New Britain herald., 1924-04-14
DISABLED VETERANS

An item of news from Washington
 regarding the attitude Of employees of
 the Veterans Bureau toward disabled
 veterans seeking employment or as-
 sistanee brings out glaring fault in
 the attitude of people toward former
 service men. The item is especially
 significant as it indicates that veterans
 of the world war, most deserving of
 decent treatment Of any who served, have been humiliated by employes of the very department created to serve them. If such an atmosphere has been found in that bureau, theneindeed it Is safe to say that improper treatment of service mon not disabled has been the rule rather than the exception out side of that bureau.
 Director Hines of tho Veterans Bureau, says the item, has taken steps to insure courteous treatment by the employees (of the bureau) to disabled veterans seeking aid, He wants all cm- ployes of the bucau discharged if they don't meet disabled veterans with genuine interest" in their wei fare. Moreover he is going to have in- restigations made of the way dis abled veteran is treated when he comes to the place where, above all others, he should find understanding and decent treatment
 Everyone remembers tho cnthusi- nsm over "the boys" when they sailed away-when they boaried tho trains from the hamlcts, towns and great cities of the country to go 10 camp. thence 10 France. Many. many men today, If they stop and think of those hours and the awakening Of patriotism in them for the first time perhaps, feel the blush Of shame conc 10 their faces when they recall the honest feeling they had for those young mon then, when the country needed them so badly, and contrast that feeling with their manner toward them today when they are no longer needed. apparent ly. Those boys were sent away upon that tragic adventure, heroes. Most of them came back. warmly greeted, of course, but with just hint of men, tal reservation about the hero part of it. Better look out" the canny told themselves. how we promise them anything now--thcy'll be asking for something if we make them think they are too wondcrful--and Of course we'll never need them again"
 So gradually the talk Of ''hcrocs" faded. Browns began to replace the frank looks Of admiration, of anxiety for them when they had departed When someone who had not forgotten started the movement 10 give Inc service men some real relief that would help put them back into civilian life in a position 10 fight their way ahead on this new fcld--in this new game in which they were out of prac- tice because Of the work on the fields Of France-the frowns grew. None Of that--you did no more than your duty-you ought to be satisfied with having had the honor or serving your country" That was inc slogan. Heroes" no longer. Through all tlc grades or changes from hero" down. swiftly, to treasury grabbcrs." "thieves." eycn and "bums" descended the adjective applied indiscriminatcIy to those boys--boys turned to worn men, many of them, b"causa of the never-to-bc-forsotton din Of war.
 Those former srr,ic" men do not display proudly their badges of acr,tcc won by weary days of wDrl. or. in many eases. by horrible days of fight Ing with their companions falling and ! bleeding and dying near thrm- nou- dorinE 1T they were 10 ie fho nest to snk 10 tbc torn rarh. gasp. tiins once of home anI tHr rferrs vtt"h had s,nt them horp-- then io kHuw no more. No. tboas bud=ss o5 s"r,Icc are hidden auay at home. perhaps. Perhaps the imaginative Df tbrIn have thought those proofs of srr,irn and patriotism might some day. be 2 brought ont 10 show warshipriug grandchild or child. Thry would not sheer; they would not turn away. frOwning. with a dnprcratofy rrmart about that service. CT perhaps taoso badges haFe bscn lost. forgotten in th" knDWtedre that tIie men nbD rouid help the service men now. as tho=e ser,ice men hslpcd them then. hs,c no respect Tor thozc badges of srrsicc ar- rsrently. no respect for fHe sucn v1a l p'on them.
 And go if has come to ihe point