The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-12-29
SOLDIERS MEMORIAL
HOSPITAL MATTER

The opposition that has developed .
to the proposed soldiers memorial I
hospital seems TO be based entirely
upon misunderstanding or else upon
deliberate Misrepresentation With a
thousand Oklahoma ex-service men
already in hospitals outside the state
and with another thousand tubercular
veterans needing treatment, with no
hospital to receive them, there is lit
tie room to question the need of a
government hospital in Oklahoma,
But the opponents of the measure /
raise two general objections. First .
they say that the required approprja- !
ton is ill-advised at a time of gen.
eral depression when the need OF
economy is so great; second, that the
passage Of the hospital bill will in
volve compromise with the state
administrations program for a raid /
upon the state treasury in the inter-
est Of other building schemes.
An appropriation Of s4G,OOO,OOO has .
already been made by congress FOR
taking over service hospitals. This .
is not available for purchase or for
purchase or for construction, but it
can be used for rentals. The bureau
in charge of the fund has proposed
that il the state of Oklahoma will
build the hospital the government
will lease it, paving, as rental. one
tenth OF the cost each year for ten
years. The government will equip
and operate the hospital. At the end
of the ten-year period the government
will either renew its lease or will
turn the hospital back 10 the state,
10 be state property after having
been fully paid for by the U. S. gov
ernment. What the Legislature will
be asked to do is to appropriate funds
to build the hospital and to carry the
until reimbursed In ten
annual installments. The appropria-
ton would not be effective until
contract for lease was entered into
by the United States so no risk would
he taken by the state. II may be
argued that the appropriation would
involve increased taxes but the gov
ernor states that there are now avail
able state funds sufficient 10 build
the hospital so no additional levy
would be required.
The friends Of the hospital measure
have not entered into any combina-
ton with other interests, and they
will not. They submit the proposition
on its merits. not entagled with other
plans. The idea Of n d
hospital was conceived by ex-service ,
men and had no other purpose than
the care Of sick and injured comrades.
Any suggestion that the plan was in
spred by contractors or other selfish
interests is false. The state conven- ,
ion " tho American Legion. after
going fully into the question OF hos. ,
reached the conclusion !,
hat there was no other way 10 give i.
adequate and proper care 10 the ey- ,
soldiers. These veterans realized :
better than most people the serious
hess OF the condition OF their disabled
and they felt that at this
lime no one has u stronger claim
ipon the state ana the nation than
he man disabled through his service
n the world war. The plan they sub
nit is practical. as well as unseifish
They would no more countenance graft :
'r politics in the hospital matter than
hey would have proven disloyal 20 {
heir country when they We're wearing I
he uniform. The bill 20 be intro
iuced, as revised. provides that the
hospital commission shall consist of
he governor OF the state as ex.officio
'halrman. and the state executive
committee Of the American Legion. ,
This committee Is made up OF ex- 5
service men. selected by their com. v
ades from the several congressional
iisirlots. They are entitled to con-
idenee. for their service In tho past !
has proven their loyalty To their J
country and their devotion 20 It's in !
ercsts
When you hear some one knocking
ipon tho hospital proposition. iool; h
'arefully and soc if he is not himself '
attempting 10 play politics AZ the q
'Npensc ~ tho men who were dis 8
lbled In the service Of his country
while the anu-hosptsl person was az
home. safe from the dangers Of scrv-
oe. Chandler News-Pubhclst.