Evening star., 1925-06-16


ment, has shown appreciation of the
obligations from great nation to-
ward the men who sacrificed body or
health in the World War.
There are two phases of the prob
lem of care of the veterans which are
not yet fully solved. One is the rails
ing of the $4,000 900 endowment fund
with which to educate and care for
the orphans OF deceased veterans.
That fund is being raised by popular
subscription all over the country. and
the response is generous and sponta-
neous. The other is vocational train
ing to enable men whose injuries In
capacitated them to continue their
pre-war occupation to equip them
selves for some other vocation adapt
ed to their condition, rather than be-
come members of soldiers homes or
of hospitals.
The law providing for vocational
training assumed shat by June 30.
1925, all who were eligible and worthy
would have applied, and that by June
80, 1926. such training could cease
without neglecting any one, for 1926
would be eight years after the war
But it is found that the end is not yet
nor will 1t be for many years.
All who have been in contact with
the situation have discovered many
One of these IS that eight or twice
eight wears after the war, veterans
who have been in hospitals slowly
struggling back to health and strength
finally recover sufficiently to so out
into the world again and work. pro
vided the right work be found for
them.
There are today more than 10000
Is, TO
Some are emerging therefrom almost
daily: some will never come out to
take up life's burdens again. Outside
of hospitals there are thousands more
who have been fighting against dis
ease all these eight weary years: but.
as the years go on, their wounds or
other causes have increased their in
ability, though they have fought so
bravely. The law, as 1t now stands,
SAYS to these that unless they begin
training within the next two weeks
the doors will shut against them for
ever The law says, in effect, that
what they lack in completing their
courses by June 80 next year, they
will never receive from the Govern
ment, and their eight years struggle
will be penalized rather than reward
ed for their brave efforts.
1t is the recommendation of Gen.
Bureau, that the law be amended,
abolishing the time limit and per-
mitting the late-comer to have the
same support in training as did the
earlier comrades. Much of the train
ing is given in commercial shops
where the men are taken as appren-
tices without wages and supported
by Government allowance. Educa-
tional training is given in regular
schools and colleges, so that no cost
ly institutions are specially main
tanned for the vocational training.
The training which has been given in
the past eight years has cost only
4 per cent for administration. all the
rest going TO the trainee for his sup
port.
Occasionally, unworthy or unambi-
tious trainees take advantage of the
allowance and simply live on it with
out seriously studying and endeavor-
ing to arrive at fitness in the proper
time; but such cases are exceptional
and do not prove that the Govern
ment effort has been in vain or too
costly.
1t was a costly sacrifice given by
the veteran which put the obliga-
ton on the Government. and many
have proved remarkable products of
the system of training. A few in
stances are significant:
There was Ralph E. Updyke, a
trainee graduate in law, in the year
1923. He built up a practice in
Indianapolis and last Fall was
elec. d to Congress. 1t is said that
there are now several members of
Congress who owe their education
to the vocational training which they
had earned on the battlefield. With
out that training they might today
be sinmates of a soldiers home or
some hospital.
There is Comrade Pitcher, who used
TO be an ink dauber In the Bureau