Evening star., 1946-08-02
SchweNenbach Urges
Legion 10 Fight for
Jobs for Disabled


About 250.oo0 disabled veterans
who are unemployed are the "blackest
part" of the Nations labor picture
Secretary of Labor Schwellenbach
told delegates to the convention oil
the District Department of the
American Legion last night at the
Mayfower Hotel as he asked them
to lead the fight to see that Justice
was done"
More than 500 delegates and al
ternates from the ST District Amer
lcan Legion posts and auxiliary
units, attending the opening session
of the tilree-day convention, heard
Secretary Schwellenbach blame dis
elimination and selfishness' on the
part of employers for the situation
of the disabled veterans.
Labor, industry and every private
citizen must be made aware of these
sorry facts and figures" he said.
Figures Prove Worth.
He pointed out that the Labor De-
partment had figures to prove that a
disabled man is not a handicapped
worker when properly placed.
He is steadier, more careful and
less inclined to absenteeism-and he
generally turns out equal or su-
perior work." he said.
The 29th annual convention will
continue today and tomorrow with
Gen. Jacob L. Devers, commanding
general. Army Ground Forces, sched-
uled to speak tonight on The New
Army" New departmental officers
will be elected at the final session to-
morrow night Highlight of the con-
vention will be a patriotic parade on
Constitution avenue at 80 pm. to-
morrow.
In his address, Secretary Schwel-
lenbach said the Nations LABOR pic
ture as whole was good, with ap-
proximately 100000 veterans enter
ing the national labor force so far,
but did not consider it too rosy"
He said 2,500,000 now are unem-
ployed and seeking work throughout
the Nation. with about 100000 vet
Grams included in that group.
Huntington Urges Preparedness.
R. Graham Huntington, national
vice commander. spoke later in the
evening and was interrupted by fire.
ouent applause as he stated that
the American Legion has always
demanded an adequate Army and
Navy and has fought to retain Sc
lective service as the only way to
accomplish this"
Regardless of promises which
are made in peace treaties, We must
keep our arms flexed if we are not
to be caught mapping again as we
have been caught twice before he
declared.
a special memorial service for
men who were killed in both World
Wars was presented by the Fort
Stevens Post No 80 ritual team.
Paul Boudrot. winner of the
Washington Soap Box Derby last
July 20. was introduced to conven-
ton delegates by Gen. U. S. Grant
III. head of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission, and
awarded a s100 Savings Bond. The
bond was donated by the Cooley
Mccullough Post No. %, which Paul
represented in the Derby.
I'VE count on your winning for US
in Akron on August 49," Gen. Grant
told him as he awarded the bond.
Herbert J. Jacob. department
commander. welcomed the delegates
and outlined three present objec-
tives OF the Legion.
Citations Presented.
He said thev we're fighting SUBJ
vcr.ive elements in tie country,
fighting for the security Of veterans
and fighting for the security of the
Nation.
After a long list of guests had
been introduced, Mr. jacob pre-
sented citations to the commanders
of the posts for their excellent
work during the past year in build
ing the American Legion.
Paul H. Griffith, past commander,
Pennsylvania Department., pointed
out that members of the Legion
could perform no better service
than to take the lead in showing
people that Americanism is much
greater than all Of the o.her 'isms'
in the world Jumped together" He
advocated positive program OF edu-
cation in Americanism for Ameri-
cans.
Convention delegates later went
into a business session devoted to
adoption of the rules of procedure
for the convention, report of the
Credentials Committee and the roll
call and seating of the deleoates