The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1921-01-27
NEGLECT or DISABLED MEN
Is0lon's Investigation Shows Lack Of
Attention to Men Who Suffered
Terrors OF War.

Investigations ny the American Le-
gion reveal SHOCKING conditions OF mis-
management and neglect Ia the gov
ernments treatment 81 disabled vet
Grams. according TO reports 81 the lie
gion's findings made public 10y = ".
Galbraith. Jr. national commander
The Legion has launched nation lie
night for the correction Of these cundl
tions. which Mr.. Salhriith ha- de
scribed n "a blot and a disgrace or
the name Of our COUNTY,"
More than 10000 veterans SIRE stiii
In hospitals suffering from wounds amf
infirmties suffered in their eountrvs
service. Many OF them have been there
since they were brought back from
France ON the hospital ships Their
numier h Increasing A. The rate ~ :.
800 a month due mostly 10 the develop
ment Of tuberculosis among men who
were gaSsed Statistics show that
more than 100000 men were dis
charged with disability rated higher
than 10 per cent. Experts agree that
the peak IN disqualification will not
come Tor i've or ten years. Yet. gov
eminent hospitals az present are billed
10 Overlooking and even contract ar
Engagements are not heing made rap
Idly enough 90 cnre FOR the ever rising
tide Of disabled men whose conditions
demand disqualification.
Certainly. there is mo- lsck ~ vii
lingness on the part Of The American
public 70 DO all IN human power 20 aid
those who paid the price FOR the vic
tory The same experts who estimate
that the peak - the problem viii not
come for five or ter YEAR, say in the
meantime 5000 oo0Oro must he spent
IN IT, solution The government has
NOT been niggardly. More than 500
10000 already has been spent Mis-
management h. The gist ~ the Legion's
charge Lack ~ vision and foresight
and the ever present governmental red
tape is blamed a. responsible Tor the
death q. disabled men before aid could
reach them. for the Incarceration OF
disabled IN iaiis and insane a>yiuins.
and the charity wards % public hos
piteis where they received the same
treatment as panpers.
In addition 20 IT, activities 90 advo-
eating reform IN The conduct Of The
government bureaus. the American lie
gi0n has dedicated itself 10 the ire
mendous task 81 Illuminating the
dreary lives 81 2OO.D disabled bubbles
who are patients in the hospitals all
over the country.
Every Legion post IN this country
has been assigned 10 the definite JOB
Of taking care Of n certain hospital
where former service men are patients
The Women's auxiliary also will be
mobIHzed 70 share IN the work and
s-.vsc and phlianfhropic organizations
kss the hospital towns will be enlisted
There is also the dangerous posi-
bflity TINT the hospital patients, re
Daining dsy after day with no interest
other than their physical condition.
will become bitter against the country
which once hODored them and which
apparently has cast them aside. In
several hospitals. Bolshevist agents
have distributed inflammators litera-
ture b. Ingenious methods. % which
an example Il the Enclosure 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 IN" And In
deed. II does seem that the sick vet
eran got little out OF u except "A short
period Of popularity. the consciousness
Of having done his duty end a nsiIned
and diseased body.
The 100000 who are their bud
dies" said the Legion's national com
msnder. "snd 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 and making him
content we shall ask the cooperation
Of every loyal American. We fought
.oga.ba- aad xa vrlll stick ,ogefhey"