The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-07-23
UNCLE
cm.n 1w. pm.m
Government Lays Plans so the
Yanks Who Lose Limb or Eye
Will BE Able to Earn as Good
a Living as Any Whole Man
or Better

Washington, July 23.-The federal
government has started the greatest
education work ever conceived.
Every soldier disabled in the war is
oreceive Gf he consents to accept
it. a thorough course in vocational in
structiOn in the trade or profession
for which he is best suited. >
These courses will begin at the bed
side of the wounded man and continue
as long as necessary TO make him
competent to take his place in in
dustry and complete successfully with
whole men. '-
For the first time in history, the war
cripple is to disappear No man who
has given a leg or arm, hand or an
eye in the service of his country will
in future be found on the streets sell
ing pencils. .
Foreign experience has shown that
approximately IS per cent of all men
disabled at the front can be returned
to industry and made self-suppOrting.
Labor is Represented.
In the act just signed by President
Wilson the responsibility for this work
tsp laced with the vocational educa-
ton board, composed of, Secretary of
Agriculture Houston, Secretary OF
Commerce Redfeld, Secretary of
Labor Wilson, Commissioner of Edu-
cation P. P. Claxt0n, James B. Mon
roe, representing manufacturing and
commercial interests. Charles A.
Greenhouse, representing agricultural
interests, and Arthur f. Holder, rep
resenting labor. ...
At conference just held at the
capital, plans for carrying on the
work, based on European experience,
have been aid out. L 81
The act provides not only that every
disabled soldier shall have chance
to be re-educated, but that he shall
be paid while learning his new trade
and in addition he is always to re-
or adapting himself to his old trade;
ceive his pension.
The rehabilitation and re-educatiOn
of the disabled soldier will begin at
the moment he leaves the field dress
ing station on the front line. First
comes his medical treatment; then
the provision of artificial limbs and
functional restoration; then vocation
al advice and re-educati0n; and last,
placement in job. r.. -. w.
Starts In Hospital.
The first two functions, under the
law, are with the surgeon general of
the army; only upon the mans dis
charge from the military convalescent
hospital will the vocational education
board take him over. But his reed
ucation starts while he is still in the
hospital. ....- ~. ..E a'.s
The law provides that the surgeon
general may call to his assistance ex-
berts of the vocational board, who will
be liason officers connecting the mill
tary with the civil phases Of his re-
education.
These vocational advisers, working
with the army surgeons and medical
men, will go thoroughly into each
soldiers case-his social, personal,
educational and economic history, and
they will help him choose the course
of training that will best fit him for
useful work when he is discharged.
In all the great general hospitals
on this side and in the base hospitals
in France the first phases of this work
are already under way.
Curative workshops" are part OF
every hospital equipment.
It is estimated that each year, for
every million men on the front line,
10000 disabled men will need re-edu-
cation in some degree.
1t will be some time before disabled
American soldiers begin to be turned