Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-02-18
HEALING THE HURTS OF men
DISABLED IN THE SERVICE
More Than 100000 Are Under Treatment Here and Oveseas-Po-
vision Made for Compensation and observation-disclosures
ment to Refrain and Restore Them to
Sef-Supporng Activity

Observation-Disclosures Wilson, in a
letter To the federal board of yocation
ul education. has called attention to
, the fact that the government stands
squareiy back If IT'S disabled fighting
men. His letter follows:
This nation has no more solemn OBJ
lEauon than healing the hurts OK e-i
wounded and restu ring our disabled
men 70 civil lie ana opportunity TIE
government recognizes tAls. and the
IlIt.'Weut OF the obligation Is SONS
forward fully and generously. The
medical divisions Of the War and navy
departments are rendering all aid tHa'
skill and science make possible, the
federal board Tor vocational education
Is commanded by law 10 deFiup and
adapt the remaining capabilities OF each
man SO that he may again take his place
la the ranks Of our great civilian army.
The cooperation and interest of our eitt-
zeus is essential 10 this program Of duty,
Justice and humanity. Il is not char
i,y 1t is merely the payment of a draf,
OF honor which the United States OF
America accepted when IL selected these
men. ana took them in their health and
strength 10 fight the battles Of the ma
ton They have fought the good rEIt,
they have kept the faith, and they have
won Now We keep faith with them, and
every citizen is indorser on the genera!
obligation.
Under authority and direction Of the
congress, complete arrangements for
rehabilitation Of oJs disabled men have
been made by the federal board for yo-
CatiOnal education.
According 10 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
percentage of the total have suffered
disabilities which resulted in the am
putation Of limbs.
To Help Every Man.
II is not merely the men who have
lost arms or legs that the government
Is Offering 10 retain and restore To self
supporting 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
all may be unable to re-enter their for
mer occupations. To all these men, as
to those with more evident handicaps
the federal board is extending oppor.
tunity.
Within the next few months several
thousand disabled men viii be train
ing under jurisdiction Of the federal
board and at the expense of the gov
eminent Those who had been actual
~ placed in training were taking
courses in a wide range Of trades and
professions, including y different oc-
equations. Industrial schools, colleges,
Offices and shops throughout the cOun-
try are being utilized so that most OF
the men are being trained close to
theif own homes Thirry-one per cent
Of the total now in training are taking
commercial courses, II per cent are
learning the various phases Of agricul-
ture, farm management poultry rails
ln-. dairying etc. Others are studying
law. medicine, banking and some are
being trained in engineering, teleg
raphy, tailoring, window trimming and
designing, accounting, store manage
ment, machineshop practice, meat in
spection and traffic management.
Every soldier or sailor enlisted, in
lucted or drafted into the military or
naval service Of the United States who
Is suffering from disability not due to
mis- own WiIlful misconduct may be en-
titled TO compensation under the war
insurance act. 1t is his duty to pre-
sent his claim for such compensation
In order that it may be passed upon
by the bureau Of war risk insurance.
He can procure full information by
applying to the war risk insurance Of
ficer at the camp or cant0nment, from
whom he may get bureau Of war risk
Insurance form J2G, which he must fill
out in order to prove his eligibility for
such compensation.
Government Pays Cost.
II it Is not possible to get in contact
with this war risk insurance officer,
the soldier or sailor should call upon
or write the bureau of war risk insur-
Ruce at Washington, stating his case;
N he should call Oh or write the dis
uict Office Of the federal board for
vocational education in which he is lo-
Gated.
IF the soldier or sailor is suffering
from a disability, he Is also eligible for
help by the federal board for yoca-
tionul education in securing employ
ment which help will be given him in
cooperation with the employment
service Of the department Of labor. If
he is eligible for compensation under
the war risk Insurance act, he is also
entitled to train,ng and placement by