The Weston leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 189?-1946, 1921-01-07
NEGLECT OF DISABLED MEN
Leslon's investigation shows Lack ei
Attention TO Men Who Suffered
Terrors Of War.

Investigations by the American Le'
gion reveal shocking conditions of NILS.
management and neglect In the gov'
ernments treatment OF disabled vet.
Grams. according to reports OF the I.e'
glon's findings made public by u. w,
Galbralth, Jr.. national commander.
The Legion has launched n nationwide
fight for the correction OF these condi.
tlons, which Mr.. Galbralth has de-
scrlbed as IA blot and disgrace on
the name OF our country"
More than 10000 veterans are stlll
In hospitals suffering from wounds and
lnf,rmltlcs suffered In their country's
service. Many OF them have been there
since they were brought hack from
France ON the hospital ships Their
number Is Increasing at the rate OF =.
500 q month, due mostly to the develop.
ment OF tuberculosis among men who
were gasscd Statistics show that
more than 10000 men were dis
charged with disability rated higher
than 10 per cent. Experts agree that
the peak In disqualification viii not
come for five or ten years, Yet, gov.
ernment hospitals at present are filled
TO overilowlng and even contract ar
rangements are not being made rap
Idly enough to care for the ever rising
tide Of disabled men whose conditions
demand disqualification.
Certainly. there Is no lack OF vii.
llngness on the part OF the American
public to do all In human power TO aid
those who paid the price for the vic.
tory, The same experts who estimate
that the peak OF the problem will not
come for Ave or ten years say in the
meantime $1,000. .000 600 must be spent
In Its solution. The government has
not been nlggardly. More than $780,
600. 900 already has been spent. Mis-.
management is the gist Of the Legions
charge. Lack OF vision and foresight
and the eyer-present governmental rcd
tape Is blamed as responsible for the
death Of disabled men before aid could
reach them, for the incarceration OF
disabled in jails and insane asylums.
and the charity wards of public hos.
pltals where they received the same
treatment as paupers.
In addition TO It's activities In advo-
eating reform In the conduct OF the
government bureaus, the American Le-
gion has dedicated Itself TO the tre-
mendous task Of "humanlzlng" the
ireary lives of 10000 disabled buddies
who are patients In the hospitals all
over the country.
Every Legion post In this country
has been assigned to the definite job
Of taking care OF a certain hospital
where former service men are patients.
The women's auxiliary also will be
modified to share In the work and
rivic and phllanthropic organizations
In the hospital toyns will be enlisted.
There is also the dangerous posi-
DIlity that the hospital patients, re-
day after day with no interest
other than their physical condition,
viii become bitter against the country
which once honored them and which
has cast them aside. In
several hospitals, Bolshevist agents
Iave distributed inhammatory litera-
ure by ingenious methods, OF which
IN example Is the inclosure Of the
printed matter in bouquets Of flowers.
In one case discovered by Legion in.
the propaganda was en-.
titled: you fought for America and
what did you get out OF III" And in.
Iced, 1t does seem that the sick vet
iran got little out Of It except a short
,erlod of popularity. the consciousness
" having done his duty and a MANNED
md diseased body.
"The 100000 who are their bud.
lies," said the Legion's national COM
nander, "and are banded together In
he American Legion, are determined
hat the hundred million shall not for.
ret. In this work Of giving the dis
lbled man a fair deal and making him
,ontent we shall ask the cooperation
II every loyal American. We fought
ogether and we will stick together"