The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-04-25
ELKS Will HELP
MOVE TO TRAIN
MANNED YANKS
Richmond Lodge to Take
Hand in Re-education of
Men Disabled in War.

The order Of Elks has branched out
In a new field Of work. Through the
appointment In every Elks lodge
throughout the country Of q special
committee known as the Soldiers
Friend committee, which will cooper
ate with the federal board for voca-
tonal education In the re-education
of disabled soldiers, sailors and mar
ines, an effort will be made to re-
habilitate disabled heroes Of the war
The following committee was ap-
pointed by Richmond Lodge No. 64s
last night:
Luther NJ. Feeger. c. A. Blair. W. w.
Keller. John +. Thompson and B. G..
Price.
The Richmond lodge win cooperate
heartily In the movement. 1t was an
nounoed Disabled soldiers. sailors
and marines. as wen as service men
who technically do not come within
the confines of the statute, are asked
10 got into touch with the committee
at once. Families Of disabled service
men are urged to inform the Rich
mond lodge Of members who will be
benefited by tho law.
Give Move Human Touch
The Elks' connection with this
great work will be primarily to give
1t the human touch. In many in
stances. too, the Elks will provide the
money for carrying on this education
n work. Wounded men whose cases
have not yet been finally passed on
by the War Risk Insurance Board are,
in many instances, without money for
Immediate expenses and for this rea-
son can not enter upon this vocation
al training All such cases will be
cared for by the Elks fund.
Thousands Of cases Of wounded SOL
diers do not come within the purview
ing at all These include those wound
of the federal act for vocational train
ed before the law became operative,
those not technically included under
It by reason of the character of their
disability and citizens of this coun-
try who were wounded while fighting
In the armies of the allies. All these
cases will likewise be cared for from
the Elks fund.
In addition to this, It will be the
business Of the Elks to get in person
al touch with these wounded men and
their families and urge them to take
advantage of the governments offer
of free vocational training, all ex-
penses being paid by the government
and the Elks.
Must Convince Men
But experience has shown that
these wounded heroes do not always
take kindly to this re-education. Some
times the men themselves, and more
often their relatives or friends, get
the idea that the country owes them
a living for what they have contribut-
ed physically to save It.
The Elks will make it their bust
ness to convince these heroes Of the
wisdom of fitting themselves to be
self-supporting and Independent, in
stead Of becoming objects Of charity
or compelled to live on the mere pit
lance of pension.
1t should be remembered that, re-
CARELESS of whatever earning capacity
these wounded men may acquire by
vocational training or re-education,
their right to pension will be in no
wise affected by their increased earn
ing ability. The economic value to
the country of this vocational train
ing for disabled men is declared by
men who have investigated its posi-
bilities as being almost beyond COM
putation.