The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-09-22


Gus campaign to obtain proper hos
pital facilities in Oklahoma for sick
and disabled veterans of the late war
has been begun by the American
legion through it's state officers and
POS local posts. Working through both
the state and federal governments the
veterans organization hopes to have
a large general hospital as well as
the use of the Rainy Mountain In
dian school near Gotebo as u special
hospital for tubercular patients.
Every member of the Oklahoma del
egation to congress has been asked to
lend his aid to the movement and
make vigorous demands on the war
risk bureau for the establishment of
the hospital under the S46,000,O00 fed
eral appropriation now available. Sug-
gestions have been made that the
Shawnee Indian school or the Ponca
Indian school of Ponca City might
be used temporarily.
In case of failure to obtain the
federal aid the American Legion will
ask the next State Legislature 10
make an appropriation of sl,000,0 900
for such a hospital. Governor Robert
son has been asked to recommend
such a measure to the legislature in
his message A canvas of the candi-
dates of both major political parties
has been begun to ascertain the at
titude of candidates for the legisla-
ture on the matter. They have been
asked to make public announcement
of their views.
Hundreds of complaints have been
received by the legion on the climate,
sanitary conditions and treatment to
which disabled Oklahoma veterans of
the war are subjected at Texas hos
pitals. A personal investigation was
made by representatives Of the Okla
homa City post which revealed con-
ditions to be very poor. DR.. A. r.
Lewis, state health commissioner. de-
ploresl the federal order which forces
Oklahoma men to a poor climate for
hospital treatment and forbids the
use Of Oklahoma hospitals.
Report of Hospital Committee.
At the state convention Of the AM
erican Legion held at Tulsa on Sep
tember 9th and 7th a report of the
present conditions and making definite
demands was unanimously adopted
The report follows:
When the Clouds of war hovercd
over our land, and American ships
were being sunk at sea. and a ma
ton that had long enjoyed prosperity
and peace was aroused by the call to
arms, no state in the union responded
moro promptly or nobly than did Ok
lahoma. One hundred thousand of her
young men severed the ties that bound
them 10 home and 10 loved ones and
laid their all upon the altar of their
country. In every camp throughout
the country were Oklahoma boys
whose service was marked by quiet
devotion TO duty and supreme desire
to bring the war to a victorious end
as quickly as possible.
When the task was done, the sur.
vivors of Ok,ahoma's splendid soldi-
cry returned to their homes and their
work. Thousands Of them broken in
health, and all OF them at disad-
vantage In their struggle for a live
llhooi by reason Of their sacrifice
OF business and educational opportun.
tiles while serving their country. The
government owes 10 the sick and
wounded debt OF gratitude that it
con never repay and that cannot be
measured in terms of dollars and
cents. 1t cannot do less for these
men than to provide adequate hos
pii9l facilities ANA insure TO them
tender and skillfu, care and every
taing that may help to rehabilitate
incn and restore them as near a
normal condition as may be humanity
possible.
We demand the immediate rescind-
ing OF conioint resolution No. |. which
requires that our sick and disabled
comrades In order 10 avail themselves
Of the treatment offered by the gov
eminent must be sent from Okla
homa to state where climatic con-
dit!ons are detrimental to their COM
fort and recovery, to q hospital lacking
in efficiently, equipment and inclination
to give proper treatment to these
cases, thus removing them to a great
distance from their homes and loved
ones and the sympathetic attention
ot thelr lamlly physicians,
We demand. as temporary meas
ure, the return of our unfortunate
comrades to the state and the use of
such hospital facilities as are avail
able in Oklahoma.
We demand the early establishment
by tho Federal government of tub.
crculosls hospital at the Rainy Noun
tain Indian schoo', near Gotebo. 10
the end that our comrades who arc
in need of treatment for tuberculosis
may have proper care while there is
ye, chance for them to be cured.
We demand the establishment in
Oklahoma by the federal government
OF general hospital.
We demand Of the Oklahoma dele.
cation in congress an Immediate con.
oerted presentation of the forego
ina demands to the War Risk In,
surance Bureau.
We regard the appropriation Of tho
pititul sum OF $4,000 90 by the las,
legislature FOR the cnrc Of tho sicl
and wounded in Oklahoma as who'll,