The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-11-01
Nearly 400, 900 Missrs Already Quit Work
Under Orders ..., '"&>~; Il! s:Szoion Officials
ASKS EXPLANATION
FROM GOV. CLEMENT
Vermont Legion Convention Incensed
Over Governors Letter to
Or. Thorn.

doubtedly found himself yesterday al
ternoon in the most uncomfortabl
position of his public career, when
sitting before the entire representa-
tive delegation of the Vermont brancl
OF the American Legion assembled il
the armory for the first Vernon
State convention of that organization
the governor was called upon in NJ
uncertain terms by the ex-soldiers ot
his State to explain a certain letter
bearing his signature in which were
statements considered by the legion
representatives as highly insulting to
men who wore the uniform of the
United States army in the recent
world war.
Seated on the platform facing the
convention, Governor Clement was
Fcalled upon by II. Nelson Jackson of
burlington, who has headed the Yer
mont branch as temporary chairman
since its organization to retract the
statements conveyed in this letter de-
scribed. A storm of applause from
( the floor of the convention greeted
the action Of Major Jackson. while
not voice was raised in defence of
the governor.
Governor Clement had already adj
dressed the convention, before any
mention had been made of the leIfer
| in question. In a voice which shook
with emotion, standing before the
hostile eyes Of the eX-service men of
the Green Mountain State, the COVER
nor tried to explain his situation His
explanation seemed not very salts
factory to the convention until at the
direct question of Major Jackson,
Governor Clement said that he would
write another letter denying any in
tent in the first letter to place slur
upon Vermont soldiers or any other
legitimate wearers of the uniform of
the United States.
The correspondence which caused
all the trouble is given below:
The National Committee for Mental
Hygiene,
so Union Square New York City
Oct. 20, 1919.
Mr. Jospeh A. Fountain,
1873 Colchester Avenue.
Bennington, Vermont:
Dear Sir:
As secretary of the American Leg
ion for the State of Vermont7 | am
taking the liberty of sending you a
copy of letter recently received from
your governor in reply to the inclosed
letter which was sent to every COVER
nor in the Union.
The reply of Governor Clement,
which was distinctly different from
those received from any other State
in the Union and so unsympathetic to
any suggestions that night aid in the
restoration of the men who have
given their best to the service, leads
me to forward copies of our cores
your chapter.
Very truly yours,
(Signed) D. A. Thorn.
Psychiatrist in Charge OF Reconstru
ton War Work.
October 10. 1919.
Honorable Perciyal W. Clement
Montpelier, Vermont.
Dear Sir:
Among its other activities the ma
tional committee for mental hygiene
is cooperating with the United States
Pubic Health Service and the Ameri-
can Red Cross in following up the
three thousand cases which were sent
to Base Hospital III, A e. F., during
the war These men are all cases
of what is known as war neurosis or
shell shock They are now back
home. many of them having been dis
charged without receiving any dis
ability. AS a group, they prefer en-
ployment TO any sort Of governmental
compensation
In reply to letters which we are
sending them we find that they are
having difficulty in readjusting them
selves to their old civilian occupa
tions. If their former work had been
indoors or else around factories or
mills where there is considerable
noise the men now simply cannot
return to it successfully. They be-
come weak and tired are easily un-
neryed, and, on the whole, suffer
great hardships. Many of them, be-
cause of their war experiences, are
unable to support themselves in their
former occupations These men are
in no sense insane nor even queer,
but just simply tired out, almost per
manently tired out. They are writing
daily asking if they can find outdoor
work, such as overseeing, inspecting,
light farming, driving and the like
am writing to inquire if there are
any employment agencies in your
State which would be interested in
finding work for these men. 1t is, Of
course, rather an important point to
make that the sort of work desired
by man from 23 to 80 years or there
abouts, implies a good salary, especi-
ally during these days when the cost
of living is so high. Further if there
be any such organization in your
State, does their policy include the
payment of railroad fares and ex-
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