The sun., 1919-09-03
EX-SOLDIERS WANT
LAND BILL KILLED
Urge Replacing of Mondell
Measure With $160 for For
mer Service Men.


WARRINGTON, Sept. 1.-Two hundred
and ten thousand service men-mem.
bcrs OF the World War veterans-to-day
Informed Congress they are opposed TO
the passage of the Mondell soldiers land
bill.
In an open letter to every member Of
Congress, officers of the organization
stated a carefully conducted inquiry
among the 2,522 posts of the World
War Veterans shows the former soldiers
are practically unanimously against the
plan and seek Its defeat. The letter is
signed by Hugh B. Donnelly, Com.
mander In Chief, and Charles NJ. Rap
nun, Adjutant-General. In place OF the
Mondell bill, the organization asks Con.
gress To allow the soldiers n bonus Of
$3.50 additional, which would make the
amount paid them the same as the war
workers in the executive departments
In Washington.
The letter is said to be a telling blow
to defeat the Mondell bill, as the pro.
posed caucus to decide the Republican
party's position on the measure will be
influenced largely by the attitude OF
men whom 1t Is supposed to benefit
hackers Of the programme insisted the
service men were for IL as q unit, but
this has been vigorously denied by the
opponents. The letter follows:
The Congregational Record of August
II contains an editorial from the New
York Ttnes introduced by Hon. Frank
W. Mondell Of Wyoming under extension
OF remarks in support of his Aiondells
soldier settlement bin and in this edit
tortal 1t would appear that the Amer
lean Legion represents four million eight
hundred thousand soldiers and sailors
and that these men are . unit for the
Monaell bill. Congress is respectfully
advised that a carefully conducted in
quiry among the posts Of the national
council, World War Veterans, indicates
that the World War Veterans are
opposed to the Mondell soldier settle
ment bill and ask its defeat.
The National Council, World War
Veterans, learns that there is no bill
before either Senate or Congress urging
tho payment OF $3.50 bonus to honorahN
discharged service men, and therefore
offers Congress an opportunity to reaUy
do something for the eX-service man az
this his present time OF need, ana dsHs
the passage of a bill granting 81"
bonus. II Congress prefers, the Ma
tional Council World War Neter ~
heartily indorses Mr.. Gallivin'7 Dill
II. II. 2923,' introduced in the House
May "a, 1919, and referred TO the CON.
mittee on Military Affairs, ana n.m
that this bill be gotten out OF coh.n''''
and favorably acted upon. us
From observation and invesugauon'
made by q committee sent from the ~
tional Council, World War Veterans,
attend the war risk coordinaton eoHIu,s
ence, held In Washington August -
1919, the executive committee Of the N"-
tional Council, World War Veterans, na
reached the conclusion that oU0'H,
Washington either ignores the eNlslen,s
of or does not know that there eNe,'
the National Council. World WAY va
Grams, with twenty-five hundred anI
twenty-five (2,522) organized posts "'
a total membership OF 2lO,oo' tt,
soldiers, sailors and marines an" ~
therefore the pleasure of the Na"o"",
Council to forward to each mehoe'
the Sixty-sixth Congress copy Oh .,
Official mas aZ.us aud the earnest rr'u1s
that the same be personally o'4t.NV
and that the honorable gentlemen reeeIo
Ing this communication and the mag"
zine be respectfully advised ina, uS
much heralded and widely eNP'o"ss.
American Legion does not represent Nv
great majority of former service NV"
and that the wishes OF other Organic,
lions may be considered as represents
the, will Of the veterans in euch .et
ton affecting them and the good Oh "'
United States at learge.
"Signed and transmitted TO CONS
by order Of National Executive Oo'"
mittee."