, 1925-04-30

CARBON COUNTY
WILL RAISE $500
FOR ENDOWMENT
More has been printed about the
problem of the disabled veteran and
the child's welfare movement thar
about any single subject. Which is
as it should be. The disabled prob
lem has always been and still is the
chief concern of the good citizens of
this country.
From the various articles appear
ing in the press from time to time,
the public has been informed that
it is the earnest desire of the local
Legion to raise a fund of five hun
dred dollars by public subscription
as its quota of the five million dol
lars to be raised in the United States
to endow the relief work for disabled
men and orphans of veterans. Not
wi~thstanding the liberal aid provided
by the Government, it is found to be
absolutely necessary for the Legion
to cooperate and to take care of
cases that are not strictly covered
by the law.
The following, is, perhaps. a typi-
cal case that from day to day IN
to the attention of the American
Legion Rehabilitation Service:
' Before the war he worked on the
railroad. He was a cheerful, indus
trious, and wholly efficient employee.
But after the war it was different.
His whole mental condition was
changed to abject melancholy. Life
didn't seem worth living, nor work
worth doing. He was placed in a
government hospital for mental
cases, in the hope of a cure.
One day, however, life seemed even
less than ordinarily worth the effort
OF living. So he sauntered over to-
a nearby lake, and when nobody was
watching him, jumped off the end of
a pier. Thus ended his worries II
this world.
But it was just then that his lam
ily's worst worries began. While he
was in the hospital. his compensation
had enabled his wife and two chill
dren to get along. Now 1t was cut
off-for the folks who have the dis
position of payments. declared that
his death was in no sense n govern
ment responsibility. Hence his wild
ow and orphans had no claim on the
Government.
1t seems plain horse-sense that II
the man had never entered the Army
he would not have jumped In the
lake six years later. But horse-sense,
unfortunately, does not always coin
eide with official rulings. These
rulings must OF necessity be based
on regulations. previous rulings. and
the like. And to the man who had
the task of making the Veterans
Bureau ruling on the family's claim
for compensation, 1t seemed he must
turn down the claim. That's the
way with red tape-it can't get away
from the formula. or 1t will become
hopelessly e%ntangled. It's not the
fault OF the government employee
that this Is so. His hands are tied
by that very red tape.
without the fathers compensation.
the children were destitute. The
mother had to devote practically all
OF her time 10 tho actual care of the
little ones. which left her very little
opportunity to earn money. Fol- sew
eral months the mother and her chill
dren suffered real want. They lack
ed the money 10 pay for food and
clothing and shelter.
Then the Legion got in touch with
the case. An employee expert In the
mazes Of rulings and presidents took
up the work. He knew the best chan
nels to follow TO obtain simple Jus
tico for these three dependents who
were now suffering through no fault
OF their own-nor OF the veterans
since he had been dcranged.
The local Legion considers It n
labor OF love and duty to raise It's
quota of the fund to be used for the
alienation OF the wronga and suf-
ferings brought about as n result OF
the brave men who left their homes
a few years ago to uphold the high
principle ar the American people.
many OF whom made the supreme
sacrifice, and many more OF whom
are disabled for life.
II iH our duty now to remember
the disabled veterans who were In
jurod In n national cause. together
with the unfortunate orphans OF vet
crnna. and to assist them in their
need. The local Legion feels con
fdcnt that the citizens OF Rawlips
will not Ignore their obligation In
this. and viii not only give whole
hearted endorsement to this under
taking. hut will In n financial way
desire TO share in this great move
mcnt. which will bring blessings and
strength to our country.