davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-05

"one OF the things l was told when
came TO Washington was that the
Hearst papers were the board .
enemy and were looking for oppor-
tunities TO make sensational attacks
and were not disposed to be helpful,
| was shown the articles. which you
had written as evidence OF this
charge. read them carefully ana
made inquiries along the lines they
indicated. l coon found myself in ac-
cord with them and am glad TO say
they helped my vision. They were
helpful-as well as critical .
Lamkin did not hesitate 20 adopt
suggestions-I had made to his august
predecessors. To the disabled man, a
cold shoulder personnel To-day II is
a. glad,hand organization
The change in atmosphere was or
dered. by Lamkin. The Hearst papers
showed the necessity for il il the
boards work was. to. be saved from
failure.
A year ago persons not employed
by the board sat in Judgment on
cases. One represented employees and
the other organized labor. In every
one of the fourteen districts these
poseurs, whose appointments were
sops to the element they represented.
delayed the game Half OF them
were not fitted by education. training,
or experience to decide these cases,
They never saw the disabled, they
never had the time 10 study the pa
pers in the cases. They were abso-
lutely unnecessary.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-05

surance Of future usefulness and hap
piness.
Doctors Of the army and Public
Health Service have sometimes dis
agreed as to whether or not a man
had a disability. Usually this Ques-
ton arose IN cases OF tubcrculos is.
Lamllin says that any man who has
tuberculosis is handicapped. In
StructiOnS hav" been sent out to give
the man tn. benefit Of the doubt and
approve him for a years training, in
to be able II aETe" in their diagnosis
Of the mans condition. This is an
other instance of the boards growth
ia human understanding.
The American Legion and the
Veterans Of Foreign Wars and other
service organizations have a cooper
atinG duty with the board. Some
men. placed in training in shops or at
work in shops after training. have
refused to conform to the rules Of the
place. Their defiance has had a bad
effect upon other worllmen.
Employers, in some cases, have
come TO the conclusion that they will
not be bothered with service men
either as trainees or employees Thus
the prospects Of the many are in
iured by the unruly few. II is the
case Of the bad apple in the barrel
The service organizations should up
hold the board in its efforts to dis
cipline this class of trouble makers.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-05
Why bubble?

The aspirations OF "A man are now
considered. too \ year ago We told
of the haneful effect Of policy
which took no heed Of the ambitions
of mon, but squelchcd them in the
grip of rigid tests.
Lamkih cited a number OF in
stances to me Of the appeals to him
of boys with high aspirations from
the decisions Of local supervisors
who had interpreted too literally the
medical reports. On" was a young
man who worked as a stcnographer
during the day and intended to at
tend law school in the evening.
He went into the military service
within few months after ne arrived
in Washington. Tho law school had
not opened The medical officers
opinion was that he could go back
to his former occupation. as a
stenographer. If he had been a
lawyer he would have suffered vo-
Cational handicap and could receive
training
The medical officer was asked to
rul" II the man was entitled to re-
ceivc training under Section >. The
ruling was that he would have been
II he had not been a stenographer.
man was approved for a course in
law because il was in line with his
previous ambition
Why bubble about it? If a man is
entitled to full training awards on
one ground, why not'le him take the
Kind he wants, il il is physical and
mental possibility for him to do SO .
That was the position of the Hearst
papers year ago. 1t has been ap-
proved by the board.
1t is pleasing to hear the head OF
the board Mr.. Lamkin. say this.
Training il feasible il employment
Is feasible. Only through thorough
training can a mans handicap be re-
moved There are two big reasons
for giving training to disabled man.
"A trained man is worth more to
society than an unframed one. He
made his sacrifice for the Government.
1t is his right to have what is left OF
him made as efficient as possible
Sooner or later. II may be, he will
not be as employablc as man who
has not suffered a physical disability
unless he can more than Offset his
nfirmity by skill that comes through
training.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-05
ses and Director amkn Work Wonders With U.S. Vocational Board

