The New York herald., 1922-03-04
CRIPPLED VETERANS
PROTEST TO HARDING
Attend to Us First Is De-
mand of Delegation at
White House.
LEGION WORD BROKEN
Disabled Soldiers Declare
Service Organization Has
Acted Selfishly.
REFORMS ARE OUTLINED
President Receives Memorial
From Group Representing
All War Victims.
Special Dispatch to THE New YonK HERALD.

Special Dispatch to THE New YonK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c., March 8.
The second section of manned and
helpless soldiers of the world war to
present protest to President Harding
against the bonus raid attracted a
great deal Of attention at the White
House to-day.
The pathetic condition OF some Of
the victims provoked fervent express
sions of sympathy from members OF
the Cabinet and other callers at the
executive offices. Some Of the men
were on crutches. one minus leg, and
all Of them bore the impress of acute
suffering. The delegation was COM
posed Of ten wounded. sick and help
less veterans. some of whom are still
mere boys.
The delegation came from Veterans
Hospital No. 80. at Mount Alto, in the
suburbs of Washington, and repre-
sented many thousands of disabled SOL
diers of the world war from New York
West Virginia. Ohio, Indiana, Michi-
gan, the District of Columbia, Illinois
and Virginia and North Carolina.
Received by President.
President Harding received the
manned war victims in his own Of
flee, and his attitude toward them was
most sympathetic.
Capt. Thomas Kirby was the spokes-
man for his fellows. He told the Presi.
dent that the wounded. sick and helpless
victims OF the world war desired to pre-
sent O memorial to the President, the
Senate and the House of Reprenenta.
tives, calling attention to the failure Of
the American Legion and other organi'
cations Of former soldiers, sailors ant
marines now demanding the bonus. tc
Keep their promise and urge upon Con.
gress the proper care of disabled soldiers
before demanding gratuities for abls
bodied soldiers.
Capt. Kirby then read the following
statement to the President:
zone OF the most important matter:
of discussion before the American people
to-day Is the adjusted compensation
measure. Still, 1t lis the belief of the
patients of Veterans Hospital No. %
Washington, ID. c., that a more vita
proposition is the immediate redemption
by the American Government of its
pledge to relieve--as far as possible-tht
thousands who to-day bear the honor.
al BILE scars of national service Incurred
in defense of the Republic during the
world war.
ORGANIZATIONS or former soldiers
sailors and marines-men and women
in post meetings. departmental confer
ences and national conventions have re.
ported, repeated, reiterated and main
tanned. insistently. consistently and per-
sistentIy that the alleviation of those
suffering from disabilities in line of duty
was not only a solemn obligation but q
matter OF ordinary gratitude and com
mon decency. While there are compare.
lively few OF us here In this hospital
we are drawn from every section or the
country.
For the present we take no stand ir
favor or or in opposition to the ad'
iusted compensation bill. Granting OF Q
cash bonus and nursing back to healtf
the disabled are positive, not relative
Independent and not connected. We
know of no opposition, whatsoever. Y
proper care OF the disabled, but we d.
0
know of definite and absolute instruc
tions from national conventions Of vet
erans' associations to insist upon priorit,
to measures for the Ill and MANNED. ant
we have never been informed that thes'
orders have been rescinded. In View o
the fact that these orders Etill exis
we feel Justified in asking now for tina
priority and for the solid support ant
cooperation of all former service or
ganizations to this blu by both mel
and women.
Disability Rating.
"wc, therefore. petition with all TN,
sincerity and power at our command
The executive and legislative branche
without regard to party lines) OF tn
national Government, for which W
we're the uniform. to take positive an'
aggressive action to halt ell measure