The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-12-10
DECENTRALIZATION Of
u n.
WOUNDED SOLDIERS
Provisions OF Smith-Scars
Act
AMERICA LEADS OTHER NATIONS
Employers Told To. Hire Men on Pure
ly Business Basis, and Public Ask
Cd Not TO "Pamper" Returning
Soldiers-Speaks Mt John Marshall


George c. Greener. division direc-
/, tor of the federal bureau for voca-
tional education, yesterday afternoon
in the auditorium Of the John Mar
shall high school outlined the work
undertaken by the government for the
rehabilitation of crippled soldiers. a
number of employers and social
workers heard the talk.
The speaker told of what the gov
eminent is doing for discharged as
abled men. The work, he said. IL the
outgrowth OF a public demand mace
several years ago that the federal au.
thortties take some dehnited stand
with regard to training the workers
OF the country.
The present movement, he said.
should be Of more than usual inter-
est to Richmond people because OF
the fact that one Of its former fore
most citizens. DR.. J. A. c. ChandleS.
one-time principal Of the city schools.
Is prominently identified with 1t IN
his ofYicial capacity as a member OF
the federal bureau for vocational ed
ucation in Washington.
Mr.. Greener told Of the Smith Sears
act. which provides for the rehaoiit.
tation Of disabled soldiers. Crippled
men," he said, ARE not to be relega-
ted to the scrap heap. A disabled man
need not be a handicapped man
A money gift. he thought, is not
an adequate reward for any sacrtfce
a soldier has made for his country.
The greatest gift the government car
give to HIM he said. is the opportun-
ity to learn, the opportunity to gain
skill
NO country has legislated on As
broad a line as has the United States
Tor the welfare of its wounded de-
tenders az e result of the Smith
Sears act ne said. GERMANY has
failed to meet the emergency. Franco
has met it only in part, in the matter
cf men who have one or more limbs
amputated Italy has failed to face
It, England has $4,000 committees ~
work on the problem. but he likenen
them to the person described as All
dressed M and no place to 60 me
British az yet have had no emporium
i.y to put their plans into practice,
so deeply absorbed are they In mat
ters pertaining to the great war Can
ada probably has gone further than
any other country in the matter. From
her we have received the greatest as
sistarce in The matter Of shaping our
legislation for this work
High Points OF law
+ Mr.. Greener touched on what ne
said we're the more significant points
az the th-Scars law ANY man, in
Guiding enlisted men and officers. dis
charged from the army since October
G. 1alr who has received or lis en-
Titled 10 receive benefits of war risk
insurance is entitled 10 course OF
training. IL unable To enter gainfui
occupation or former occupation. inc
Law not only prescrthes but proSides
such training and also for placement
~ the man. Tho ret specifically dele
gates 10 III. haard the placement OF
"a rehahylitatci soldier in position
for which ho has received training
The government also assumes the eA-
peusn of such training and payment
10 the ex-soldier while learning OF
not less than ss5 per month. In nd-
ditiou the government. VIII continue
10 look out for the mans family dur
iur such frainiu. the same as 1t did
while he was in the army
Ths government said Mr. Crcennr,
Wont busfsi srh0oss ar rars sehnn1s AND
s,ssssss.ss < sssst4*u sttsses az mgA exist
throughout the country II will ne Inn
possible. he said to train all OF the
wounded men in schools that are
available The LARGEST technical
school In the country he said teaches
sr-vey disclosed that there are iea
sersrate and distinct trades for
which men must he trained. There
fore he said. the government must
go 10 the employer and arrange 'or
the trimming of men In industrial es-
Establishments
The aun,he OF men who will he re-
turned to the United states MANNED
and who will have to he trained Tor
useful occupations is larger than has
generally been believed. he said He
nlared the number at so 600. These
ne said. will have 10 be re-educated,
rctrsincd and absorbed into the coun-
trv.s industry. The government. ne
said. can in no wise handle All ot
them The only way the problem
car be solved Is by employers ana
oth.r AGENCIES Interested cooperating.
Mr.. Greener asked the people OF
rjchmona not to "pamper" the re-
turning soldiers. Tell them" he SAID.
..what the government is going to
do for them I'm the matter OF COM
nersatien and education"
He told the employers 10 hire them
on a purely business basis.
Don't give a soldier jon nc
said. ..if II won't hold over when he
il through his training. or he may be
reduced to a pencil seller"
He asked for a square leal for both
tho man and the employer. He does
not want an employer to hire man
q nthe basis OF charity or sentiment.
you win do hin, an injury, and you
will do yourself and the government
harm" he said.
Hank Goes Home.
Assistant Attorney General j. D.
Hspk. who was injured several days
ago at Seventh and Broad streets
when he was struck by an futomo-
bile. js getting along nicely at his
home. Mr.. Hank left the Virginia
hospital SUNDAY where he had been
lan aNridclaf Whiin