The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-10
AMERICAN LEGION NEWS


tlesey. leader of the famous lost
battalion" should serve as shock
ing reminder of how the poison of war
leaves its trace in mems souls long
after the fighting is over" according
to John Thomas Taylor, chairman OF
the legislative committee Of the Amer
lean Legion in Washington.
Taylor, who has been in close toucn
with the situation surrounding SICK
and wounded service men since the
arm .stice declares that thousands OF
men are in the same mental condition
as was Colonel Whittlesey, condition
credited with having caused his sui
eide. The gallant leaders unLmeIy
end, Tayor says, is a summons to the
nation Ito save its broken defenders
before it is too late
Nearly $4,000 mildly insane vet
Grams have passed thru our hospitals
since the armistice," the legion Off
cial declares in a statement. DE
spite our efforts. the government has
not yet built one good hospital for the
care of these men nor established one
good rehabilitation center for their
cure. If a highly educated, well pro-
vided for veteran like Whittlesey sur
renders what may we not fear for
the thousands of discouraged, broken
minded and often destitute men
kicked around from pillar TO post by
their government.
More than one-third Of the 10000
disabled veterans now receiving treat
ment are mentally disabled, according
to Mr.. Taylor. OF these 10000, al
most 1900 are scattered thru the
country in asylums for the criminal
and pauper insane.
While making plans to extend
Christmas cheer to the disabled in
hospitals and in homes. state head
quarters Of the American Legion has
requested all Kansas posts to help
these veterans enjoy Christmas. In
his first official message since taking
office, Hanford MacNider, national
commander, says: Here's our scheme
for Christmas. We've had Christmas
trees in hospitals, entertainments ard
many other splendid projects by indi-
vidual posts. We want to make this
nationwide and we believe the
scheme has enough real service in it
to make it a worth while Christmas
present to those disabled buddies still
fighting for compensation, or fighting
TO keep their spirits up despite the
sacrifices which they have made for
their country and all of us.
The legion post should see to It
that these men and their families are
visited Christmas day by legionnaires
or members of the Auxiliary, and ii
possible, some form of material
Christmas cheer arrive as a Christmas
present.
This is not a charity affair-it is
the Christmas thought OF one ex-
service man for another who would
expect his buddies to remember him if
the positions were reversed. It does
not matter whether the disabled LAD
is legion man or mott is a Christ
mas greeting between ex-service men,
And individuals who want to assist
should be allowed to do it only thru
Auxiliary. The contact should be en-
tlrely legion, and nothing else"
Belief that Senator Tom Watson.
Georgia. had 'strayed into the wrong
army when making his charges be-
fore congress of alleged hangings in
tne A. +. F., has been expressed by
W. >, scranton. Pa" in a Letter to
American Legion national headquar-
tiers in indianapolis
wv. S" details the only casuaI+, a.
his OUTFIT other than those inflicted
by the boches, "A corporal swallowed
some coffee which a dizzy K p hao
heid a lantern over, letting a couple or
drops Of kerosene fall into If. The
corporal didn't feel like eating for =
commissary soap"
In further declaration Of the "sad
lack of hangingS, drawings. quarter.
ings and draggings down hill in nail
lined barrels by horses going four dir
ferent ways" the author hates tn I'D
nit that "of all the men who went to
war from my town, not one of them
was shot at sunrise or any other tins
for wearing boots at reveille"
OF the eight men in his SQUAD.
''W. s. declares that seven escape1
the war unhanged. The eighth rests
In an honorable grave on the stones
below the village of Romange. He
died of a machine gun wound in the
face of the enemy-not, Senator War
son. of a taut rope in the presence Of
a lot of gawking lieutenant colonies
q don't suppose they'd let the privates
in on a thing like that.)
But there's one thing they would
have let us in on. They might NOT
have let us see all the company pun
ishment executions Senator Watson
tells about, but don't you suppose the
underground wireless OF soldiery
would have spread the news around %
Harvey's Cafe. ia w. Sth street.
serves a 25c merchants lunch; also a