East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1920-09-24
Disabled soldiers.

, The federal government shoulc
treat with the utmost consideration
every disabled soldier, sailor and ma
rine of the world war whether his dis
ability be due to ounds received In
1lipe of action or to health impaired in
service; and for the dependents of The
brave men who died in line of duty
the governments tenderest concern
and richest bounty should be their re-
quital. The fine patriotism exhibited
the heroic conduct displayed by Amer
lean soldiers. sailors and marines at
home and abroad, constitute a sacred
heritage recompensed fromthe treas
ury and the glory of which must not
be diminished.
The democratic administration wise
ly established war risk insurance bu-
reau, giving four and a half millions
of enlisted men insurance at unpre-
cedented low rates and through the
medium of which compensation of
men and women injured in service is
readily adjusted, and hospital facili-
ties for those whose health is impair
ed are abundantly afforded.
The federal board for vocational ed
ucation should be made a part of the
war risk insurance bureau, in order
that the task may be treated as
whole, and this machinery of protec-
tion and assistance must receive every
aid of law and appropriation neces-
sary to full and effective operation.
We believe that no higher or more
valued privilege can be afforded to an
American citizen than to become
freeholder in the soil of the United
States and to that end we pledge our
party to the enactment of soldier set |
Elements and home aid legislation |
which will afford to the men who |
fought for America the opportunity to |
become land and home owners under
conditions affording genuine govern
ment assistance uecumbered by need |
less difficulties of red tape or advance |
financial investment.
The Railroads.
the railrcas were subjected to fed
oral control as q war measure without
other idea than the swift transport of |
troops, munitions and supplies When
human life and national hopes were at /
stake profits could not be considered |
and We're not. Federal operation how
ever. was marked by an intelligence I
and efficiency that minimized loss and /
resulted in many and marked reforms. Il
The equipment taken over was not 1
only grossly Inadequate, but shameful
ly outworn. Unification practice;
ercame these initial handicaps and Il
provided additions. betterments and
Economies enabled II
operation without the rate raises that II
private control would have found ne II
and labor was treated with an
exact Justice that secured the enthu-
statistic cooperation that victory de- II
The fundamental purpose of
federal control as achieved fully and
and at far less cost to the
taxpayer than would have been the
case under private operation. Invest
ments in railroad properties We're not II
only saved by government operation,
but government management returned
these properties vastly improved in
every physical and executive detail. A Il
great task was greatly discharged.
The presidents recommendation of
return to private ownership gave the II
republican majority a full year in
which to enact the necessary legisla-
ton. The house took six months to Il
formulate its ideas and another six Il
months was consumed by the republi- Il
can senate IN equally vague debate. AS
a consequence, the Esch-Cummins bill /
wentto the president in the closing /
hours of the time limit prescribed, and
he was forced to a choice between the
chaos of a veto and acquiescence in
the measure sumbitted however grave
may have been his objections to it.
There should be a fair and complete
test of the law and until careful and |
mature action by congress may cure
its defects and insure a thoroughly ef- /
fective transportation system under |
private ownership without govern
ment subsidy at the expense of the tax
payers of the country.
Improved Highways.
Improved roads are of vital import
ance not only to commerce and indus
try but also to agriculture and rural |
life. The federal road act of 1916, en-
acted by a democratic congress, rep |
resented the first systematic effort of |
the government to insure the building |
of an adequate system of roads in this |
The act. as amended, has re-
suited in placing the movement for
improved highways on a progressive |
and substantial basis in every state in |
the union and in bringing under actu-
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