Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-11
American Legion Official De-
ScribeS Conditions
in Italy.
Injured Soldiers Went Back
"Home" to Recuperate.
Now Must Stay.
By GRETCHEN SMITH.

selves barred from returning by the i'm
migration laws, have been brought tc
Washington by Comdr. Julia Wheelock
commanding the American Legion De-
| partment of Italy, with headquarters in
Rome.
Comdr Wheelock, who is the only
! woman who has served on the executive
committee of the American Legion, tells
a heart-rending story of deplorable con-
ditions existing among men who vol
| unteered their services in the Army
Navy and Marine Corps as soon as the
United States entered into the world
conflict and before CONSUMPTION was
effective. At that time hundreds of for
! eign-born men residing in this country
enlisted, with the belief that by Offering
their services to the United States dur
ing the war and subsequently gaining
honorable discharges from the services
they would be permitted to become nat
uraliZed citizens without the necessity
of going through the usual formalities
required of aliens.
Unaware Of Laws Letter.
A law was enacted whereby an in
diyidual possessing an honorable dis
charge from the Army, Navy or Marine
Corps might, upon its presentation and
petition to the proper authorities, be
usual requirements placed upon indi-
viduals desiring naturalization. Many
of these men, however, either through
lack OF understanding or neglect of be-
ing properly instructed, were unaware
of the clause which required them to
file petition for naturalization.
To them the mere fact that they had
offered their services to Uncle Sam au-
tomatically entitled them to full rights
of citizenship. Many were wounded and
others manned for life. After returning
to this country, where they were treat
ed in veteran hospitals, many of them
were advised by medical men to return
to the lands of their birth for recuper-
alton, where the environment of rela-
tiveS and friends and familiar scenes
and climates might hasten their resto-
ration of health.
Believing that by virtue of their
honorable discharges they had gained
for themselves the rights and privileges
OF native-born Americans, these for
eign-born veterans returned to their
birthplaces never doubling that they
possessed the right to return to the
country for which they had fought
and sacrificed their health, their limbs
and in many cases their sight.
Gates Now Are Closed.
But such was not the case. Many,
through ignorance of the law, had failed
to comply with the clause that they
present their honorable discharges be-
fore the expiration of certain time
and make formal petition for naturali-
zation. Others, upon presenting their
passports to local consuls for visas,
were told their naturalization papers
were Cancelled because of their over
staying an allotted time abroad In
all cases tn outstanding fact remained
the gates of the United States were
closed to these men who never be-
lieved they would be refused entry to
the country for which they had sac
rif1ced.
| cause of protracted Ill health, business
matters which had to be settled or i'll
relatives. Upon requesting permission
! to return to the United States, they
were told they were aliens and must
comply with the regular immigration
laws of the United States.
Not only are these men not per-
mitted to return to the United States"
Comdr. Wheelock stated with indigna-
ton, 'but in countries of their birth
they also are considered as aliens, hav-
ing served in the American Army dur
ing the war and having become citi-
zens of this country by reason of that
service. Consequently they are very
much Disseminated against in obtain
ing employment of any kind, as in
the European countries, Italy in partic-
ular. where employment is a serious
question. it is natural that natives of
the land should be given employment
before aliens"
Skilled Workers Go to Field.
"Some of these men, members OF
the American Legion, are obliged to
take any work they can find to save
themselves from starvation-in many
cases the only work they can secure is
| merely day labor work in the fields
and many of them are skilled workers;
marble cutters, mechanics and machin-
lists"
The Veterans Bureau has no office
outside of this country and frequently
Comdr. WheelocE says, before assist
ance can be obtained for veteran re-
siding in Italy, much time elapses.
Comdr. Wheelock, after three-year
residence abroad, is familiar with con-
ditionS among the World War veterans
and American Legion members living
in foreign countries.
She has arrived in Washington tC
present facts to Col. John Thomas
Taylor, chairman of law and legiSla-
LlOIl IOF Tie AMERICAN AcSlOu, VIII lol
many years has been ceaSeleSS in his
| efforts to help suffering American wal
| veterans and who was untiring in his
work for the passage Of the Tilson bill
| in 1926.
! This bill, first introduced by Repre-
sentative Tilson of Connecticut, was
drawn up expressly for the purpose Of
protecting alien American war veterans
| and members OF the American Legion
and preventing the injustices which
| they are now suffering. The bill il
| worded as IAN act to admit to the
United States and to extend naturaliza-
ton privileges to alien veterans of the
/ World War"
Bill Had Time Clause.
Unfortunately, the bill had time
clause attached and those who were
to enjoy It's benefits must do so before
| the expiration of one year after the
.