individual may be given, ali Of which
is TO be done under the direction Of
the medical officer IN charge.
ut Is my judgment that II We were
10 withdraw from Marion or any
other hospital. il would only be .
short time until We would have to re
enter In order TO preYeDt just cTiti-
cism for our lack OF providing the
proper facilities to furnish the train
ing these men should have.
I'm regard TO the work I'm the
Soldiers Home al Dayton and Other
soldiers homes where mixed cases
are found, our work has gone beyond
the experimental stage and we are
now funciioning in very satisfsc-
tory manner.
Since the organization OF thess
training c@nters other duties than
merely training have been delegated
10 the stan in the way Of furnishing
statistics and information to ~ DIS
tfict Offices and 10 the central office
IN what seems TO be very salts.
Factory manner, but IL Is requiring
more clerical force than was original
ly contemplated. and this should not
be chargeable to vocational training
proper.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-05
Without Trucking

That was one Of the contentious
OF my former series OF articles. These
useless adjuncts were discarded by
Lamkin in short order.
The Federal board does its work
now without outside assistance ard
without trucking TO any organiza
ton, 1t takes all. the credit and all
the blame now.
A year ago all final decisions as
10 training were made in Washing
ton. That resulted in piling up the
mountain Of cases which caused so
much delay and confusion. That
rule was nothing but a courtesy to
the rulers of the board in Washing
ton. 1t was a concession to self
conceit 1t did not make for eff
cheney or justice. The Hearst papers
said so. 1t was a shocking thing to
say then, year ago. But it is not
the rule now, and has not been for
several months.
Under Lamkin the districts make
all the decisions. They decide the
training, the place of training. and
they follow him through training
and into employment. They even
hear the appeals OF boys who object
TO decisions in their cases. Only the
very few cases of second appeals. or
petitions for final reviews of cases,
now go 20 the adjustment board at
Washington. | suggested as much
year ago.
There We're heaps OF paper work
in every case year ago. Much of it
was silly and senseless. 1t made a
maze in which the disabled man be-
came lost. That was pictured in the
Hearst papers. Since then the fold
ers and the files have been purged of
this stuff, the form sheets cut down
and several cut out. thus conserving
time and energy and avoiding irri-
tating delays.
A year ago Toys preference as
to vocational training did not
amount to much and there was no
regularly established method of APP
peal if he was declared Ineligible for
training. Those were not oversights:
they were evidences of indifference.
But that is all changed now. and
changed in the WAY this paper and
it's associates dema nded.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-05
Experimental Center

Some months ago recommended
that an experimental communirv
center should be established in each
OF the fourteen districts in order to
see whether or not il was a practiCs
thing for the Federal board 10
furnish teachers and conduct schools
particularly for Glass , men. or for
men who are In placement training
and need special instruction in order
to more perfectly mt themselves for
their job, and, in addition. to care
for any men who might be designated
as Section men. but, for reasons be-
yond their control, are unable I"
leave their homes.
1T was not contemplated that in
the community centers any men
should be cared for who were draw
ing compensation from the board
that is. their So training pay. but TO
meet the requirements of the other
men. We have at the present time
fourteen such centers established.
However, they are not distributed
into each OF the fourteen districts.
The result of this effort has been
that we have at present fourteen
community centers with thirty tcach-
ers. and 43l men in training. In
most of these the community has
furnished the school rooms"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-05

