The Monmouth inquirer., 1924-07-31
REGIONAL BILLETS
FOR WAR ORPHANS

With the dedication recently of the
American Legions children's billet at
Otter Lake, Mich, the Legion has
gotten under way with nationwide
program of child welfare. Specifically,
the Legion intends to care for all the
children whose fathers were killed In
action or who died as q result of serv-
Ice in the American forces during the
World war.
There are at present, according to
experts, 5000 waits Of war who are
being denied childhood privileges be-
cause their fathers died in service. By
the creation of regional billets the Lee
gion intends to care for all of these.
The plan outlined by the national
child welfare committee of the Legion
allows for expansion to meet the re-
quirements ten years hence, when the
peak load will be reached-35O 900 of
them.
The billet at Otter Lake, Mich, is
typical of the Legion's method of
handling this important phase of serv-
Ice work. 1t is neither an institution
nor an orphanage. 1t approximates
home as far as 1t is humanity possible.
Instead of having one big dormitory,
the way most institutions are run, the
Legion has small cottages of from
-four to six rooms Nine children at
the most are housed in one building,
where they are looked after by a
house mother The children dress as
other children, with no semblance Of
uniformity. They attend public school,
leaving in the morning, taking their
lunch, and returning about five o'clock
In time to play until supper time.
The Otter Lake billet, which is the
first regional billet, now cares for 70
children, with three houses built and
ground broken for two more. These
children are of every extraction-Hun-
garian. Polish, French, Italian and the
hike. Many of them came to the billet
in extremely poor health, emaciated
and undernourished.
Overlooking Otter lake, one of the
prettiest of Michigan's thousand lakes,
the billet is ideal for health purposes
and, under the guidance of Mrs. Eva
HngersoIl. supervising mother, the food
prepared is based on bodybuilding
needs. DIR. o. Johnson, the superin-
tendent, looks after the health of the
children and not one case of serious
Illness has been reported since the
billet got under way.
The need for more room to handle
the fatherless children Is manifested
by the constant requests for permits
sion to send children to the billet. A
waiting list ample in size has con-
WINGED he Legionnaires that they
need more space. AS fast as the
money is available such expansion is
taking place.
The Michigan billet was first begun
as an activity of the Michigan depart
tnent of the Legion, with help by the
legislature. However, when the ma
tional organization of the Legion went
into the problem, Michigan graciously
turned over her billet to the national
body
The second child billet is now under
way at Independence, Kans. John r.
Quinn, national commander of the Lee
gion, recently dedicated 400-acre
tract of land, where the second series
sbf cottages win be erected. Kansas
raised 100000 to insure completion
: of the project by a statewide drive
for funds The tract of land was the
gift of Daniel Dabney, whose two sons
were killed in action while serving
with the American forces in France.
Not only does the Legion care for
children in regional billets, but it also
cares for them in childless families.
Following presidents established by
social workers. the Legion seeks about
for ex-seryice men who have no fami-
lies and who wish to rear one ut the
walls of war, and allows them to
adopt one. The Legion takes excep-
tlonaI care in investigating circum-
stances so that the child viii get the
tender care rightfully due.
In other instances the Legion has
found that the mother does not wish
Ito be separated from her child. In
such an event the Legion furnishes
cash support.
The need for such welfare work Is
proved when it is known that the
government does not compensate a
widow sufficiently to insure adequate
support A widow with no children
receives but $25 a month. With one
child, she gets $35, and. SO for each adj
ditional child. AS a result, 1t Is neces-
sary for her to work to support her
self, and if her child is very young she
must place it in nursery. If the
child Is but few years of age the
Legion has found that it runs wild
and, in many cases, the environment
is such that 1t becomes a gamin.
The child welfare activities Of the
Legion are the most important, next
to the care Of the disabled, on the Lee
gion's program of national service.
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