Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-08-18

1 VIZ q "SCh loI LII " iIS d Clly iliilh 1 route. He lost an arm and a leg,
 and after course in re-education school subsequent to preliminary
 training at the convalescent hospital, he obtained position as a metal
 turner and filter at $75 a month.
 Quoting Lord Shaughnessy Mir. McMurtrie said that "the occupations and training reveal astonishing tal ents which even the man himself did mot know he possessed" The success | which is being achieved in Canada in
 dealing with the problem of vocational re-education, MH McMurtrie stated, | has been inspiring to those who have
 the same work in hand in the United ' States.
 The federal board for vocational : education, with an initial appropria- / tion of $2,000,0 ,0O0, is authorized to take
 over all schools and institutions nec- i essary to re-educate the crippled sol dier or sailor and, in certain cases. to build new schools. Thus far, the preliminary work of rehabilitating the war cripples has been undertaken largely at the Walter Reed general hospital in Washington under United States army supervision, and at a dozen or more similar institutions , throughout the country.
 Basketry, typewriting and simple kinds of work are given the patient to keep his mind clear and bright
 and give him an interesting life. Major Gen. William Gorgas, surgeon general of the army, it is understood, heartily
 approves of this method The Red Cross institute here, however, will
 not take a, man for training until he
 has been discharged from the military or naval service. It's plan contem-
 plates the employment of re-educa- tion advisor in every military hospital where the needs of the patients as to learning new trades or profession
 could be studied, and the men will be
 given every advantage of selection after practical tests.
 "The public has too often confused the idea of a cripple with that of a beggar," said Mir. McMurtrie. "The resulting reaction has done a great injury to the cause of the self-re specting disabled man in regarding him as a subject for charity but not for trade training and employment.
 '"To be sure there is historical pre- cedent for this attitude for in past decades and centuries various peo- ples have condemned the cripple to the status of roadside beggar or at best employed him as jester or court fool And in our experienue there is justification in the view we have seen many cripples at street corners, mak- ing public exhibition of their deform
 ty or amputation and soliciting alms of the passers-by. The number of ic in pO to the great body of physically han dicapped men who are usefully en- ployed. but the few have vigorously advertised, have made a considerable impression on the susceptibilities of the community, and have reaped a profitable harvest. bank teller reported recently the case of a crip- pied beggar who deposited in a sav- ings account. after paying his living expenses. $40 a week.
 '"rhat the beggar cripple has been permitted to ply his tyade is a great injustice to the disabled men of character and independence. The practic eshould 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 public should have no eX cuse for associating their prospective 'career with that of a mendicant. Onl the contrary every influence should be brought to bear upon the public to show that physical disability is an obstacle, but easily superable with character and ambition; and that the cripple may be made into a useful and productive citizen.
 "In several cities there have been inaugurated campaigns to drive the crippled beggar from the streets, and give him the alternative of product i've employment or stay in jail. Such efforts should be initiated inj every community and preserved it un- til the unfortunate conception of the cripple shall exist no more. Such activity may we'll be undertaken as first step in preparation for the re- turn of our disabled soldiers and sail ors."
 Frank R. Rigeler, a one-armed and Eone-legged man, loaned to the Red Cross Institute by big Missouri cor poration, to act as it's Industrial agent during the war, in amplifica- ton of MT. McMurtrie's statement said that cripple came to the Insti- tute recently to get pads for the stumps of his legs, both of which had been amputated. He was a beggar, and had been forced on the streets because he could not get employment.
 "We persuaded him to give us an opportunity of getting job for him. said MT. Bigler, "eXplaining that it was much more respectable to earn a