Evening star., 1952-09-04

PRESIDENT truman To-Day calleQ
for a Nation wide crusade to find
jobs for the disabled.
Addressing the opening session
of the Presidents Committee on
Employment of the Physically
Handicapped. in Departmental
Auditorium, Mr.. Truman stressed
that rehabilitation and job-place-
ment programs in Government
and private industry must be
broadened. until they are big
enough to give the proper help to
every one who needs it,"
He added:
"This is not just a matter of
charity-not just matter of do
ing good for people only for their
happiness and comfort. This is a
matter of economics, as we'll as
social justice. It is not only that
these people need our help. We
need them. We need them as
productive workers. We need
them as good citizens and tax
payers"
The meeting brought together
representatives of employers,
workers and other groups which
seek to aid the handicapped. The
first week in each october is de-
voted to an intensified campaign
in this direction.
The committee is headed by
Vice Admiral Ross T. McIntire,
retired. former White House ply
Sician.
Gov. Kerr Scott of North Caro-
lima and John Northrop, president
of Northrop Aircraft Co. of Los
Angeles, also spoke at the open
ing session of the one-day meet
ing.
President Truman presented the
silver plaques the committee
awards annually to those whose
work in rehabilitating the dis
abled has been outstanding.
Injured on carrier.
One went to DR.. Henry H.
Kessler of Newark. The other to
Nils S. Josefson of Franklin Park,
ILL.,. president Of the Paraplegics
Manufacturing Co.
Crippled for life when injured
on carrier in the Pacific in World
War II, Mr.. Josefson was one OF
so wheelchair patients who pooled
their resources and started con-
Germ to turn out small electronic
parts-principally for radio and
television. The organization has
prospered. It employs several doz-
en- paraplegics.
President Truman said that real
progress had been made with
dealing with the problem of the
disabled since World War II. and
that the so-called hopeless cases.
almost have disappeared.
The blind have been taught to
be self sustaining, he added, and
gains have been made even in
such areas as cerebral palsy.
Citing a few statistics. he said:
Some 100000 disabled veterans
of World War II have been
trained, and most of them have
found useful work to do"
Expressing optimism over the
prospects for equal accomplish
ment among Korean veterans.
Mr.. Truman added that on the
civilian side, some $4,000 persons
were rehabilitated and restored to
gainful occupations in the past
year as the result of Federal-State
programs and the work of volun-
tary agencies.
Ex-Servicemen Aided.
"The Veterans Administration"
the Chief Executive continued.
"has recently published a report
showing 40 per cent of the dis
abled ex-Servicemen were trained
for professional or top-manage-
ment jobs. Another "a per cent
were trained for the skilled trades
I am sure that many Of them are
now at work in defense industries
working for the welfare Of Amer
lea just as they fought for it a
few short years ago. Another Is
per cent were trained in agricul-
ture and one out Of every 10
went into clerical or sales jobs"
Pointing out that nearly 172, 900
disabled veterans were in Govern
ment service in April. Mr.. Truman
said that 81, 1000 of these had been
placed in Q year. There also
were thousands Of disabled nom
veterans at work, he amplifled.
The President brought out that