Imperial Valley press., 1921-10-10
BUT FOUR Of
| RAJ NEEs
Wish TO
LEAVE
Men Well Pleased
With Conditions in Valley.
WOrthington Looks for
Trouble From Washing
ton.


At mass meeting held Saturday af-
ternoon in the American Legion club
rooms, Major Louis T. Grant, district
manager of the 18th district, United
States Veterans Bureau, outlined
plans whereby all trainees who are in
the valley and who have not already
made investments and whom physi-
Ieians have said would be benefited by
+ the climate here, are to be moved il
they desire to 90 elsewhere. In set
speech, he outlined the general plans
Of the national body under Colonel
Forbes.
Following his address, Walter Kib-
bey. who acted as chairman Of the
meeting called upon the trainees pres
ent to say anything they might wish
to Major Grant or State Commander
John R. Quinn Of the American Legion,
who was also present. This brought
perhaps twenty trainees to their feet.
One by one they cited their individual
cases.
Practically all Of them stated that
they want to stay in Imperial Valley,
although four said they wanted to get
away, and they were rather critical Of
the methods to bring them here. They
all had caustic comments to make on
the McDevitt plan and questions to
Major Grant brought ont the fact that
the McDevitt plan is not to be put in
operation in Arizona nor anywhere
elsesa
sIt developed that there are about
thirty trainees who have already made
approved contracts on individual pro-
jects and who wish to remain. There
are thirty more, most Of whom have
verbal agreements for lands to be
bought on long time payments, but the
contracts have not been approved. The
latter will not be allowed to remain
here unless the medical status Of tn.
trainee is such that his health will be
improved and he wants to stay.
The situation has changed in many
respects from the status Of week ago
when it was reported that all trainecs
were to be moved regardless Of con-
tracts and because Colonel Forbes is
alleged to have said Imperial Valley
is not a fit place in which to live"
After the meeting, T. ]. Worthing-
ton, member of the State executive
committee of the American Legion,
said that he believes the California
officials Of the Veterans Bureau are
sincere in their statements and want
to do the right thing by the state but
that he fears Washington is burcauu-
cratic and therefore does not think the
fight ended with today's meeting. He
expressed confidence in Major Grant;
but looks for trouble still from Wash
ington.
Major Grant in his speech explained
that the Government plans special
training center on Government owned
lands where the trainee will not be ex-
plotted and that the general orders are
to prepare the men for such cenler.
He said among other things:
Special conditions have been Great
ed here, however, by reason Of certain
of cur traipees having made invest
moNts ofa substantial nature on m
dividhal sites. These men, after their
cases have been individually gone over,
will, be treated as exceptions to the
rule, and some arrangement ade,
equitable and just to them, and to
their investments, whereby they can
il. co7tiduca under tyi'nirg " III. ut
!. IS ~ themselves or their vested
rights, UP to such a period Of time
where the government feels 1t stands
obligated to rehabilitate individuxls
and particular cases. All others win
be transferred to other agricultural
vocational training centers to comp..el
their courses"
Contender Quinn, among Qrhsr