suit of the service, they must. be ade-
Quately protected. instead of being
given the miserable pittance that the
present pension laws provide.
But L particularly like the provi-
sions for re-cducation. There is great
danger, when man knows that for
the rest Of his life the government is
going to give him just enough to live
on, that he will be content herewith
and grow sluggishly Indifferent to fur
Their effort. But life is not static Men
go forward or else they fall backward.
Unless proper steps are taken, men
who endure. first. terrible injuries, and
then the long inactivity that neces-
sarily follows. and who suffer some de-
gree of permanent disability in conse-
quence. are in grave danger Of going
TO pieces. II is clearly in the public
interest as we'll as for their own good,
that they should be re-educated for
life wherever possible: and it IL both
wise and just that their economic re-
euperation should not lessen their COM
pensatton for loss OF limb. We shall
be rccreant. indeed. II we fall short
OF the achievements which stand to
the credit OF France and Canada and
England In. the re-education of their
disabled. And we shall certainly fail
in this Indispensable duty of human
salvage IL we do not begin now.
SOLDIERS, EVEN CRIPPLED,
SHOULD MARRY AFTER WAR
should not be based upon the family's
status at the time when the injury
is incurred These young mon OF from
twenty-one to thirty-onc even though
'heY be crippled. ought to marry: and
the wife thus married after the war,
and the children born to them. deserve
the same treatment and consideration
as those whom the husband has left
IN order to go to the war. There arc,
however, some serious dangers that
might we'll be guarded against by linn
iting the time Of such marriages where
the wfe Is TO be compensated TO ten.
or at the outside. fifteen. years after
the war. The compensation for the
FAMILY should be SO arranged AZ TO
put a premium on the soldiers having
considerable number of children: his
is the stock which the nation cannot
permit to die out
"Of course. when the government
taxes away the insurabilty OF the
man. 1T ought to give him a substi-
tute' and government insurance, as out
lined In the bill. is the only substi-
tute. We must not be led of On +.
red-herring trail ny tho argument that
Inc proposed bill opens tho door tn
the. governments eventual assumption
OF the insurance business. It is moth
ing short OF criminal to fail in the
adoption of legislation necessary IN
the effective conduct of the war through
| lear OF such legislation in times of
peace The old-line insurance c,,o.
panies' and the fraternal orders should
welcome this new move in social urvp
ross. In the interest Of their policv-
holders. they cannot and oush. not 10
stand the cost of the war risk. excent
TO the extent that they are now oh
lsated. Tho government can. and
ought to do II: and when the Insurance.
is granted. it must be kept in f,rcs
ior these men at rock bottom rates
after as we'll as during. the war"