The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-25
Col. Sprague, Head of Rehabili-
tation Board, Asks "Why2"
"Why Do You Stand in the
WayR" He Queries Doctor.
"GOTHING DONE IN d YEARS"
After Langley Bill Was Passed,
Sawyer Didn't Want 1t?
Sprague Charges He Refuses
Aid Needed by Wounded Men.
fpy the Associated Press

CniCagOs July Cool a a
Sprague. chairman of the American
legiOn's national rehabilitation COM
matee in a letter to Brig. Gen. Charles
E Sawyer, personal physician to
President Harding and chief co-ordi-
nator of the federal board of hospital
ization. made public today, charged
Sawyer Is standing the way of proper
care for wounded and shellshocked
veterans and holding up hospital plans
voted by congress.
Il recognize the fact Col. Sprague
wrote to. the presidents physician,
that before becoming chief co-ordi-
nator of the FEDERAL board of hospital
ization you had had no contact with
the men and women who were serving
in the army and navy during the war
and no experience either in the field
or government service that gives you
a chance to really know how men
feel who lose their nerve. their health
and their minds in devotion to duty.
They Need Expert Care
Appealing to General Sawyer, to
stand aside" Colonel SpraSue said,
over $500 mental cases are still con-
fined in contract institutions and that
of the remaining AIS victims OF
mental disorders. only $500 are in
government Institutions devoted en-
tirely to their care"
Quoting from a letter received from
General Sawyer. in which the chief
co-ordinator said, Il am convinced
that the peak of disqualification has
been passed and that the govern
ment had sufficient beds except in two
districts. Colonel Sprague replied;
Why Should He Stand?
sit is almost unbelievable that, hav-
ing satisfied congress that these hos
pitfalls were needed and they should be /
built to capacity that we have to re-
ply to your statement that they are
unnecessary. Sir, ask the boys in the
contract asylums and their families.
ask the men whose nerves have been
shattered by this war, who have suf
fered for this lack of adequate hos
pitalization.
THE reply of the American legion
and every real American is give these
men the best care that medical science
can provide and near TO their own
homes SO that, if rehabilitated they
can be returned to civil life with
greater ease. and IL doomed to hospi-
taIization they can be near their loved
ones
After Four Years-What?
-Four years have already passed
and the veteran has not yet been pro-
vided for. A belated program is now
being held up and changed to meet
your approval.
81 appeal to you, sir. to stand aside
and allow this program of the veterans
bureau go into erect ana at once.
The controversy between Gen. Sawyer
and the. legion officials is the out
growth of a letter written by the gem
eral July l 2 to Col Sprague. dealing
with the legion's demands for hospital
care of the wounded. under the Lang |
ley. appropriation bill. Replying to |
charges that he was "penurious and |
mercenary." General Sawyer said:
Thank God We Don't Have To!
God forbid that a dollar should
ever be considered in comparison with |
the results we are seeking for the
world war veteran. but at the same !
time let me say that it is our duty to
oppose -wastefulness and senseless eX-
pen6iture wherever It is found posi- |
Bile to do so.
sBecaUse the Langley bill has given
US these millions of dollars, not man
datory. thank Heaven, to use. let US
be careful in the disposition of it,"
To this Colonel Sprague replied: IF
there ever was a bill which carried
a moral mandate to the government,
il is the second Langley bill. You will
remember that the legion fought to
have the money appropriated under
this bill awarded to the veterans bu-
reau. We won in this fight. We are
disguised with the delays in the eX-
pendture of the former Appropriation
of $1S- 800, 900; we did not want sim
liar delays in the expenditure of this
new appropriation"