The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-07-06
new TRADES TO
Be TAUGHT men
INJURED IN WAR
Re-education Of Crippled Sol
diers and Sailors Now Being
Planned by US.
fBy Associated P.ess)


diers and sailors crippled in the war
are to be given every opportunity, in
addition to war risk insurance indeni-
/, nifty and pensions, to learn new trades
or professions in order that they may
resume their place Of usefulness in
civil life without the handicaps that
ordinarily surround a man deprived O;
arms, legs, sight or hearing.
B One OF the most interesting institu-
lions that has been established here
Z as result of the war. is the Red Cross
. Institute for Crippled and Disabled
Men. at 311 Fourth avenue, where four
schools. the nuclei OF others that are,
II Is said to be organized In Chicago,
st. Louis and other places, are now
I, under way teaching cripples the man.
ufacture OF artificial limbs. linotype
and monotype operating, mechanical
drafting and oxy-aceteline welding
2 These four local schools have a teach
Ing capacity for 800 men.
The recent passage by Congress Of
the Smith-Sears bill. providing an ap-
preparation Of $2,000,000 to be used in
: the discretion Of the Federal Board OF
\ Vocational Education contemplated,
K 1t is said. the elaboration Of the plans
\ which are now being worked out in
/. this city. Soon, 1t is thought, there
(. will be additional schools in many
& other parts Of the United States and
& other studies and trades will be adde d
{ to the list. The new law authorizes
q the Communicating OF private and
public institutions for the re-educa-
ton Of crippled soldiers and sailors,
3 and. when necessary. the building Of
3 new schools.
y Four trades were selected for the
New York school because they were
(, IN fields that were not overcrowded.
IS A soldier or sailor for instance, in
(. stead OF having to pay $3.50 to 5000 for
/, an artificial limb may procure one for
: $50. and If he desires. be taught to
:. make II himself, at the same time &C.
(. curing a trade that will pay him 81
TO IS a day.
Frank r. Bigler, cripple for 81
Z years and minus leg and an arm, Is
I the Industrial agent of the Institute
I which was founded a year ago by
: jeremiah Milbank with an initial en-
/ dowment Of $4,000 and building in
!, which to carry on it's work. Mr.. Big
: Ter comes from Kansas City, Mo-, his
z services being loaned by an industrial
corporation there, to instill optimism
and good cheer into the minds of all
returning war cripples.
Experts In Charge.
Douglas c. McMurtris, director Of
I the Institute, graduate Of the Mass
3 achusetts Institute Of Technology and
7 in charge Of the department of print
J ing at Columbia University, has made
study of the social and economic
Z reconstruction OF cripples for more
/, than eight years.
Mr.. McMurtris made it clear that
while the Institute has no official ar
rangement with the government auth
critics relative to the utilization of its
facilities in the rehabilitation of war
. cripples, that department being in
{ charge of Surgeon General William c.
. Gorgas, when soldiers and sailors are
discharged from the army and navy
hospitals then the Institute will offer
them every chance to come back"
Positions will be found for the men,
and. where they are unable to pay ex-
penses while learning their new trade,
funds will eb advanced them as loan
to enable them to continue their train
ing until competent to take a job.
The Institute, however, is a national
activity of the American Red Cross,
responsible to the War Council
through the Director General Of Mil
itary Relief, Jesse H. Jones. 1t is the
only non-commercial institution of It's
kind in the United States, says Mr..
McMurtris, and it's purpose is broadly
humanitarian, taking in civilian as
we'll as military cripples. 1t is not a
charitable institution, but intended to
be self-supporting.
Already the national authorities
have gone on record" said Mr. McMur-
iris, "as accepting without reservation
responsibility for the after-care Of
men injured in the service. The Sur
geon.GeneraTs office Of the War De-
partment Is now preparing to provide
. for wounded men, not only medical
and surgical care. but also the cura-
tive advances afforded by the sim ler
forms OF occupation. The government
IL further inaugurating vocational
training having as it's object rehabi-
litation for self-support. The govern
merit, however, is disposed to make
use of, under due supervision, such
private assistance as may be offered
and found OF value"