Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-03-24
Education for Soldiers Widows
BY Frederic J. Haskin
wv ASHINGTON, March 19.--Education
w for work, at government expense

promised for about $4,000 Americans, in
Guiding l2,C00 women, by measure which
has already passed the senate and is said to
have excellent prospects in the house
This IS the KenyOn-Fess bill which pass
ed the senate on January 81 of the current
year and now lies awaiting action by the
house Of representatives. Representative
Simeon P. Fess, of Ohio, whose special pro-
tege is this bill ATTEMPTED in vain to get
quorum together to discuss it during the last
few days of the closing session Of Mr.. Will
sons administration.
This bill offers vocational! training Under
the supervision of the federal board of vo-
catonal education to the widows and orphans
of Americans who lost their lives during the
period that the United States was actively
engaged in the world war ma also to Ameri-
can citizens who served IN Allied armies, that
is, with the Canadian, British, French, Italian
or Belgian forces. In other words, the United
States government is planning to help the
wives and children Of heroes fit themselves
for Jobs whereby they earn their bread
and butter and our men who did their duty
under foreign, but Allied flags will, in this
way not be deprived of their privileges as
Americans.
It is estimated by the federal board that
at least 10000 Americans who had enlisted
in Allied forces will thus become eligible for
vocational training and 1909 widows and
6 900 orphans These figures are conserv-
ative estimate compiled by the war depart
ment, and it is possible that further i1vestl-
cation now being made by the various district
offices of the federal board will increase
this number. Among prominent individuals
especially interested in the compiling Of these
statistics is Miss Helen P. Mccormick, of
New York City, who is assistant district at
torney of Kings county, New York, and chair
man of the Catholic Big Sisters of that To-
cality Miss Mccormick is personally search
ing the records of the local heroes in
order to find especially how many women
and children in Americas greatest city will
be entitled to such training.
What Women Are Eligible
In order for widow or orphan to be ELI
gibe for this training it will be necessary to
prove that her husband or father has died
since April 7, 1917, as a result of injury or
.disa Utility incurred, Increased or aggravated
while in service traceable, in the opinion
of the board, to origin during his period or
service. No widow can receive these benefits
unless she commences course of training
under the supervision of the federal board
prior to January 1, 1926, nor in the event of
her remarriage. Moreover, application for
such training must be made to he district
office of the federal board within eighteen
months after the date that the bill passes
and has become law.
In the case of an orphan, vocational train
ing shall only be furnished between the ages
of fourteen and eighteen years. OF course,
at this time, most of the orphans of soldiers
killed during this war are from two to five
years of age. The provision allows, however,
that provided application is made by the
childs guardian before the eighteen months
have elapsed, the child will receive the train
ing when fourteen years OF age. The reason
that the age limit is set in this manner has
been explained by Mr.. Monroe, member Of
the house committee education, to be
based on the ground that the public schools
take care of these children up to the age of
fourteen. 1t is expected that in these cases
an arrangement will have been made by the
federal board of vocational education and
the educational authorities of the various
states for carrying on the education of the
children in accordance with the ruling OF
this board.
In cases of the men who served with Allied
forces, the bill states that every person in
tbe military or naval forces of any ally of
the United States in the late war, il a citizen
of the United States Immediately prior there
to, and having resumed citizenship ii lost by
reason of any oath or obligation taken fer
the purposes of entering such allied service,
who, since April 7, 1917, has resigned or has
been discharged or furloughed therefrom
under honorable conditions, having disabil-
ity, in the judgment of the board, constitut-
ing a vocational handicap, of or degree of
10 percentum or more, incurred, increased or
aggravated while member of such forces,
or later developing such a disability trace
able, in the opinion of the board, to service
with such forces shall be furnished by
such board, where feasible, such course of
vocational rehabilitation or vocational and
general education as the board shall pre-
SCRIBE
Includes Medical Treatment
1t will be especially noted that ny the above
quoted passage in the Kenyon-Fess bill new
latitude Of eligibility is given in that to be
eligible, man may have either 10 per cent
disability or vocational handicap. Former
ly the provision was for the yocationally
handicapped only. lii another section of the
bill this expression also includes men who
served with the United States military and
naval forces.
Another very Interesting feature of the
bill is the provision stating that all medical
treatment which any widow, orphan or ex-
service man may require while receiving
such training be provided at the expense of
the government. AS no provision of this sort
has been made by congress, such organiza-
lions as the Elks have raised special funds
to take care of doctors bills incurred by
men who have received or are now receiving
such training. However, as most of these
military organizations are closing all
their war work, most of their funds have
ceased to be available for this purpose.
Another section of the bill provides that
every person electing to follow a course
shall, while following the same, be paid
monthly by the said board, from the appro-
priations made by the congress for carrying
out the provisions of the vocational rehabili
tation act, such sum as in the judgment of
the said board is necessary for his Tor herr
maintenance and support, and for the main
tenance and support of persons dependent
upon him, if any In no event can the
sum so paid an adult, without dependents,
exceed 500 month, or, with dependents,