The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-03-28
EX-SERVICE SHAKEUP
AS OPDYCKE RESIGNS
Col. Forbes Comes to Make
New Effort With Vet
Grams Bureau Here.
AGAIN BLAME POLITICS
Impossible to Give Dis
abled Desired Care Says
Retiring Chief.
SCRAMBLE FOR HIS JOB
Found Obstacles Deliberately
Put i'm Path-TwO Assist
ants in New Places.

Col. Charles r. Forbes, director OF
the Veterans Bureau, came from
Washington to New York last night
to effect thoroughgoing reorganiza-
ton of the New York branch OF the
bureau. He sent his assistant, Major
fLeon Fraser, ahead OF him, and when
Major Fraser reached the Offices at AZ
West Forty second street 1t became
known that Major Henry G. Opdycke,
district manager, had resigned; that
j. B. Holloway, chief of rehabilitation,
had been transferred to Washington,
and that Leopold Stocker, admlnistra-
tive officer, had been reduced to an as
sistant.
Thus ends another phase OF the at.
tempt Of the Government, through the
much criticized Veterans Bureau, to
give adequate aid and care to disabled
ex-service men. Major Opdycke start
ed in with high hopes last fall after
yesterday that obstacles had been de-
liberately put in his way.
Difficulties have been put there" he
( said, "by some officers OF some of the SOL
der organizations with Interior motives,
and by some of the personnel whose
methods were frowned upon, and it has
been. consequently, impossible for me to
give the disabled soldier the care and
attention which believe the people
OF the country really wanted him to
have been adopting these obstructive
tactics, perhaps the less said the better.
These motives. together with the ever
present political conflict. are, however,
preventing Director Forbes from deliv-
ering the maximum benefits to the veter-
ans to-day"
Cosmopolitan Difficulties.
The best proof that politics. the in
fluence Of which has repeatedly been
| exposed and denounced, is still regarded
as permeating the Veterans Bureau Is
| TO be found In the fact that candidates
for the job vacated by Major Opdycke
are even now hustling to get the in
dorsement OF Senator's, Representatives
and party leaders, although Col. Forbes
was supposed to have a free hand In
! selecting the most competent men he
could find, regardless of other considera-
! tions.
Before leaving Washington last night
Col. Forbes said that the vast number
of complaints regarding the New York
district, which embraces the States Of
New York, New Jersey and Connecticut,
were partly due to the cosmopolitan
character OF the population which makes
administration difficult.
! Major Opdycke," he continued.
| seems to have been at a loss how to
proceed in many cases. He realized this
complaint about the handling OF voca-
tional training. Major Opdycke grad
ually came to feel that he was tempera-
mentally untitled for the position. He
! therefore asked TO be relieved of
| the responsibility so that he could return
to his profession of civil engineering.
thought 1t best for all concerned TO
accept his decision"
Col. Forbes was asked y Major OPP
dycke had been asked to resign.
| IT would not answer that question, IL
you please" he replied.
In New York Major Opdycke said:
THE report that I have been forced
from the bureau IL untrue. 1t was not
until l made third request, and a per-
/ sonal one at that, that the director
finally agreed to accept my resignation"
Major Frnser's solution.
At the Forty-third street headquarters
Major Fraser said he didn't know who
was to blame for II. but the fact is that
there has been great shortage OF
hospital facilities and "a continual rum
pus'' over vocational training.
THE American Legion is not satisfied
| and neither are we.' he added. There
ought TO be a Government hospital to
which TO transfer the tubercular patients
from the Fox Hills Hospital.
4 The hospital 10 be opened in about
month in the Roman Catholic orphan
age buildings at kingsbridge will take
about 1000 soldier patients. Courses In
vocational training for 1000 men are
being organized at the College OF the
\ City OF New York, replacing the courses
given at Lincoln School which Col.
Forbes closed. Not later than June 90
the administrative and Office force OF
the New York district. now divided be-
tween Thirty-seventh street and Forty
third street, will be combined in the
Grand Central Palace. / believe these
changes have brought the bureau really
In sight Of the solution OF its problem"
Legion Chief Protests.
7. c. Wardlaw OF Atlanta has been
appointed rehabiitatio, chief to succeed
J. n. Holloway, and T.. H.. Hale will
temporarily take over the duties OF
StoclSer. the administrative officer. Will
lam T.. Deegan, state commander OF
the American Legion. protested yester-
day against the appointment of Ward
law because he comes from Atlanta. Ga.
ard the legion believes n competent
man could DC found in this district
Major Deegnn sold he had high regard
for Major Opdycke. and that the legion's
only demand was that the Veterans
Bureau be made 10 function properly.
r. Harry Stanton, now special inves-
tigator for the bureau In Washington.
is candidate for the job vacated by
I Major Opdycke. Lucian S. Brecken-
ridge. formerly an Assistant District At.
\ torney OF New York county. is one OF
several others mentioned.
4 a protest meeting against the transfer
/ or tubercular patients from Fox Hills
to distant hospitals viii be held at the
Town Hall tonight. under the manage
ment of the American Legion and the
citizens welfare committee.
| Fourteen Fox Hills patients we're
| transferred yesterday TO Fordham.
Bellevue and Brooklyn navy yard hos
| pitala