Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-16
VOICES GRIEVANCES
AGAINST VOCATION
PLANFOR SOLDIERS
C. w. Wickersham Addresses
Conference of American
Legion Delegates.

Grievances of the ex-service men
against the governments vocational
training methods were laid before dele
gates to the American Legion confer
ence here today. by Cornelius W. Wick
trsham. New York. who. in speech
prior to the delegates visit to Congress,
demanded that definite and concrete
action be taken to relieve the situa-
tion."
Fewer than $500 Of 1So, 900 partially
disabled ex-service men have been able
to derive benefits from the present voca-
ttonal laws. Mr.. Wickersham charged.
He submitted statements of men now in
training, showing that they were re-
ceiving their maintenance fees irregu-
larly, and In some cases none at all,
as one OF the reasons the men entitled
of it,
From the information I have" Mr..
Wickersham said, at appears that the
whole thing is badly managed. Men
VINO desire to take the training are
misplaced in so many instances that
others are discouraged. Red tape is
twlned all about the oganization.
Cannot Live ON Pay.
There is general dissatisfaction
among the men because the mainte-
nance pay is SO small they cannot live.
They face the alternative of existing
half-starved during the training course
or sacrificing its benefits altogether,
To me 1t seems there is a lack of
interest on the part of those directing
the work. l think this explains why
been so bad. No attention seems to
nave been paid to the natural ability
OF the individual. They try to make q
good basket weaver out of a man
whose natural bent is toward electri-
cal work"
inspectors and advisers should be
CHOSEN from the ranks of the service
men, Tor in no other way could the
evident lack Of interest be over
come"
After calling Individually on mem
bers of Congress this morning to dis
cuss pending legislation affecting
FORMER service men. the legion dele
gates met again at the bureau of
war risk insurance to continue their
the guests of a number of members
OF the House and Senate at a dinner
in the Capitol restaurant.
Plan Rally for Tomorrow.
The big rally which will be staged
az Liberty Hut tomorrow evening by
the local organization Of the Ameri-
can Legion will! be open to the FAM
legion and to all former service mon.
according to an announcement made
by the District executive COMMITTEES
which met last night
The state commanders attending the
conference here will be guests Of
honor at the rally, and brief ad-
dresses will be made by National
Commander Franklin D'Olier, Depart
ment Commander q. Lester Jones Of
the District of Columbia. Commits
sioner Louis Brownlow and Brig. Gen.
William Mitchell, chief of the air
service.
The Sd Cavalry Band from Fort
Myer will play at the rally, and the
program will also include numbers
by jazz" orchestra, and sketches by
players from local theaters. Lieut.
Hollis E. DeVanney will direct the
chorus singing.
Convalescent service men from
Walter Reed. Naval and st. Eliza
beth's hospitals will be guests of the
legion at the rally, and the Red
for their transportation to and from
Liberty Hut.
Mrs. Anna E. Thompson Of Belleau
Wood Post, is chairman of the COM
mittee on decorations, and has OBJ
tanned a number Of flowers and potted
who served in the Navy and Marine
Corps. now members of U. S. S. Jacob
Jones Post and Belleau Wood Post Of
the American Legion. will act as
ushers.
National Commander D'Olier, accom-
panied by Department Commander
Jones of Washington, visited soldier
patients at Walter Reed Hospital yes
terday afternoon and was given an
enthusiastic reception when he adj
dressed a number Of the men in the
Red Cross house. It was the first
visit of the national commander to
the big military hospital, where the
legion has a number Of members.