Evening journal., 1918-04-06
wARNNc TO DELAWARE WAR RISK INSURANCE
CLAIMANTS

DELAWARE claimants under the War Risk Insurance
- Act require no lawyers, agents and no pension
attorneys TO obtain payments from the United states
Government
The Special Committee for War Service Of the Ameri-
Bar Association has sent letter TO that effect TO
the four LEGAL Advisory Boards 10 this city the chair
man OF which are Judge William S. Prcksu Christopher
/. Ward. Hugh NJ Norris and former District Attorney
John p Eleds. Through the courtesy OF Mr. NIolds we
enabled to lay before those Deawareans who have
relatives in the service who may have them the text
Of that letter Of warning II Is AZ follows
II has come to the attention OF American Bar Asso-
citation that INSCRIPTIONS claim agents and pension at
orneys are notifying benenciares who have occasion
70 make claim under the War Risk Insurance Act that
hoy must employ counsel In order TO be Of obtain
ing payments from the Government In many instances
benecares have been induced 10 advance substantial
sums OF money TO those AGENTS IN return for the promise
OF service which In all probability win be unnecessary
Those ociiies are IN direct violation of the spirit OF
the War RISK Insurance Act and are IN the highest de
" es epunonsibie and unpatri0tic. Unless they are
promptly and effectively checked they will result in
Friotous abuse and will produce the same undesirable
conditions which brought such dlscredlt upon our
previous war pension system.
Pending tho passage OF an amendment 20 strengthen
The law action must be taken to protect benehclaries
from the mschleyous activities OF these professional
claim chasers The lawyers Of the country are in posi-
tion 10 afford this protec ion by volunteering their
vices to benencares IN the preparation and ns Of their
claims. While these services viii be Of extremely sim
pie nature they VIII not only be Of great value 10 the
person receiving tpem but VIII solve problem OF ma
tonol Importance and long standing we believe that
every patriotic MEMBER Or t paf VIII glaQlA come 10 ie
assistance Of The Government and this aid 10 the de-
perdcnts o. mon IN The service.
Some one IN each community must take ihe lead in
this matter. You Chairman ~ the Leca Advisory
Board which before has called together he law
yers of thu district for not dssnllae service are nat
urally the 30 take The lead In your district. Ne
suggest as FIRST step that you again call upon your
associates for cooperation IN order that tho work
be distributed and made ght possible for e9ch
individual. Next that you enlist such forms OF puh-
liclty at your disposal that beneficiary IN
community In need of assistance Will have excuse
20 seek IL outside Of your ranks Thirdly that you pro-
coed 70 aid grRluitousy all henencares unable without
assistance 10 prepare their claims and that YOU
huger require t. Lastly that You send the American
4 Bar Association No i7i2 Eye Street n w Washington,
Ahe, name of every claim agent pension attorney OF
pher person known by you 10 be violating the spirit oi
the war Risk Insurance Act IN the manner above de-
\ scrbed.
Local Legal Committees Of tho State Council OF De
Tense Home Service Section the Red Gross already
engaged IN giving free LEGAL advice TO drafted men
their dependents should OF course be utilized in carry
/ lng out the work herein sugges ed
COPY OF the War Risk Insurance Act Is enclosed
Very truly yours,
JOHN LOWELL
Chairman Special Committee for War Service
That Is a seahing arragnment Of the would-Be wal
risk insurance nronteers and also wholesome advice "a
| all. war risk insurance benenoaries.
ANY beneficiary who employs lawyers, an agent OF
pension attorney after reading that letter Of warning
and advice deserves 10 suffer peounary loss n is oC
plain for any person with ordinary common sense tc
fail TO understand it.