The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-04-15

/ mediate concern is for the crippled sol
diers and those deeply needing the
helping hand Of government Con-
scious of the generous intent Of con-
gress, and the public concern for the
crippled and dependent, / invited the
services of a volunteer committee to
| inquire into the administration Of the
bureau Of war risk insurance, the fed
eral board for vocational training and
| other agencies of government in car
ing for the former soldiers, sailors and
marines of the World war; The COM
mittee promptly reported the chief diff
ficulty to be the imperfect organiza-
ton of government effort, the same
lack of coordination which binders
government efficiency in many under
| takings, less noticed because the need
for prompt service is less appealing.
Welfare Of Former Service Men. .
/ This committee has recommended
| and | convey the recommendations to-
you with cordial approval. that all
government agencies looking to the
welfare of the former service men
should be placed under one directing
head, so that the welfare Of these dis
abled saviours of our civilization and
/
direction. 1t may be we'll to make such
an official the director general of SER
vice to war veterans and place under
his direction all disqualification, voca-
| tional training, war insurance, reha-
utilization and all pensions.
| The immediate extension and utiliZa-
tion of the governments hospital ia
| cilities in army and, navy will bring re-
i n 1. <~ex&
planned of, and the hospital building
program may be worked out to meet
the needs likely to be urgent at the
time of possible completion.
Involves Expenditure of Billions.
The whole program requires the
most thoughtful attention of congress
| for we are embarking on the perform
ance of sacred obligation which in
wolves the expenditure of billions in
| the half century before us. Congress
must perfect the policy of generous
gratitude and conscientious admins
1 tration must stamp out abuses in the
very beginning. We must strengthen
rather than weaken the moral fiber of
the beneficiaries and humanize all eff
forts so that rehabilitation shall be at
tended by experimentation.
| During the recent political canvass
the proposal was made that depart
ment of public welfare should be ere
ated It was Endorsed and commended
so strongly that venture to call 1t
to your attention and suggest favor
able legislative consideration.
Good Citizens Sought.
Governments obligation affirmative,
ly to encourage development Of the
highest and most efficient type of citi-
zenship is modernly accepted, almost
universally Government rests upon
! the body of citizenship; it cannot
maintain itself on level that keeps it
out of touch and understanding with
the community it serves. Enlightened
governments everywhere recognize
| this and are giving their recogniza-
| tion effect in policies and programs.
| Certainly no government is more de-
| sirous than our own to reflect the hui
man attitude, the purpose of making
better citizens physically, intellectu-
! ally, spiritually To this end am
convinced that such a department in
| the government would be to real value
1t could be made to crystalize much of
the rather vague generalization about
| social justice into solid accomplish
ment Events of recent years have
!, profoundly impressed thinking people
with the need to recognize new social
forces and .evolutions, to equip our citi-
zens for dealing rightly with problems
of life and social order.
Maternity Bill Recommended.
In the realms of education, public
health, sanitation, conditions of work
ers in industry, child welfare, proper
amusement and recreation, and elimin-
alton of social vice, and many other
subjects, the government already has
undertaken considerable range of ac-
tivities. / assume the maternity bill
already strongly approved, will be TAX
en- up promptly, thus adding to our
manifestation of human interest. But
these undertakings have been scattered
through many departments and bur-
eaus without coordination and with
much overlapping of functions which
| fritter energies and magnifies the cost.
| Somewhat related to the foregoing
human problems is the race question
Congress ought to wipe the stain of
barbaric lynching from the banners of
Ia free and orderly representative de-
mocracy. We face the fact that many
millions of people of African descent
are numbered among our population
and that in number OF states they
constitute very large proportion of
the total population
1t is unnecessary to recount the diff
ficulties incident to this condition, nor
| to emphasize the fact that it is com
EDITION which cannot be removed. There
has been suggestion, however, that
some of its difficulties might be ameli-
GRATED by humane and enlightened
/ consideration of it, study of its many
aspects and an effort to formulate, il
not policy, at least a national atti-
| tude OF mind calculated to bring about
the most satisfactory possible adjust
ment of relations between the races,
and of each race to the national life.
One proposal is the creation of a com
| mission embracing representatives of
both races to study and report on the
entire subject. The proposal has real
merit. l am convinced that in mutual
tolerance, understanding charity rec
ognition of the interdependence of the
4 races, and the maintenance of the
| rights of citizenship lies the road to
/ righteous adjustment
| 1t Is needless to call your attention
to the unfinished business inherited
from the preceding congress. The ap-
preparation bills for army and navy
VIII have your early consideration.
Neither branch of the government
can be unmindful of the call for re-
dueed expenditure for these depart
4 mentS of our national .dofousa The