Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1918-08-22

To be sure there is historical pre-
cedent for this attitude for in vast
decades and centuries various neonlas
have condemned the cripple TO the stains
of roadside beggar or at best employed
MN as jester or court fool. And in our
experience there is Justification in the
view because we have seen many Clip
pies at street corners making public ex-
hibition of their deformity or amputa-
tion and soliciting aims of the passers.
by. The number of these beggars is
small in comparison to the great bodv
OF physically handicapped men who are
usefully employed, but the few who
have vigorously advertised, have made a
considerable impression on the suscep-
tibilities of the community, and have
reaped a profitable harvest. A bank
teller reported recently the case of a
crippled street beggar, who, after pay
ing his living expenses, deposited $40
week.
That the beggar cripple has been
permitted to ply his trade is a great
injustice to the disabled man of char
acter and independence. The practice
should have been stopped in the past
it is absolutely necessary that it be
prohibited in the future. For with the
expectation of our soldiers who will
return disabled from the front, the pub /
lie should have no excuse for associating
their prospective career with that of the
mendicant. On the contrary every in
fluence should be brought to bear upon
the public to show that physical dis
ability in an obstacle, but easily super
able with character and ambition; and |
the the cripple my be made into use
full and productive citizen.
Work or Go to Jail
In several cities there have been
inaugurated campaigns to drive the Grip
pied beggar from the streets, and give
him the alternative of productive EN-
ployment or stay in Jail. Such eff
forts should be initiated in every com
nunity and preserved in until the un-
conception of the cripple shall
exist no more. Such activity may well
be undertaken as a first step in pre-
oaration for the return of our disabled
soldiers and sailors.''
Frank R. Bigler, one armed and
,ne-legged business man, Cleaned" to
he Red Cross institute by a big Mis-
ouri corporation, to act as its indus
rial agent during the war, in ampli-
ication of Mr.. McMurtrie s statemen,
aid that cripple came to the institute
ecently to get pads for the stumps of
lis legs, both of which had been ampu-
ated. He was beggar, and had been ]
orced on the streets because he could
ot get employment
"We persuaded him to give us an
pportunity of getting job for him, - '
aid Mr. Bigler, explaining that it
Yas much more respectable to earn
wing than to be dependent upon char /
". We succeeded in placing him in a !
actory assembling the parts of whistles
t $12 a week to start. >
I'VE placed a one-armed man with '
he Empide Art Metal company at run 7
ing an emery band. He was raised
lree times in six weeks. He now re-
lives $24 a week. When his company |
IN out of material, he was not con-
,nted to remain idle, but came back
us to ask for another job. We placed +
i'm with the American Hard Rubber Y
mpany where he made good. This COM
my Immediately offered us jobs for so :"
g cripples. 1 can place every one l.
gged man in New York city in pro- q
table employment. The case of the
le- armed man is somewhat more diff Is
lit, but we can help him, neverthe- R
S.. ="