The Washington herald., 1922-08-20
Criticises Veterans Bureau.

To the Editor The Washington Herald:
Your article under the head,
Vocational Training" august l9,
contains some good thought-com-
pelling food which ought TO be
digested with some amount Of
serious meditation. You have stated
II rightly. and Col. Forbes. giving
him the benefit OF the doubt. has
probably recognized. that medical
treatment is hardly suficient to
bring about the rehabilitation of a
man whose fortunes and life have
been shattered or otherwise trans
formed by the war. To the best
minds in the Veterans Bureau. this
is a fact. together with the under
standing that concurrent with the
treatment for bodily rehabilitation.
there exists an imperative necessity
for such course OF healing which
will restore the patient TO a
normal and healthy functioning OF
the mind which Is no inconsidera BILE
portion Of the life Of a man.
A recognition of this truth will
positively lead to the attainment Of
results such as are desired by every
one earnestly seeking TO help the
wounded veterans in their struggle
which has been rendered Increasing
ly precarious by the war in which
they so heroically and periodically
participated.
The system Of arrogance. outrage
Gus brow-beating and stupid con-
descension with which the soldiers
are treated when they strive to
obtain what is rightfully due them
should come TO a stop: and Col.
Forbes, cognizant OF the abuses
with which his organization is
rampant. and Of the abundant short
comings and inefficiencies of his
department in the matter OF sym
pathetically and wisely treating the
veterans. should see TO II that a
broad and flexible system is put
into operation which will enable the
men to get a full measure of Justice
To this end the vast ramlncation
OF rules inaugurated for the sole
purpose Of embarrassing the veterans
and discouraging their claims. and
whose result is to turn them away
with empty hands. break them in
spirit and render them hopeless Of
the future. should be entirely an
nulled. and a new regime based on
good-fellovship, sympathy and
hearty understanding should take
is place.
The next step should be to Sc
cure people, in the various Jobs
which are concerned with the mems
welfare, who are intelligent and
broad enough to apply a remedy to
each individual casa remedy
which will not merely get rid of the
man and reduce the work OF re-
habilitation. but which will make
him feel that the country which
he has served has done what IT
could do to compensate him for his
sufrerings. by putting him on his
feet.
In only a few places OF the Bu-
reau is there any attempt to carry
out this sound. just and humane
idea A notable example Is the
Physio- -Therapy branch OF the Bu-
reau where the men are not merely
physically manipulated. but studied
spiritually and mentally and en-
couraged thoughtfully by the aide
in charge.
1t is disheartening to see the
Bureau, especially in the face Of al
most unanimous dissatisfaction.
continuing In its policy OF sys-
tematic repression and wholesale
abuse. The Bureau should awaken
to the realization that Il was estab-
lished for the benefit OF the veterans
and not for their vexation. that IL
was inaugurated in the interests Of
the soldiers, not for their destruc-
tion and that II should adopt such
tactics as will lead to the improve
ment of their. fortunes instead OF
to a disheartening hopeless future.
Ebert SPEEDwELL DICKENS.