The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-11-18
Need Of Hospitalizing North
Dakota Veterans in North
Dakota Pointed Out-LOca-
ton Of Hospital at Fargo of
Vital Interest to $4,000 Vet
Grams

Fargo, n. d., Nov. 1S.-F-
Hope that resolutions adopted by
many American Legion posts
throughout the state will have the
effect of squirting the U. S. Vet
erans Bureau to renewed activity
with view to constructing a veter-
ans hospital here was expressed
today by r. O. kraabcl, state
veterans commissioner.
Legion posts throughout the
state have taken deep interest in
the matter and are demanding that
ample facilities be provided by the
government for the care and treat
mcnt of all disabled veterans and
that active steps be taken to carry
out all the provisions Of the World
War Veterans Act passed in 1924.
About $50 North Dakota veterans
have been placed in government hos
pitals outside the state and since he
has assumed office as service COM
missioner there has always been
waiting list of 20 or more men for
whom there was no room at any Of
the .,earby government hospitals,
Mr.. Kraabel said. As a result, he
pointed out, many men entitled to
benefit by the World War Veterans
act have been forced to withdraw
their applications and seek relief at
private hospitals and at consider
able expense to themselves, Mr..
kraabel said.
Resolutions Demand Hospital
Resolutions which are flooding
into the state headquarters Of the
American Legion here FOR trans
initial to Washington, point out that
an appropriation has been made for
veterans hospital here, q site pur-
chased and plans drawn but that the
matter has Jagged. They demand
immediate action in constructing
the hospital and making it avail
able to North Dakota ex-service
men in need of its facilities. Among
other things, they point out, it
would permit the $50 meh now hos
pitalized at St. Cloud anG Fort
Smelling, Mini... Sheridan. WyOm-
ing, and Helena, Mont, to return to
their home state.
Although the number Of men who
have presented disability claims is
comparatively small in comparison
with the total number Of North Da-
kota veterans, the location Of vet
Grams hospital at Fargo is of vital
interest to each of the $4,000 North
Dakotans who served during the
world war, Mr.. Kraabel .aid.
Veterans Entitled to Treatment
One reason is that, under the law,
every veteran is entitled to free
treatment at a veterans hospital
for any disability or disease which
he may incur, regardless Of whether
it has ann connection with his mill
tary service. The director Of the
veterans bureau also is authorized
by law to provide free transporta-
ton for such men incident to their
disqualification.
In many cases, Mr.. Kraabel said,
application of this law will mean
the difference between adequate
medical attention and no medical
attention or the imposition Of
heavy financial burden upon men
who have families and who would
be almost unable to bear it. The
fact that the government extends
this privilege to ex-service men in
recognition Of their services and as
q matter Of right, not as 2 matter
Of charity, should lead many North
Dak0tans to take advantage Of the
service offered and . hospital at
FARGO would he moro convenient for