Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1925-05-14

option because of physical or mental
inferiority or unattractiveness. Those
are the children whom nobody
wants. 1.-THE American Legion wants
them. The American Legion Aux
iliary wants them. For this group
there may be required permanent
care. They shall have it.
AS the task opens before the Le-
gion, it is thankful that it is so ea-
tipped with a spirit of service reach
ing through every post in every city
and town, that very modest cash
income will permit a very. larg O.
scientific and hmane national prox
gram to be followed through with the
certainty that there can be no fail
ure. The children Of those who gayer
all for America must and shall have
tehir chance.
The Practical Problem
Americas duty to the disabled and
the war orphans is clear Of Amer
ica's wholehearted intent to meet
that duty there can be no doubt. The
American Legion accepts the res
possibility for the task after full
demonstration Of its peculiar fitness
both of the heart and Of the hand. Its
program meets the approval of ser
ious, thoughtful people everywhere.
1t is the right program, and happily
it is also the practical, economical
program. 1t is right to restore thsW
disabled man to health, self-contl-
dence and independence. 1t is
vastly less costly program than to
support them permanently as hope
less, incompetent charge upon So
ciety. 1t is-right to give every help7~
less and homeless child the help that
will provide for it proper home.
1t is far less costly than to let that
child grow up untutored and unfit,
into life of weakness, disease vice,
pauperism or crime. More than 90
per cent of crime is the result of
neglected childhood. In cold dol
lars and cents the American public
saves several thousand dollars every
time child is diverted from squaloN
ignorance and misery into the way
of decent home life, education and
character building. 1t is cheaper -
save the child than to later confine
the adult.
The great life work of The Ameri-
can Legion for the disabled and the
children. for which it requires an enc
dowment backing OF ave million S5as
lars, would be necessary, right and
just if it were to cost five hundred
million. If it is neglected it will
throw back upon the government or
upon the public or private recourses a
vast greater task and a vastly great
er cost. The Legion, with its es-
pecial duty to it's comrades, would
do the job at any cost. Finding it
practical to sustain this, nationwide
program on the income Of relative
ly small endowment, it asks for, the
prompt provision of that endowment
during the coming few months. 1t
feels confident that it need not beg
for this need, but that it can ask it
knowing that all who give will do SO
gladly and proudly, thankful for
the privilege of sharing this respon-
sibility to those whose sacrifice to
their country was beyond money and
beyond price.
The quota for Barbour County is
$1,500.00, which if paid by one per-
son would be burdon-on him. But
owing to the fact that it is to be Civ
en- in the small sum of $1.00 from
each person will be thought of by
them as pleasure, knowing that
great good will come from this small
amount when added to the dollar
given by the neighbors. When you,
give, do it with the knowledge that
it is well invested, not spent.