Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-09-27
U. S. LEGION WILL
ACT ON BONUS AT
NOVEMBER MEET
Resolution Demanding Pay for
Returned Soldiers Was
Tabled at Convention
Last May.

New York, Sept. 26.-In reply to
an inquiry from local post Of the
American Legion, the nationa
organization Of American world wal
veterans, - to the legion's attitude
on the bonus question, Henry D
Lindsey, chairman of the joint
national executive committee, says
the action of the St. Louis caucu.
Ia May, which unanimously tabled
resolution demanding bonus, i.
subject to review at the Minneapolis
convention in November il. accord
ance with wishes of the Legion's
members.
Will the Paris and St. Louis
caucu:cs were as representative as il
was possible at the time to make
! them, Mr.. Lindsey says, the
November convention really marks
the official birth of the American
Legion and will be so representa-
tive Ct ex-service men as to
determine policies which will in
every way represent the desire and
spirit of those who served in the
great war. The letter in full fol-
lows:
Dear Sir and Comrade:
Il "In reply to your letter OF
August 4, ! wish to inform you that
the It. Louis caucus of the American
Legion did not pass resolution
opposing q bonus from our federal
government to ex-service men. The
ia is that a resolution was offered
de landing such bonus and that a
delegate to the convention moved
to lay this resolution on the table.
This was the unanimous action of
the caucus, not a single vote being
cast against laying the resolution on
the table.
1T was the prevailing idea of the
St. Loris caucus that the time was
Mt Their ripe for the American
Legian to- 60 on record as favoring
any Of the various bonus plans pro-
pos d and that such action as the
American Legion might desire to
take ON this important subject
ought to be after general denolili-
zatio,., so that there could be the
fullest expression from practically
all ex-service men. The conven-
ton in November will be represen-
tative to this extent, and at this
convention the bonus question will
undoubtedly be determined in so
ia. as the American Legion is con-
Germ in accordance with the
wishes OF its membership.
1T should be clearly understood
that the action of the St. Louis
caucus is subject to such review at
til, Minneapolis convention as may
then be determined best. Certainly
it proper that there be the fullest
possible discussion of the entire
bonus question among the members
: OF the american Legion, so that the
November convention will correctly
represent the views of those who
served in the army and navy during
the recent war.
1.-THE November convention really
marks the official birth of the Amer
lea Legion. The CAUCUS at Paris
initiated the legion in the American
Expeditionary Forces and the eau
Gus in St. Louis carried this initia-
ito. forward in the United States.
Roth caucuses were as representa-
tive as was possible at the times to
mae them. But we are fully JUST
fed in believing that the convention
in November will be so representa-
tive as was possible at the time to
determine policies of the American
Legion which will in every way
represent the desire and the spirit
o. thoss who served in the great
war.
"Jn the meantime I wish you to
know that in regard to this bonus
question the national committee of
the American Legion is taking no
Official action and the representa-
tives of the legion who will attend
the November convention will have,
Of course, the. freest opportunity for
expressing their wishes and putting
these wishes into effect.
VERY Sincerely,
"HENRY D., LINDSEY,
Chairman"
The inquiry came from the chair
MAI and secretary of Sen1per Eide
lis Post, No. 1874, who wrote the
national executive committee:
at is our understanding that the
St. Louis caucus unanimously
voted as being opposed to the bonus
idea at that time.
while we find no strong senti-
ment in favor of bonus, at the
same time some of the cmbers
W. 1t 10 know whether the American
Legion has finally vetoed that idea,
or whether il is merely in allegiance
until the November convention"