Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-01-09
american Legion Weekly

.ar..-a AS0AA AASHkOA CCAiS/ "-E
1t was as it should have been that
the American Legion's first concerted
demands on congress for immediate
constructive beneficial soldier legisla-
ton should be made in behalf of the
wounded and disabled. The circun-
STAGES, which will remain a part of.
the lasting traditions of the Ameri-
can Legion, were dramatic. ),
C<ngressmen and high officials
charged with care of disabled soldiers
and sailors me at the capitol with
the Legion's representatives from ev-
cry statestn the union. Sixteen. men
batte1a.were presented by the Legion
to tell how they had Jared under the
provisions for their care that had
been made by a grateful republic.
Now these sixteen men were not
specially selected by the Legion. They
were brought in from a military hos.
pital that lies almost in the shadow
of the great capitol dome. They told
their stories without complaint, with
the simple directness of the American
fighting man whose courage has been
front line. And except that their
wounds had been dressed and that they
had been given food and a place to
sleep, these men had reason to feel
that they had been abandoned blythe
United States government.
Promises. yes. They went to war
with promises. With more than prom
ises-with a written contract in the
form Of wal risk insurance that If
they were manned in. the hell of &C
ton they would be helped, through
the period and processes Of recon.
struction. But as to the realhation-of
those pledges-well. the promises
have now been renewed, and in the
presence Of the American Legion,
and they are going to be kept this
time. Not only the old pledges. blu,
new ones suppiementfng the old con-
tracts and based on equity and just
ice.
There were a number of very in
spring speeches from members of
congress after these. wounded veter-
pressure Of peace treaties and rail-
road legislation did not figure in these
speeches a it had figured in earlier
and more Informal discussions. There
were assurances that the Sweet bill,
which takes a considerable step to-.
wards aiding the disabled veterans
would be put through as a Christmas.
present. Which was done a few days
later-and which may fittirgly be
SET down among the lasting trad1tl0nS
Of congress in place Of the incident
Of the forgotten disabled men brought
from a hospital that lies almost in the
shadow Of the capitol dome.
And there were positive assurance
that 2 grateful nation would continue.
to express in substantial form its
gratitude and sympathy for the
thousands OF disabled men" A SPLEEN
did intent which we feel certain will
be carried out; but we would prefer.
in Justice to the disabled men. to set
aside the sentiment. even that Of pass
ing the Sweet bill as a chriFtmas
present.
There is no element of either graft
tude or sympathy rightfully involved
in the problem Of restoring the dis
.abled veteran to usefulness and pro-
ductivity. The matter Of proper voca-
tional training, care and compensa-
ton is a hard and fast matter OF,
equity and Justice. 1t is an equalt1a-
ton as between the few who gave far
more thar their share and tho many
who gave only their share or less
than their share when the common
household was threatened by the
wildfire OF German a~utocracy.
It is in this Highland not many
sentimental light N show OF graft,