Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1925-05-14
ENDOWMENT FUND
Continued from first page)
and women.
All America Helps

and women.
All America Helps
During the first six years Of re-
construction which have followed the
World War the very large response
bility for the disabled and the or
phans has not been met by the Lee
gion without assistance from other
Americans. It could not have been
met without help, and it should not.
The duty is one shared by every citi-
zen, and claimed as the direct privi-
lege of the Legion because the com
rades of those who gave most to their
country are peculiarly equipped to
perform this service.
In realization of this fact, as
shown by experience, The American
Legion : is raising, during the early
part of 1926, an endowment fund Of
five million dollars; of which the in
come ESTIMATED at $225,O 900 yearly
will guarantee a solid financial basis
in perpetuity for the programs of
disabled mems rehabilitation and
child welfare.
The Legion is asking this endow-
ment fund from its own members
and the American public jointly.
The Legion asks it confidently in
the knowledge that it will be given,
and that it vii be the backbone of
the most important public service con-
fronting the American people today.
Each dollar accepted in this trust
means a vital responsibility to the
Legion, and a permanent commit
ment Of the Legion to this service,
and to other unslefish and public SER
vice. The sum total of the absolute
" necessary financial endowment is
relatively small. The extent of the
spiritual endowment. which goes with
it is unlimited.
The Disabled Men
The United States Government has
passed liberal laws and made liberal
appropriations of money to care for
the disabled men Of the World War
Many thousands of good citizens to
day rest secure IN their own minds
as to a duty done in this respect,
because the Congress has been iber-
al. Perhaps relatively few Ameri-
cans realize the limitations which
-n... @l7uava zr,rround government
relief. even with laws perfectly
drawn and perfectly administered, as
they of course have not been dur
ing the early years Of this work.
why The American Legion, with
Perhaps few Americans understand
cash outlay for national rehabilita-
ton work listed as $112,500 per year
(one-half of the proposed endowment
income-the other half being for
child welfare) can perform vital
nationwide, and through part of a
task to which the government is APP
propriating three thousand times
that sum of money this year.
To the latter question the basic
answer is that the Legion throws
100000 or more members and AUX
iliary workers into it's task, and that
the sum total of what is donated To-
cally and by county and state groups,
in personal service, in supplies, and
sometimes in cash, far exceeds the
basic, net, cash outlay for the nation
al directing service. The endowment
is to make secure the national re-
Mobilization service, the backbone and
central generating plant of the Le-
gion's organization of 1000 posts.
A Human Problem
The case of the disabled veteran
with the government is an official,
Intricate, legal problem, involving
many technical complications. I'm
der given sets of facts, prescribed by
law, the government can extend le-
gally specific medical or hospital
treatment, money compensation, or
vocational training. Within its nee
essary limits, the government on the
whole has done we'll, and is tending
steadily to do better. 1t does not
and cannot have completely intimate
contact with the disabled man. his
family, his needs.
The problem is that of restoring
to physical, mental and spiritual
health and to status of self support
and self-respect, man who has suf-
fered the wounds, disease and shock
incident to war. Government ma
chinery, however ample, remains ma
chinery. 1t is limited at the top
by the limit of ability which govern
ment service has been able to COM