81 am elghty-three years old and | doc
tored for rheumatism ever rince came out
OF tho army over fifty years ago" writes
T. r. Ashelmsn. Like many others,
spent money freely for so-calicd cures
and have read about Uric Acid until
could almost taste it, could not sleep
nights or walk without pain; my hands
were so sore and stifr | could not hold =
pen. But now. as If by magic, am again
in active business and can walk With es,.
surprised at the change"
HOW 1T HAPPENED.
Mr.. Ashelman IL only one o: thousands
who suffered Cor tears, owtag to the gener
al belief Of the old, false THEORY that ''Ur.c
Acid causes rheumatism. This erroneous
belief induced him and iegions Of unfor
tunatc men and women 20 take wrong
treatments You might Jn.i as wei a..
and get rid Of your rheumatism. neuritis
and like complaints. by taking trcatmenu
suppos cd to drive Uric Acid nat OF your
blood and body Many physicians nn6 sea
enti-'s now know that Ut.c Acid never o
never can and never VII cause rheumatism
that 1t IL "a natural and necessary Constitu-
ent OF the blood; that " IN found in every
now born babe; and ihat without 1t We
could not liy"i
some folks, who have an aiong bstn LED "a
believe in tho old Uric Acid humbug. II
tooK Nj. Ashcmau Guy years TO hud out
N" true cah.c OF Eis rheumatism, o'net
d.sorn.rs, 81, tcev"r h.s ttrcnsin FROM
now being iSt~ituicd ,rcN b. an auth Jrify
who devoted o'''r twenty Gears ~ no sUich.
,ac STUDY ~ his rarttcuar ir9ao'e,
NOTE VI any reader - Tho Times
Wishes the book that rC,cH's ir'sc f1cta ~.
gsrdinr ~" tru" C.u." aud "ut" 80 rhou.
natienl. facts that wee o,or!ooktd ny do.
tors ana gctrutiets for rod'uri post 80
~ S,na a POST ,Tts, rd =, l"t,- :" "
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-05
Evans Report

The hospital units have been
small. which has made it Impossible
for US to furnish personnel with suf-
the best work. This cannot be over
come until the men are concentrated
into larger units.
The private sanatoria have been
used largely by the Bureau of War
Risk in placing patients who were
not able to be accommodated IN the
Public Health hospitals. Up to Sep
TENDER we had provided vocational
training in thirty-six private sanato-
ria, with fifty.nine teachers and ST.
men in training. We have had to On :
counter the same difficulties In regard
to space and the small numbers of
patients in these hospitals that we
Health hospitals.
The recent effort upon the part
OF the Bureau of war Risk and Pub
lie Health TO ccntralize the men in
larger units will enable us to over
come this trouble, providing that un-
der the pressure OF bed space they
are not led to forget IL is Just as cs-
sential in well-equippcd institution
TO make provision for prevocational
ana vocational training as " IL 10
provide for any other phaS, OF tho
efforts that are put forth TO restore
mon
I'm tn" soldiers homes our carly
cNp"ricrC" promised our most sue.
c"ssiul cnirrrrisc. However, ii rc-
cent arrangement attn the EutCau
%. War R,sk and sue management "
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-05
Opinion Varies

1t is understood that men will be
segregated In homes in accordance
with disability. Take. for example.
the home which has been designated
for the tuberculous at johnson City.
Tenn. We now have 40 or more ex-
service men in training at that home.
Perhaps physical examinstio
would establish the fact that one
third OF these could and would be as
signed 10 the home, on the grounds
that their LESSONS had not sufficiently
healed to, justify them in being dis
missed.
prob ply be classed as arrested cases.
havi9g been arrested for /. sufficient
length OF time TO be engaged in train
ing undsr'medical supervision.
AS yet there seems TO be a lack
OF unity in opinion as TO how to best
meet this situation, A recent COM
munication from DR.. II. A. Pattison
urges the board to equip its shops
and provide for suitable training on
the grounds that all the men will be
retained in Johnson City for a num-
Der Of months after their LESSONS
have healed TO permit OF sufficient
time elapsing TO insure against q
possible relapse. During this period
DR.. Pattison, who is medical field
secretary of the National Tubercu-
losis Association OF New York City.
together with those of the Federal
board who arc interested in voca-
tional training, feel that 1t is very
important that facilities be provided
to supply this training.
DIR. G. J.. Bells. however. In a
recent communication, outlines a
plan whereby occupational therapy
shall be done by individuals who are
skilled in this work and furnished by
the Federal board. and that some
prevocational training be provided
for the men before discharge from
the hospital. He expressed a decided
preference for the idea that all vo-
cational training proper should be
done off the reservation of Soldiers
home. and suggests that the Federal
board establish a school adjacent to
the soldiers home. where these men
can take their training and at the
50 me time be under medical observa-
ton. DR.. Bells Is medical director
and superintendent Of the soldiers
home at Johnson City. an institution
that is now being devoted entirely to
tuberculous ex-service men Of the
recent war.
II IL my opinion tHdt tue opJectS
to be attained are identical in each
OF the views presented. but the
practical methods of accomplishing
what is desired are at variance. 1t IS
my personal belief that the logical
thing to do is fot the governor Of the
Soldiers Home to erect the shop
buildings. such as were under con-
temptation some time ago. and in ad
dition to these buildings add a suf-
ficient floor space to accommodate
at least four school rooms.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-05

