The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-07-14
CRIPPLED SOLDIERS
TO LEARN TRADES

new DIX, July 4S.-AI1GTlC4Q SOL
diers and sailors crippled in the war
are to be given every opportunity, in
addition to war risk insurance inv
| demnfty and pensions. TO learn new
trades or professions in order that
they may resume their place OF use
fulness in civil life without the handi-
caps that ordinarily surround a man
deprived OF arms. legs. sight or. hear
ing.
One OF the most interesting insti-
buttons that has been established here
as a result of the war. is the, Red
Cross Institute for Crippled and Dis
abled Men at 81 Fourth avenue,
where four schools. the nuclei of
others that are. it is said, to be or
gained in Chicago ST Louis and
other places, are now under way and
are teaching cripples the manufac-
ture of artificial limbs. linotype and
monotype operating. mechanical
drafting and welding. These four To-
cal schools have a teaching capacity
for 500 men.
The recent passage by congress. of
the Smith Sears bill, providing an ap-
preparation of 100000 to be usei
in the discretion of the federal board
of vocational education contemplated.
II is said. the elaboration of the plans
which are now being worked out in
this city. Soon. 1t is thought. there
will be additional schools in many
other parts Of the United states and
other studies and trades will be add
ed to the list The new law authorizes
the communicating OF private and
public institutions for the re-educa-
ton of crippled soldiers and sailors
and, where necessary, the building OF
new schools.
Four trades were selected for the
New York school because they were
in fields that were not overcrowded
A soldier or sailor. for instance. in
stead of having to pay $3.50 TO 5000
for an artificial limb may procure one
| for $50 and. if he desires, be taught
| how to mako it himself. at the same
| time acquiring a trade that will ray
| him 81 to So day.
Frank r. Bigler. a cripple for 81
years and minus leg and an arm. is
the industrial agent OF the institute
| which was founded about year ago
| by Jeremiah Milbank with an initial
endowment of $4,000 and a building
| in which to carry on its work. Mr..
| Rigler came from Kansas City, Mo-,
his services being loaned by an in
| iustrial corporation there, to instill
4
minds of all returning war cripples.
| Douglas c. McMurtrie, director of
the institute graduate of the Mas
sachusets Institute of Technology and
i in charge of the department of print
| Ing at Columbia University. has made
a study Of the social and economic re-
construction of cripples for more than
eight years.
| Mr.. McMurtrie made II clear that
/, while the institute has no official ar
rangement with the government au-
| thorities relative to the utilization OF
/ its facilities in the rehabilitation OF
| war cripples. that department being
in charge Of Surgeon General William
&c. Gorgas. when soldiers and sailors
are discharged from army and navy
hospitals then the institute will offer
them every chance to come back.
Positions will be found for the men
and where they are unable to pay
expenses while learning their new
trade funds will be advanced them as
a loan to enable them to continue
their training until competent to take
job.
The institute. however. is a national
activity of the American Red Cross
responsible to the war council
through the. director general OF mill
tary relief. Jesse H Jones. 1t is the
only non-commer institution of the
kind in the United States. said Mr.
| McMurtrie. and its purpose is broad
ly Humanitarian. taking in civilian as
we'll as military cripples. II is not a
charitable institution but intended to
| be self-supporting
Already the national authorities
have gone on record" said Mr.. Nc
| Murtrie. "as accepting without reser-
! walton responsibility for the after
care of men injured in the service.
| The surgeon generals office OF the
i war DEPARTMENT is now preparing to
provide for wounded men, not only
medical and surgical care. but also
the curative advances afforded by the