Omaha daily bee., 1918-07-21
cRIppLES TO Be
TAUGHT TO MAKE
LIMB and LIVING
Red Cross Plans to Help the
Wounded Soldiers and Sail
ors to Find Useful Place
in Life.


are to be given every opportunity. in
addition to war risk insurance indem-
nifty and pensions, to learn new trades
or professions in order that they
may resume their place of usefulness
in civil life without the handicaps
that ordinarily surround man de-
prived OF arms, legs, sight or hear
ing.
One of the most interesting institu-
tions that has been established here
as a result of the war is the Red Cross
Institute for Crippled and Disabled
Men at 81 Fourth avenue, where four
schools. the nuclei Of others that are,
it is said, to be organized in Chicago.
St. Louis and other places, are now
under way teaching cripples the man
ufacture Of artificial limbs, linotype
and monotype operating, mechanical
drafting and oxynce.eline welding.
These four local schools have Il
teaching capacity Of 400 men.
To Spend Two Million.
The recent passage by congress Of
the Smith-Sears bill, providing an ap-
preparation OF $2,000,000 to be useo in
the discretion Of the federal board OF
vocational education contemplated it
is said, the elaboration of the plans
which are now being worked out in
this city. Soon. il is thought, there
will be additional schools in many
other parts OF the United States and
other studies and trades will be added
to the list. The new law authorizes
the communicating OF private and
public institutions for the re-educa-
lions of crippled soldiers and sailors
and. where necessary. the building OF
new schools.
Four trades were selected for he
New York school because they were
in fields that were not overcrowded.
A soldier or sailor. for instance. in
,stcad of having to pay $50 to $500
ifor an artificial limb may secure lie
Z for $50 and, il he desires, be taught
4 how to make It himself. at the same
time acquiring trade that will pay
him S4 10 $8 a day
Cripple Heads Work,
Frank r. Bigler. 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 building
lin which to carry on its work. Mr..
Bigler came from Kansas City, Mo-,
his services being loaned by an in
dustrial corporation there, TO instill
optimism and good cheer into the
morale OF all returning war cripples.
/ Douglas c, McMurtrie, director
Of the institute, graduate Of the
4 Massachusetts, Institute of Tcchnol-
ogy and in charge Of the department
4 oI printing at Columbia university,
has made study Of the social and
economic reconstruction OF cripples
Tor more than eight years.
Mr.. McMurtric made II clear that
while the institute has no official ar
arrangement with the government
relative to the utilization Of its facili-
tiles in the rehabilitation of war Grip
pies, that department being in charge
Of Surgeon General William c. Cor
gas, when soldiers and sailors are dis
charged from army and navy hospi-
tails then the institute will offer them
every chance to come back" Posi-
tons will be found for the men and.
where they are unable to pay ex-
penses while learning their new trade,
funds will be advanced them as a loan
to enable them to continue their
training until competent to take q
Job.
Is Red Cross Activity.
The institute, however. is a national
activity Of the American Red Cross,
responsible to the war council
through the director general Of mill
4 tary relief, Jesse III. Jones. II ID
the only noncommercial institution oil
the kind in the United States, says
Mr.. McMurtrie, and its purpose Is
broadly humanitarian, taking in civ.
ilian as well as military cripples. II
Is not charitable institution, but in.
tended to be self-supporting.
Already the national authorities
have gone on record" said Mr.. Nc.
Murtrie, 'as accepting without
reservation responsibility for the
after care Of men injured in The serv.
ice. The surgeon generals Office oil
the War department Is now preparing
10 provide for wounded men, not only
medical and surgical care. but also the
curative advances afforded by the sim.
pier forms Of occupation. The gov
ernment Is further inaugurating voca.
tional training, having as its object
rehabilitation for seif-support. The
government. however, is disposed tc
make use Of, under due supervision
such private assistance as may be Of.
fcred and found OF value"
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