United states and saw no overseas
service, who got no further than a
training camp and who IL hurt while
on duty there or cOntrac a disease
which IL a handicap, can be trained
by the board for new civil employ
ment.
Provision should be made for the
training OF the widows and orphans
whose husbands and parents were
killed in the war. The man would
have supported his wife and given
his children an education had he not
given his life 10 his country.
Now the widow has to support the
home She should be trained TO
make the most out OF her business op-
portunities and To take the place OF
her husband as an Garner; 10 be able
TO give her children the education
they would have had and TO prevent
their being obliged TO sacrifice their
ambitions through the necessity OF
becoming bread winners.
How to handle epileptics IL a big
problem. There are two ways, one
10 place them In exclusive institu-
lions where training Is certain to be
given and the other In to give them
training that is feasible outside OF
the Institutions. The board prefers
the latter. II believes that segregat-
ing tho men in large groups EN-
phasizes their disability and tends to
aggravste their trouble rather than
TO alleviate II.
As soop as these men are dis
charged the board would like 10
place them in training, either in IN
.titutions or in placement training,
under competent medical supervision
or with an employer who understands
the mans case and under such per
sonaI supervision and assistance from
the board as will enable him TO realize
TO the fullest his remaining ability.
These figures ARE interesting:
From July 10 September ID the
total registration of applications in
creased $4,000. while the pending
cases decreased in the same time
10000 This shows that there Is no
falling off as yet in the training
crop and that the machinery for
handling il Is working smoothly.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-05
Bad Features.

The spot light of Hearst publicity
of year ago disclosed the following
object ionable features:
That the boards doctors were too
fussy and assumed privileges as vo.
cational. advisers too often;
That too much was made of cold
paper briefs and too little attention
given to the man himself:
That mysterious codes OF the
the laws of Congress:
That too heavy q bureden OF proof
was placed upon the boy;
That delays. could be avoided if
common sense could take the place
OF conceit;
Tha local offices were nothing but
collecting agencies and should have
power to handle cases from contact
through training and into employ
ment;
That training pay for men and al
lowances for dependents were dis
gracefully paltry;
That the policy which refused
training until man had proved he
was unable to return to his old job
was in insolent contravention OF the
purpose of the law and causing a
great deal Of suffering;
mat SeCtlOn IalulnR, WHICH
gave a man tuition and nothing but
his partial compensation with which
to support himself was "A cheap make
shift
That the board had violated it's
plain obligations under the law. had
repudiated the promises of its publ
cations distributed by the million
among the disabled in camps and hos
pitfalls. and by its general muddled at
titude toward the whole question was
creating a feeling OF distrust of their
Government among the American vic
tins of the war.
II is a pleasure to record the great
change that has taken place Practi-
cally all those Objectionable features
have been wiped out IL in worth
while to tell of the new procedure
and the new vision.
Today in every district there is a
contact unit, in most instances head
ed by an ex.service man whose duty
1t is to find every man discharged
with a disability and secure for him
all the evidence necessary to show
his right to training. The RESPONSE
blity rests not upon the man but
upon the contact unit to secure this
evidence. The four things necessary
are: Honorable discharge from the
Service disability incurred in the
service. that the disability Is a vo-
cational handicap, and that training
is feasible.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-05
Summary of Work ;

