Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-12-06

There was not a single defense Of my
position by any member of the Democratic
majority of this House
The amendment was ruled out of order
by the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr.
Bulwinke) who was at the time presiding
as chairman of the committee of the whole
House.
I IMMEDIATELY after the House action on
l that date went to the chairman of the
military affairs committee and appealed to
him for consideration of my BILL H. r. 1247.
He told me then that the committee was
too busy to give any consideration to such
legislation now and he did not know when it
could get to it.
TWO weeks ago a woman here in Wash
1 ington called me on the telephone and
asked if she could bring to my office young
man who had just been given disability
discharge from the army.
welcomed this visit. This young man
was from the army signal corps. He had
participated in the African invasion and had
fought in several major engagements.
In the battle Of Tunisia he lost his right
leg and was returned to the states for hos
pitalization in the army's Walter Reed Hos
pital. He had been discharged from the
hospital and he was trying TO make his way
home.
Under the regulations he may wear his
uniform for 90 days, after which time he
must return to civilian dress. This man needs
a suit of clothes. He needs railroad fare to
get back home and then more than anything
else he needs a job.
HIS motherly woman had given him a
temporary place to stay in her home and
enough spending money. She also helped him
get TO the veterans bureau and he was told
that his case would be adjudicated as rapidly
as possible, which means he will receive his
disability pension in the future-maybe 60
days from now, maybe 120 days.
But he needs help NOW Why in this
country, even man discharged from
penitentiary is given a suit of clothes-bu
not SO much as pair of socks for our fight
ing men.
Before this young man went to war he
had worked on a farm. But he can no longer
walk behind pillow because he now has only
one leg AT various times before his enlist
ment in the army he had worked for a
building contractor. But now he can no
longer climb around on buildings because he
has only one leg
The postwar period for this man has
started. 1t is here now. Not tomorrow. not
next year not after the war, but now
w HAT have we done to ease his transi-
w ton from military service to civilian
fp Ia how Ifno 1,,t Il Ill
to get out of uniform in 90 days and that
within the next two to four months he will
start getting his disability compensation
Has the administration done ANYTHING
for this young man, or the thousands like
him or the millions more 10 come? ? II has not.
Has the Democratic m iOrtv Of this House
done anything for this young man? 1t
has not
1t is our dutysto do something. duty
so simple and so plain, but has the leadership
in this House acted? It has not Several bills
are pending before the military affairs COM
mittee but no action. It is too busy.
Who is this young man about whom I
speak?
Did he come from Missouri or nv con-
gressional district? No II is an important
coincidence that this young man came from
Kentucky, from the town of Southdown.
which is located in the congressional district
of the chairman of the military affairs COM
mittee.
20 TROY LUCAS-and the millions of his
buddies-l say the military affairs COM
mittee Of this House, under the Democratic
leadership. is too busy to give consideration
to the human affairs of the men who are
fighting to keep America free
The political record of the President of
the United States in regard to the veterans
is shame in the eyes of the nation The
political record of the majority members of
this House to give aid to provide slstenanee-
for the men and women who are returning
from this bloody war is a\shame.