The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-02-03
NEGLECT OF DISABLED MEN
Lseion's investigation Shows Lack u
Attention to Men Who Suffered
Tsrrors Of War.

Investigations by the American Le-
gion reveal shocking conditions Of mis-
management and neglect In the gov
ernment's treatment Of disabled vet
erans, according to reports OF the Le-
gion's findings made public by +. W..
GalbraIth, Jr., national commander.
The Legion has launched q nationwide
fight for the correction of these condi-
tiOns. which Mr.. Galbraith has de-
scribed as "a blot and a disgrace on
the name of our country"
More than 10000 veterans are still
in hospitals suffering from wounds and
infrmities suffered In their country's
service. Many Of them have been there
since they were brought back from
France on the hospital ships. Their
number Is increasing at the rate Of q
500 month, due mostly to the develop
ment of tuberculosis among men who
were gassed. 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 will not
come for five or ten years. Yet, gov
ernment hospitals at present are filled
to overfowing 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.
Certainty, there is no lack OF will
lingness 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 five or ten years say In the
meantime $1,000, 900, 900 must be spent
in its solution. The government has
not been niggardly. More than $780,
100000 already has been spent Mis-
management is the gist Of the Legion's
charge. Lack of vision and foresight
and the ever-present governmental red
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
pitals where they received the same
treatment as paupers.
In addition to Its 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 "humanlzing" the
dreary 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
civic and philanthroplc organizations
In the hospital TOWNS will be enlisted.
There is also the dangerous possi-
bility that the hospital patients, re-
naming day after day with no interest
other than their physical condition,
will become bitter against the country
which once honored them and which
apparently has cast them aside. In
several hospitals, Bolsheyist agents
have distributed infiammatory Etera-
ture by ingenious methods. Of which
an example Is the inclosure Of the
printed matter In bouquets Of flowers.
In one case discovered by Legion In
vestigators the propaganda was en-
titled: "You fought for America and
what did you get out Of itf' And In
deed, II does seem that the sick vet
eran got little out OF II except a short
period Of popularity. the consciousness
Of having done his duty and maimed
and diseased body.
The 2.0OO.OO0 who are their bud
dies said the Legion's national COM
mander. "and are banded together In
the American Legion. are determined
that the hundred million shall not for
get. In this work Of giving the dis
abled man fair deal aud making him
content We shall ask the cooperation
Of every loyal American. We fought
together and we will stick together"