In the following summary of the
boards work. Section = training
means an unlimited course with the
most generous pay, while Section j
means free tuition and books only
from the board. the man TO support
himself on the compensation re-
ceived from the War Risk Bureau
awarded according to the rating OF
disability.
Total eligible. Section .. 1885
total net registration. 2I2.I64; com
pleted training, Section >, ,6l3; Sec
tion 3. 1876: Section g. 4; total, 1888:
men now in training. Section =. 3s,lSO
Section 3. 4.579: Section q, 80: total,
1856.
To the number now in training
should be added 1.l91 men in train
ing in hospitals who are not included
in these figures. making total OF
men in training on September Is OF
JO.O5l There are 521 eX-service stan
members on the board and 42S who
are not eX-service men. The board
takes the position that where an ex-
service man is qualified he should be
given preference.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-05

ment and has final and full authority
to give him such training prepara-
tory to employment as in his judG,
ment and in the judgment of the man
lis best suited to him.
year ago such thing was i'm
possible. There was too much di q.
vided responsibility. too many petty
section hands to add paper weight to
cases and huking placement di-
vision to BUCK: -
District offices are sim headed by
the districts vocational officer. He
has two or more assistant district
vocational officers. one of wnom is
in charge Of section which acts in
a supervisory capacity. but never, in
an executive. capacity. in the train
ing of men. Another assistant i II
general charge of the local office
forces to see that they are function
ing properly and that necessary rec
ords are kept and filed.
There is a records and files OFFICER
and assistants for each district Of
flee, also a chief clerk who has
charge of all Government property
and the financial transactions with
the men. That is the executive side Of
it,
Take the training to the man,
ago That is what Lamkin has done.
The present theory is that the local
office supervisor. who is in direct
contact with the man, is to CONTINUE
adviSement from the time the man
has been declared eligible 10 the
time no is returned to employment. to
counsel with him. to see that he gets
proper care and medical attention, and
to act upon the information which he
has OF the man rather than upon the
Information he gets from a letter or
survey of the man by someone else
some distance away
The local Offices were opened for
three purposes-to get into immedi-
ate and close contact with the man,
because he could be more satisfac.
torily and economically followed up
in his training. and because more OPP
portunities could be opened for ira in
ing than could be opened by mail or
from the district office. The board
now has 125 local offices. in prac-
tically every State.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-05
CHAPTER vi.
Training in Hospitals.

Another view of the picture is the
training OF men who have to have il
brought home TO them-the men in
The public health hospitals, private
sanitoria. soldiers homes and COM
munity centers. Little is generally
known about that.
The man in charge OF that work
for the Government is Lieut.. Col
Horace NJ Evans For many months
during the war he was. chief of the
division Of reconstruction and as
signed to the office OF the surgeon
general of the army
Colonel Evans tells the story in
the following statement written for
the Hearst papers:
I'm view Of the fact that about SO
per cent of the army hospital popula-
ton had been taking advantage of
some form of training while in the
hospital. ii became early apparent
that, unless these men should suffer a
loss after discharge from service by
not connecting this work up with ad =
ditional training and a future voca.
ton. it was necessary to establish
in public health hospitals and other
institutions such training as would
best meet the requirements OF men.
considering their physical condition.
There were several conferences with
the Public Health Service, and a plan
was worked out whereby the FEEDER al
Board would furnish educational di-
rectors and teachers for the men in
these hospitals.
The planning and actual work
began practically in February, 1920.
During that month we had three CEN
ters in operation, with five instruc-
tors and ninety-five men in training.
The work has grown so that at the
end OF September we had places with
"SS teachers and 1850 men in train
ing. One of the greatest obstacles in
the way of training in the Public
Health hospitals has been lack of
space. Most OF these institutions
have been crowded to the limit. and
it is almost physical impos sibility
to provide suitable space for voca
tional training. This. however. has
been met in the best way possible in
twenty three public health hospitals,
where We now have twelve teachers.
with 1867 men in training "'