The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-07-11
MANNED j. s. SOLDIERS
Be USEFUL CITIZENS
BE GIVEN EVERY OPPORTU-
NIFTY TO LEARN TRADE
OR PROFESSION.

~" o'h, July ia 1llc1lCdll
soldiers and sailors crippled in the
war are to be. given every oppor-
tunity, in addition to war risk in
Surance indemnity and pensions, to
learn new trades or professions in
order that they may resume their
place of usefulness in civil life with
out the handicaps that ordinarily
surround man deprived of arms,
legs, sight, or hearing.
One of the most interesting insti-
tutons that has been established
here as result OF the war, is the
Red Cross Institute for Crippled
and Disabled Men at 81 Fourth
Avenue, where four schools. the nu-
clei of others that are, it is said, to
be organized in Chicago, St. Louis
and other places, are now under way
teaching cripples the manufacture
OF artificial limbs, linotype and mon
otype operating, mechanical draft
ing and oxy-acetelyne welding.
These four local schools have
teaching capacity for 800 men.
The recent passage by congress
OF the Smith-Sears bill, providing an
appropriation of 100000 to be
used in the discretion of the Fed
eral Board of Vocational Education
contemplated, it is said, the elabora-
tion of the plans which are now be-
ing worked out in this city. Soon, it
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 comman-
deering of private and public insti-
tutions for the re-education of Grip
pied soldiers and sailors and, where
necessary, the building of new
schools.
Select Four Trades.
Four trades were selected for the
New York school because they were
in fields that were not over-crowded.
A soldier or sailor, for instance, in
stead of having to pay $3.50 to $500
for an artificial limb may procure
one for $40, and if he desires, be in
structed how TO make it himself, at
the same time acquiing trade that
will pay him $4 TO So day.
Frank r. Biglcr a cripple for 81
years and minus leg and an arm,
is the industrial agent. OF the In
stitute which was founded about
a year ago by Jeremiah Milbank
with an initial endowment of $780,
900 and building in which to car
ry on its work. Mr.. Bigler came
from Kansas City. Mo, his serv-
ices being loaned by an industrial
corporation there, to instill opti-
mism and good cheer into the minds
of all returning war cripples.
Douglas {. McMurtrie, director
OF the Institute, a graduate of the
Massachusetts, Institute of Technol- |
ogy and in charge of the depart
ment of printing at Columbia Uni |
versity. has made study OF the So |
cial and economic reconstruction OF /
cripples for more than eighth years. |
Mr.. McMurtrie made it clear that |
while the Institute has no official
arrangement with the government
authorities relative to the utilization |
of its facilities in the rehabilitation
OF war cripples. that department be-
ing in charge of Surgeon General
William {. Gorgas. when soldiers /
and sailors are discharged from /
army and navy hospitals then the in
stitute 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 loan to en-
able them TO continue their training
until competent to take job.
Activity of Red Cross
The Institute. however. is a ma
tional activity of the American Red
Cross, responsible TO the war oOun-
Gil through the director general OF
military relief, Jesse II. Jones. il
is the only non-commercial institu-
tion of the kind in the United States
saws Mr.. McMurtrie, and its pur-
pose is broadly humanitarian. TAX
ing IN civilian as well as military
cripples. il Is not a charitable in