Evening journal., 1921-01-10
MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 1921
HOW Long Musr THEY suFrER?

nEbANyAREANS who read the daily newspapers are
~ cognizan OF the fact that The American Legion has
presented to the President the Prcsdent-elect and
through them, to the American people formal memorial
directing attention to the suffering the shameful neglect
and injustice" which the legion asserts marks the ad-
minstraton OF affairs OF disabled veterans OF the
World War.
VThs is matter OF most vital interest TO every Amer
lean Immediate attention necessary. Something, and
that wholly adequate just must be done now Not
tomorrow but today Altogether too much time already
has been lost. Dying men cannot be saved after the
last breath has departed from their bodies; srcwng
graves does not the stain OF suffering.
shameful neglect and injustice.
Thousands OF disabled veterans including those in Del
aware according TO the American Legion memorial, are
waiting and have waited for compensation for their in
Juros Thousands have waited for months for an op-
poriuny to re-eslablsh themselves self-sustainng
members OF society by vocational training Thousands
need OF disqualification and the government has no
hospital facilities available for them"
What better evidence OF suffering, shameful neglect,
and niustice?"
The legion continues:
AFFLICTED and penniless veterans have been driven to
refuge Of almshouses and ials"
Is that the way treat the flower OF American
after It has returned disabled from the batteelds
and longer is needed TO guard lives and
homes? The legion furnishes the proof that such is the
treatment
Many have died. continues the memorial "and n inn
mediate relief is not forthcoming win die, destitute
without proper medical care without compensation with
which to obtain 1t, abandoned by the country they
served"
That is country the legion speaks OIL II Is our
treatment OF which they complain
The legion rightly complains because Though ogsla-
tive and administrative deficiencies provisions made
the disabled have failed to reach the in most
urgent need OF help. The result has been
Delays in awarding compensation.
The failure the legion IT, may be traced % the
separation OF the three needs OF the men Medical treat
ment, vocational training and financial support The
Board for Vocational Education, and the Bureau OF War
Risk Insurance. have the other two There is much delay
and considerable Fiction occasioned by thus dividing the
II is not the efficient way Of doing IT, It multpies red
tape and expense
The legion advises:
The functions OF training treatment and compensation
must be combined. The disabled has a right 10 dea
with agency, which shall take OF his physical
vocational and financial restoration. Tho Bureau OF Wal
Risk Insurance the Federal Board for Vocational Educa
on and the Public Health Service as far as II has tC
deal with disabled veterans must be co-ordinaed anc
an three placed under a common control"
Bills providing for these reforms have been introduced
in both houses OF Congress- No other proposed egisla
ton is OF greater Importance and other stands il
greater need for the immediate attention OF the members
Upon every American rests the duty OF urging egisa
ton to end-a oncethe suffering the shameful neglec
and injustice" OF which the American Legion complains
in its memorial.