The Washington times., 1921-06-30

to determine for themselves what the
boys must do" asked Senator Pom
creme.
"Yes. SIR" replied Miss Maple.
They do the thinking for the boys"
Senator Pomerene: "Do you mean
to say that that is the ruler
Miss Maple: 81 mean to say that
is the rule. so far as / can see. In
our position az teachers. the boys
had 10 come 10 us and we helped
them to plan for the future as far
as we could. They told us what they
would like 10 have. what they would
like to study, and we helped them
70 plan for the future so far as we
could"
Senator Pomerene: 'sDo I under
stand that II one Of those boys want
ed 10 prepare himself TO become a
school teacher. and some member OF
the Vocational Training Board said
that he had to be blacksmith, that
he had 20 be a blacksmith r'
Miss Maple: Yes; he had to be
blacksmith"
STUDENTS ARE DISCOURAGED.
Miss Maple told the committee of
interceding In behalf of one of the
disabled soldiers who had been max
Ing splendid progress in his studies,
but who was suddenly told TO dis
continue them and to take up a
course In vulcanizing. Il went to
the official In charge, who was
little Older than the boy himself,
and he simply said He will have
10 take that or nothing" some
of the men, she stated, had never
been placed. while many misplaced
have given up the work altogether.
Others have plodded on and tried
to do what they cared nothing for, !"
she said. $50 have made but little
progress.
In some instances we have ruo-
ceeded in helping them by inter-
ceding in their behalf sr by writing
their local boards. but why should
these battle-scarred heroes, who
have faced and conquered the
enemy on the battIefelds OF France.
after months and even years of suf-
fering as a result, be placed In the
humiliating position of having TO
ask a mere woman to help them
nght for what they should have
been offered on the day of their dis
charge from the hospital7
So many Of the boys at the Fort
McHeHry Hospital were forced TO
take vuicanizing that she felt that
there must be a special reason for
IL. and upon Investigation found
that some OF the men employed ~
the Federal Vocational Board had
opened private schools In Baltimore
to which the disabled veterans were
sent TO take courses in vulcanizing.
These men, she stated. opened va
rious schools for which they were
paid $50 for each boy. and that they
made lot of money
"And II Is claimed that some Of
ficials OF the Federal Board were
Fronting from the financial returns
that came TO this manY' asked Sena-
tor Walsh. ~
"Yes. and this same man knows
that ] know IT," replied Miss Maple.
He did not deny it Mr. Lamkin did
not deny II. and everyone in BsltI-
more knows IT."
Senator Sutherland: How long was
the eourseT'
Miss Maple; six weeks"
When asked the name OF the mau
who opened the schools in Baltimore,
Miss Maple gave the name of IN
army captain, who was the head OF
the shop work at the Fort McHen-y
School Senator Pomerene requested
that he be summoned before the com
mittee before the Investigation Is
completed.
. II do not think he Is 70 blame 20
much. but I think the Federal Board
lis TO blame for doing that" said Miss
Maple.
Due to the men not being allowed
to take the courses that they want
only about 10 per cent OF them at
tended classes. she told the commit
tee, and initerates were forced 70
take courses In typewriting.
The committee showed special in
terest in Miss Naples testimony when
she stated that the school was moved
from the army hospital at Fort Me-
Henry to an old and deiapidated build
Ing in Baltimore, while the offices Of
the Vocational Board were IN a new
and spacious office building. whero
tirsre were more than one hundred
officials and stsnosraphers doing al
most nothing