The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-08-19
NATION SHOULD FURNISH
SOLDIERS INSURANCE
Call to Service DESTROYS His Insur-
ability and Nation should Furnish
Protection.
SECRETARY Mc.ADoo's VIEWS
With Trenchant Pen He Proves II the
Duty of the Whole People to Bear
Burden, Rather Than the Individu-
ais Involved.
BY W. G. NcApO0
SNcrcsnrN Of the Tfea sury .

Ry W. G. McAD00
Secretary of the Treasury.
The nun claims for eXernp-
/ 4ion froY~, duty under the draft
law has painful impression
IN man but after all, does
not the H. e 10 provision has
& pet been madc w the government for
{ the support Of the wives and children
! mothers or fathers, eff the men ~fe
have been drafted explain many OF
these claims for eXem ption9
Cnter the draft law the government
4 has the power To require every anle-
bodied man between twenty-ene and
1 thirty-one years Of age 10 perform
d military duty. Thousands of the draft
q "a men are wage earn rs who, mar
xfed years ago and aret the sole sup
1lort Of dependent families So long
B ~ the government has made no pro-
vision for the care OF these Deepen
dents. il Is natural that such draftee
men should SCI. to protect their loved
0nes BY staying at home / am sure
Il that If the congress should promptlt
enact the pending war insurance hiA
which makes definite allowances tol
st the support Of the dependent wives
and children. fathers or mothers, 81
cur soldiers and sailors. claims t"I
exemption on that score VIII cease
MS Is an lTNGeTAt1NE NuiA u tftF EfN
Arnment We cannot deprive helpleS:
women and children of the supper
81 the wage earper by forcing him in
3 70 the military service OF the coun
try unless the government substitutes
d 1tnAif as their support.
q imagine the emotions of the MAJ
rho IL called into the military ser
V vtce OF his country with fun knowl
edge that his loved ouee are left with
aAsA ~~A ~ hg RI
Auced to want unless the charity o
the community in which they liv
S comes to then relief. II would be moth
ing less than crime for rich ant
Just government to treat its hRhtln'
men 80 heartlessiy and to subject thei
dependent wives and children, win
afe unable 10 fight, to greater suffer
4 4nE than IL they could fight. ..-.
T,ss Nora g. < Z q ~ : a.; AZ tssss
eial TO its effective fighting power a.
2uns, ammunition and other instru
mentAlIties OF war. OF equal impor
! annce 10 the morale of the civil popu
3ation which must support the armet
IN the field. We cannot have this es
Aenttal morale unless the nation com
40rta the men in the ranks with thu
3 sknowiedge that everything POSSIBLE
4 viii be done for them and their fan1i
He, and renders to the clrti popu
\ 3nt1on at home the assistance which
will make IL most effective in ur
holding the government and the fight
4 3ae forces,
as@ The purpose of the war insurance
4 BILL now pending in the congress is t
secure the future of Americas sold
aGEs and sailors by irsuring their live
q Aa6 providing adequate compensa
a4ona and indemnities for loss of life
md total or partial permanent dis
Ab511fy: also to protect their families
43A1nat proverty and want by provid
1ng them with sufficient means o
1 Uupport during the ahsenc% sof the mer
~ ths front
N Ihe nation. having been forced 4
Mre0orf to the draft in order 10 Great,
Ntickly an army TO save the country
~ under a higher obligation to dt
2hese things for its fighting forces
Than II volunteer army only wa
created. This great and rich republi,
: cannot afford TO DO less, and il mus
1 ~ what is proposed in spirit o
y gratitude and not as charity. Ever,
4 soldier and sailor who serves his coun
Try ia this war viii earn everythint
the proposed war insurance bill pro
rides: 10 be a beneficiary Of the pro
( posed law Will be badge OF honor
All are Involved.
When we draft the wage-earner, vt
call not only him bat the entire fam
~ TO the flag; the sacrifice entafled i:
not Invisible The wife and children
/ the mother, the father. are all involved
y n the sacriece--they directly share
&Ae burden Of defense. They suffer Just
/ - much ar the soldier. but in All
Parent way ard the nation must gen.
II 4sousiy discharge AZ a proud privilege
u ne duty OF maintaining them until the
Q0ldiers anc sailors return from the
\ ar ard resume the sponsibility
s We have drawn the sword to yin
@teAse America violated rights to re-
stare peace ard tust.ee and 20 secure
NE progress OF civilization We can
10e permit ouE soldiers while they
4nld the trent. 10 ne stabbed IN tre
LEX BY uncertainty az 70 what is be.
S4e done for Their loved ores ar home
III fomcrrcws are in their hands.
t4aFs In ours. The national con-
n e5ence will rot permit r1erlca's sold
~ ana their dependents To go unpro-
E410Ad with everything that z fus, rer
s1gpns and noble people can do 70 com
4 nets them for the sufferings and
tnees they make 20 serve Their
4nntry.
Aside from the care and protection
heir dependents while the sr,ad.e-
~AuNe. the proposed war Insurance
Il - pxpvldes for definite compensation
u ~ I'M dependents in case Of dastb
A41nite and adequate indemnities
III E4A0 Of total or partial disability
TT re-educetioa of the manned
MteabIed men. so that he may take
new occupation and make him
heefui member OF society we
i 1ee restore their efficiency and ad
knefr Still ayRiia bic faculties and
extona to ktisab bic trades and voca-
& - Which the IN tusies Of the battle
- have NOT wholly DESTROYED TIE
Nsy depietiors In man power re-
2rcm thA conflict. which ia