Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1919-02-20

aShingtO0.-PreSldent wilson, in q
letter to the federal board of vocation
al education, has called attention to
the fact that the government stands
squarely back of it's disabled fighting
men. His letter follows:
This nation has no more solemn OBJ
legation than healing the hurts of our
wounded and restoring our disabled
men to civil life and opportunity. The
government recognizes this, and the
fulfllment of the obligation is going
forward fully and generously. The
medical divisions of the war and navy
departments are rendering all aid that
skill and science make possible; the
federal board for vocational education
is commanded by law to dew lop and
adapt the remaining capabilities of each
man so that he may again take his place
in the ranks of our great civilian army.
The cooperation and interest of our ciu-
zens is essential to this program of duty,
Justice and humanity 1t is not char
ity 1t is merely the payment of a draft
of honor which the United States of
America accepted when 1t selected these
men. and took them in their health and
strength to fight the battles of the ma
ton. They have fought the good fight;
they have kept the faith, and they have
won. Now we keep faith with them, and
every citizen is. indorser on the general
obligation.
Under authority and direction of the
congress, complete arrangements for
rehabilitation of our disabled men have
been made by the federal board for vo-
cational education.
According TO estimates made since
the announcement of the total Ameri-
can overseas casualties, there are more !
than 100000 disabled men under treat
ment In the hospitals in this country |
and overseas OF this number more |
than one-fourth have been disabled by |
disease. Contrary to the general idea
of the casualty list, only very small
of the total have suffered
disabilities which resulted in the am
putation of limbs.
To Help Every Man.
1t is not merely the men who have
lost arms or legs that the government
is offering to retain and restore to self
activity, but the federal
board offers its aid TO every man. re-
CARELESS of his disability, who Is en-
titled to government compensation.
The board realizes that the many thou
sands of men who are suffering from
the effects Of shell shock, gassing
shrapnel and gunshot wounds which
weaken their systems, tuberculosis,
bronchitis, heart and nervous diseases,
Ill may be unable to re-enter their for
ner occupations To all these men, as
o those with more evident handicaps,
he federal board is extending oppor-
unity.
Within the next few months several
thousand disabled men will be train
ne under jurisdiction of the federal
'oard and ut the expense of the gov
Those who had been actual
y placed in training were taking
curses In wide range of trades and |
including % different oc-
upations Industrial schools, colleges, |
fices and shops throughout the coun |
~ are being utilized so that most of
he men are being trained close to
heir own homes. Thirty-one percent
{ the total now in training are taking
courses, IL per cent are
,arning the various phases of agricul-
ire, farm management, poultry rails
e, dairying, etc. Others are studying
w, medicine, banking, and some are II
cling trained in engineering, teleg- IL
lphy, tailoring, window trimming and Il
accounting, store manage lie
ent, machineshop practice, meat In IL
lection and traffic management. is
Every soldier or sailor enlisted, in IL
icted, or drafted into the military or II
wal service of the United States who lh
suffering from disability not due to Is
S own willful misconduct may be en- is
led to compensation under the war is
surance act. II is his duty to pre-
Mt his claim for such compensation
order that II may be passed upon tn
the bureau Of war risk insurance. Nc
2 can procure full information by I'M
plying TO the war risk insurance Of ma