New-York tribune., 1922-07-26
Sawyer Defends
Himself Against
Legion, Charges
Presidents Physician 10 Re-
ply TO Attack by Sprasue
in Which He Was Cen
sured for Hospital Stand
Colonel Points to Delasy
Questions Experience Of
General ina Deal ing
With Disabled Veterans

WASHINGTON. July IS. Brigadier
General Charles Z. Sawyer, President
Harding,s personal physician, said to-
night he would reply IN detail to-
morrow to the voilcy Of charges nude
against him by Coloael Al A. Spragre,
chairman of the American Lecion's
national rehabilitation committee, on
the national hospitalization plan
Colonel Sprague, in a 2,O0o-word let
ter TO General Sawyer. demanded that
General Sawyer stand aside and let
the program Of the Veterans Bureau
go into effect at once.'
Mr.. Sprague takes objection TO the
contention Of General Sawyer that the
need for hospitalization Of the mental
ly i'll among the veterans has now
reached its peak, saying It will not
come until 1926. He particularly OBJ
jects to General Sswyer's statement
THAT there are many idle beds now,
and demands that more hospitals be
built so that all the soldiers can be
put into new institutions built espe-
cially for them instead Of being al
lotted to Contract" hospitals.
Colonel prague charged shameful
delays and neglect in caring for the
wounded ex-service men. questioned
the military experience OF General
Sawyer in dealing with situstion re
curing an Intimate knowledge of the
American soldier. He defended the
position of the American Legion as an
organization vitaly interested sn not, as
alleged by General Sawyer, an influ-
cnce outside the governmental forces"
CHICAGO, July 25.-Colonel Sprague
tonight reiterated the statements
made in his published correspondence
with General Sawyer that the -ord;-
nator Of the Federal Board Of Hospital
izarion was standing in the way Of
Congressional and Legion plans for
caring For thousands of injured and
mentally afflicted soldiers of the world
war.
"The American Legion is seeking 10
fix the responsibility for the thwarting
Of its ( program of rehabilitatior,'
Colonel Sprague said. There is noth-
ing personal in this controversy be-
tween General Sawyer and myself. Il
is TO be regretted that the matter had
TO be thrashed out in this way, yet
am glad the American public is TO have
a chance to pass on the merits Of the
case. 1t has been deceived too long by
misleading statements about the num-
Der OF vacant hospital, beds and other
statements which do not reveal the true
facts"
The first Langley bill, Colonel
Sprague explained, appropriated s1s,-
100000 for rehabilitation hospitals.
Only about one-third OF the numer OF
eds this wbould provide have been
placed in service. The second Langley
bill was passed in May and provided
for 17,300.060, of which S11 600, 900
was to be expended specifically for the
treatment Of mental cases.
Colonel Sprague asserted that it was
not economy to purchase old buildings
and adapt them for hospital purposes
He also held that it was far from ecou-
cnay TO allow thousands of men to be-
come totally disabled through mental
troubles incident to their military
service. "In that event they become
charges Of the government. as we'll as
being lost as useful citizens" he said,
with emphasis.