New-York tribune., 1920-11-25
N. Y. State Commander
DenOunces Collection of
ST. From Veterans to
Push Federal Bonus
Committees Are Prepar-
ing for M e M b ers ship
Drive, Which Will Be On
in Earnest i'm Few W eeks

Emphatic disapproval OF the activi-
ties of the so-called National Bonus
Drive Committee. with headquarters
at the Hotel Majestic, Seventy
Street and Central Park West, has been
expressed by Charles G. Blakeslee,
commander Of the American Legion in
New York State.
This committee, some of whose mem
hers were leading spirits in the or
ganization of the recent bonus parade,
in Fifth Avenue, has circularized
American Legion posts throughout the
state, asking each veteran to contrib
ute 81 to fund for the purpose of
paying the expenses of a campaign for
the Federal bonus. The State Com
mander does not believe a fund neces-
sary, and as proof he is right he points
to the splendid work done by Legion
naires in getting bonus legislation
through the state legislature and the
partial success Of the appeal IN WASH
ington last year, without the eXpendl-
tare Of a dollar.
ut cannot be too strongly impressed
upon the posts" Commander Blakeslee
said yesterday, "that this dollar con
tribution plan will not aid the passage
of the national bonus in any way, but
on the contrary, may tend to arouse
prejudice against the eX-servlce man
by putting him in q most untavoraole
light with the general public.
A statement issued by the Legion
head yesterday read in part:
"My attention has been called to GER
tain ex-service men who are circular
izino The American Legion posts of the
state in the name of the National BONUS
Drive Committee, with headquarters at
the Hotel Majestic, New York. Tins
committee. acting apparently on It's
own responsibility and othcered by men
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, ls
asking each individual member of the
Legion to contribute 81 to assist IN
financing a national bonus drive havlng
as it's object the passage OF some red
eral bonus bill.
"The national executive committee
of the American Legion formulated
and presented to Congress at its last
session the national fourtold bonus
bill 1t was drawn by the American
Legion, presented TO Congress by the
national committee of the Legion ana
passed the House of presentatives.
It is now in the hands Of the Senate,
having been referred to the Senate
Committee on Finance.
an nv opinion it is absolutely uR-
necessary to raise any funds to carry
on q drive for the passage Of this bill.
No organization or committee can
force Favorable action on the part of
the Senate through the public collec-
ton of funds The national executive
committee Of the Legion will meet in
Washington at the time the Senate
convenes and is amply capable, IN
view of its past record in this very
matter, to take care Of any situation
which may arise.
"Proposition No. was carried in
this state by majority Of 5000
through the efforts of the American
Legion and without the solicitation Of
funds.
"Wc must present a united front on
this proposition and refrain from doing
anything that will tend to injurc the
passage of the national bonus and
leave the matter entirely TO the sense
of justice which is strongly inherent
III the national legislative bodies"