The Washington herald., 1919-01-01

board. by using the existing ma
chinery throughout the country. has
provided trade schools. colleges and
many industries where the men can
receive vocational rehabilitation
Cooperation has been arranged be-
tween these various governmental
agencies so that today many men
requiring re-education receive their
practical vocational training during
the convaiescent days in the hospi-
tai and may be assured Of an inde-
pendent position in the future. Be-
fore the war there were only ten
or twelve occupations considered
suitable for the blind. Industrial
engineers working for the American
Red Cross Institute for the Blind.
under the direction Of Lieut. Col
Bordley, have found approximately
one hundred ana eight occupations
which the blind individual, after
short intensive training. can carry
on efficiently.
over at Fort McHenry General Hos
pital may be found classes in print
ing, telegraphy. motor mechanics.
carpentry, architecture. engineering
Z
hospital resembles a large manual
training school, professional school
and grade school combined. Every
class has its quota Of disabled men
ana every man is working gaining
more and more confidence in his abli-
lty to make good even though his
body has been damaged somewhat by
the war
As result OF the reclaiming Of the
disabled soldiers a new viewpoint has
been attained by the medical profes-
sion. by various educational agencies
I by both industry and labor. and by
I many legislative bodies. The prob
lem Of the disabled soldier is being
solved. Our greatest efforts must now
! be directed to secure the same bene-
fits for the disbled from Industry.
In the army several million dollars
have been set aside Sor the recon
struction and rehabilitation Of the dis
abled soldiers. on an estimate that
/ there would be approximately 5000 OF
! these men each year OF the war need
ing reconstruction and 100 OF these
would need vocational training Com
pare this with the meager appropria-
tlons allowed for the reclamation OF
the disabled employes-the soldiers OF
our great industrial army Of whom.
on the lowest estimate, there are AZ
least 10000 disabled by disease and
accident in industry each year who.
need physical reconstruction. and at
least 10000 Of these need training il
new and better occupations.
What of Our industrial CmsusItfe.
II the casualty list from industry
could be printed every day in oui
newspapers the people Of this country
would be appalled, at its size. In one
year from accidents alone It is over
eight times as large as the entire
Casualties among our troops on the
battlehelds in Europe.
| We have no records to show the
number who are killed or disa bIed as
| a result Of occupational diseases and
diseases partially traceable TO work
| ing conditions. but these undoubteifv
are even more shocking Each wear
adds a quarter OF a million men to
the total number OF incompetents who.
on account OF disease or accident. are
prematurely thrown on the scrap hear
because their hsndicsps prevent them
from continuing at their old occupa-
| ton
| A few industries salvage these dis-
aoled and make them efficient and in
J
employees easy jobs where they can
make living, but the very softness
OF the job robs them Of all incentive
and the bitterness engendered from
dying ambition adds to their incom-
potency, so that many OF these DRIFT
into despair. With proper training.
their full mental energy and remain
ing physical capacities could make
them highly efficient I'm much more
gainful vOcations. Other concerns SET
tie with their injured worzmen when
they are legally responsible and then
dismiss them. They drift from one
job to another. constantly dropping
into lower scale. until finally Jney
relinQuish all effort to work
This casting Of valuable workers
needIessly on the scrap heap must
cease. Industry must blaze the tran
in this conservation and reclamation
OF human life. The prevention Of &C
Cidents. industrial hygiene and ssnl-
tation, adequate medical and surgical
care for the sick and injured employee
adequate compensation during periods
OF disability, and better living ana
working conditions for all employees
are the proven methods which will
stop this human wastsge.-The Ma
| tion's Business.