The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-01-26
American
~ Corner
The Silent Enemies.

1t was in war-torn France. Back
in the last grim days of 1917, the
10th Infantry, First Division, one
of the first American outfits "over
there" was making final prepare
tions to undergo it's baptism of
enemy fire. A constant boom-boom
could be heard throughout the Camp
but the menace of being among the
twisted wire and screeching shells
within the next few days was not
the uppermost thought in the minds
of these doughty Americans. They
were thinking of back home and
hearts were heavy for the uncertain
welfare of their loved ones in the
event of their being bumped off,.
Amid feverish preparations for an
early departure, the news was re-
ceived that the Government back
home had gone into the Insurance
business for its soldiers. The offic-
ers of the regiment were command
ed to call the men together and
sign them up for life insurance. Ar
insurance value of $4,000 had been
placed on each soldier, but this en-
tire amount was not compulsory.
With one end of the line in
muddy street, the other in a back
room of tiny billet where a sec
ond lieutenant wrote applications
as fast as short set of simple
questions could be answered, Uncle
Sans soldiers were taking insur-
ance while big guns roared but a
few miles away.
"Put me down for $4,000, Lieu.
tenant"
why don't you make it tenn"
We'll, make it ten. Who can
This was heard up and down the
line in that little French village as
the boys stepped off with lightened
hearts, ready to face the enemy.
Those who made the supreme sacri-
flee, as many did, during the fol-
lowing hazardous days left cash
estate to those back home
Today there is no war. Peace
has come and with discharge many
of the veterans allowed their in
surance to lapse thinking all immin-
ent danger past. BUT-old age,
dependency, uninsurability, an d
want are the silent enemies just in
the offing, more menacing by far
than rumbling cannons.
Certain treasures there are which
veterans acquired from the world
war. Next to experience is the
right to be insured by the u. s..
Government. Here is insurance Of
fered only to veterans of the world
war, at cost which cannot be met
by any life insurance company for
participating insurance with similar
benefits. This is made possible be-
n ha &c ID,
not levied on the premium but is
borne by the government in sep
arate appropriation. This u. s..
Government Life Insurance is is
sued only to former soldiers, sail
ors, marines and army and navy
nurses
The Veterans Bureau, Mime
apolis, c. D. Hubbard, Manager,
reports marked tendency of the
ex-service men to reinstate their
Insurance before the expiration of
the time limit. Under the simple
rules of reinstatement, hundreds of
applications are daily being made.
The Silent Enemies" will taste the
bitter dregs of defeat as did those
enemies met on French bartlefields
in 1918
>
State Adjutant Stafford King told
just where the state stands in the
disqualification situation when he
addressed public meeting in the
auditorium during the installation
ceremonies of the Eighth District
American Legion and Auxiliary of
ficers at Virginia.
According to Mr.. King there is
a hospital for the insane at Roches-
ter, which treats cases of neuropsy-
chatic trouble. There are nearly
5000 cases in the state-returned
soldiers, who are not insane, but
whose nerve centers have been shot
to pieces and whose recovery is
probably only with the best of
treatment and the proper place to
do, it in.
The hospital at Rochester is so
crowded that the halls are used as
wards and cots are so close to-
gether that man cannot bend over
to lace his shoe, Mr.. King stated,
thus eliminating any chance of real
sanitation. All of the cases, it was
stated, are not in the hospital, a
big number being on the waiting
list, with little hope of ever getting
access to treatment.
A hospital for tubercular patients
is maintained at Walker, Minnesota,
which is over crowded all the time.
The hospital has a capacity of
1,175 and 1890 are crowded into
it, which figures also apply to Roch-
ester. Aberdeen, S. D. and Ashbury
in Minneapolis government in
situations, are crowded past cap
acity at all times, Mr.. King said.
The adjutant stated that the
state legislature has been asked for
an appropriation of $307, 900 for
the enlargement and better equip
ping of the Rochester institution
and $35O,000 has been asked for
one at Walker.
Contract hospitals are used to
some extent, but Mr.. King. quoted
figures to show the impracticility
of such condition. The govern
ment, he stated, paid for $4,000
days at Walker at the rate of $500
per day. The net cost of food,
medical attention, fuel, clothing and
other necessities is 37.7 cents per
man per day. Gross costs of keep
ing each man are $500 per day.
Therefore the profit at Walker
alone on; contract work is enor-
nous, which might just as we'll go
in to the lettering of the hospital.
Mr.. King told of meeting Ma
tional Commander Owsley in st.
Paul the night previous to coming
here and quoted a bit of Mr.. Ows-
ley's address. Visiting President
Harding, Mr.. Owsley stated, he
looked into the chief executives
eyes and asked what he was going
to do about hospital conditions.
Replying, Mr.. Harding said:
81 will personally see that these
conditions in the United States are
corrected"