The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-05-28
LEGION ASKS FOR NO BONUS
Service Men Merely Seek Assistance
From Government In Overcoming
Financial Disadvantages.

One Of the biggest legislative ques-
lions now occupying the attention of
the American Legion has to do with
the adjustment of compensation of the
ex-service man, and all the members
throughout the country have been ask
ed to aid through their congressional
representatives in securing the enact
ment of the legion's bill.
The bill which the legion is Indoors
ing embraces: land settlement, where
by former service men and women
receive $1.50 for each day of service,
to apply on the purchase Of land and
government projects, or loans for buy
ing equipment; home aid, with So for
each day of service to apply on the
purchase of a home or farm; voca-
tional training with $1.50. for each day
of service to be paid as long as the
recipients are obtaining education
from the government; or, cash COM
pensation of $1.50 for each day of
service, to be paid within year after
the approval of the bill.
Speaking in connection with what
the national executive committee of
the American Legion regards as fair
treatment for ex-service men as above
outlined, Franklin D'Olier, national
commander Of the American Legion,
said:
"The overwhelming majority of ex-
service men feel strongly that this gov
eminent owes an obligation to all
persons who were handicapped either
bodily or financially because of mill
tary or naval service during the recent
war.
'The American Legion, representing
over one million ex-service men and
women spoke very plainly on this point
at its national convention last No
vember.
Although this obligation to the dis
abled men, handicapped bodily, was
universally acknowledged, it required
special meeting of the American Lee
gion in Washington during December,
over year after the signing of the
armistice, to secure satisfactory &C
ton by congress for the disabled man
to the end that he would no longer be
an object Of private charity but could
live on his Increased compensation al
lowances.
'The average man has been out of
the service one year, and outside Of
the sixty dollars which hardly bought
him a civilian outfit, he has received
no aid from his government in over
coming the handicap incidental to his
service.
"The American Legion asks for no
bonus-wants no bonus. That sounds
too much like gift or present from
the government. 1t merely asks the
government to assist the eX-service
man in overcoming some Of the finan-
cial disadvantages incidental to his
military or naval service.
"It asks that each of the four fea-
lures suggested shall only be as lib
eral as is consistent with the welfare
of the whole country. The American
Legion asks nothing in its selfish in
terests at the expense of the country,
but at the same time does not feel
that this obligation to ex-service men
and women should be altogether pass
ed by at this time and all economic
ing done at the expense of the ex-serv-
ice men.
IF legislation is wisely framed COW
ering land settlement, home aid and
vocational training, every dollar in
vested by the government will bring
ultimately great returns to the; country
by making the ex-service man better
citizen and greater producer and will
increase the wealth of the nation.
Having waited over a year, it is
not unreasonable to now expect some
action showing that the interests Of
the ex-service men have not been al
together forgotten.
"All that the American Legion asks
is as liberal treatment as is consist
ent with the welfare of the whole
country-legislation that is fair to the
ex-service man and at the same time
just as fair to the entire nation as
we'll"