The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1937-05-13
Rehabilitation
Discussed At
County Unit
Urged Care Of Widows and
Orphans At Avon
Meeting
AN INTERESTING TALK
Many Attend AS Guests Of
st. Cloud Legion
Post


gion, spoke to a large group in at
tendance at the Stearns county
meeting in Avon Monday evening.
Ten men from this city attended
the meeting as guests of the st.
Cloud Post, sponsors.
Mr.. Cliff spoke on the subject of
disqualification and the care of dis
abled veterans, soldier widows and
orphans, and payments to Gold
Star mothers and fathers, and told
Legionnaires that this program
was their greatest job. Mr.. Cliff,
who has taken an active part in
the progress of this greatest of Lee
gion problems, Is very well versed
in the program of rehabilitation
and disqualification. His talk was
a revelation to the Legionnaires,
and gave them an insight into
work which has been accomplished
and Of the program planned for
the future.
In explaining the progress of the
National and State organizations,
he said that at the close Of the war
there were $4,000 disabled men in
the United States and France, for
whom only 1900 beds were avail
able. Uncle Sam being poorly pre-
pared for war, was as poorly pre-
pared to care for the disabled as
the result of the war. They were
placed in buildings not considered
fit for private hospital use, and the
Legion was faced with that chaotci
problem. Finally 100000 was ap-
propriated and in 1924 the hospital
at st. Cloud was reality, and in
1927 the Veterans hospital at Fort
Smelling was opened for the care
of Veterans.
| Under the leadership of the Ma
/ tional Rehabilitation committee
areas have been set up with super
visors in each area, for the purpose
of checking the system Of hospital
ization, the food, and the care of
Veterans. In this way they keep in
touch with the hospitals and Vet
Grams homes, the number of men
in the hospitals, the attendants and
service.
He stressed the Importance of
the care Of widows and orphans of
World War veterans and stated
they are entitled to care. They are
now the only war mothers and Or
phans not being cared for by
the government. Following the war,
he said, they were not able to put
over that part of the APPOINT pro-
gram. However, finally an act was
passed allowing government COM
pensation for wives and children
of veterans, who had service
connected disability of 80 percent.
Mr.. Cliff stated that they have a
promise that this Congress will re-
duce the requirements to 10 per-
cent, and he continued that he was
in favor of compensation for all
widows and orphans Of veterans,
regardless Of whether there was a
disability or not.
The matter Of maturing govern
ment insurance during the years
of 1887, 1888, and 1889, has become
a problem. When the payments on
this insurance stop there will be
many dependent Gold Star moth
ers and fathers, who will be with
out aid. 1t is the committees plan
to have the government continue
the payments.
The widows and orphans, and
other dependents Of the World
War, he said, are entitled to COM
pensation as much as those of
other wars. He decried the attitude
Of politicians, who when confront
ed with the problem of finance for
the purpose Of compensation.
brought up the high cost as an OBJ
stacle to the program. He stated
that a battleship or a man were
both part of the cost, but that the
cost of human misery could not be
estimated as Is the cost of war
materials.
In stating that Minnesota had
two OF the best veterans hospitals
in the Union, he stated that they
are now setting up a medical coun-
Gil in the Legion. This council will
be composed Of some Of the ablest
men in the medical profession, and
will provide for the disabled veter-
ans the best medical care available.
The council will also see whether
the hospitals are kept up to stand
ard in methods Of care, etc.
The next meeting will be held at
Paynesville, as the Legionnaires
accepted an invitation from the
Paynesville Post to a fish fry. An
nouncement Of the appointment Of
Adjutant ]. v. Nelson, Of this city,
member Of the committee on Lee
gion Junior baseball activities was
made in the business session.
Legionaires also discussed the
necessity Of full number Of dele
gates and large attendance Of
Stearns County members at the
Sixth District convention to be
held in Aitkin June II, IS and IA.