Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-03-12

M4f%EM been called by Franklin
RWS T9N D'Olicr, national com
EGuNNIg mander of the Legion.
N9tV The first will be a meet
@5I2# ing of the national bene-
fetal legislation com
rittee. the chairman Of which is A. A.
Snrague, of Chicago. 1t VIII meet at
tbe Hotcl Raleigh. The second con
ference will be one Of the national .ex-
aort;vc committee of the American
feg;on and National Commander
D'Olier will preside.
The first meeting has been called in
order that the committee may work out
more in detail recommendations for
honefcial legislation to submit to the
Dnotional executive committee when 1t
meets on Monday, March %. In calling
this latter meeting Mr.. D'Olier has noti-
fed the leaders Of the Legion In every
state as follows:
.tThe legislative situation in Wash
inrtop regarding beneficial legislation
for ex service men, especially relating
70 adjustment of compensation, is such
that il is deemed advisable to hold
meeting Of the national executive com
mittee at the Hotel Raleigh IN Wash
inston on Monday, March ~. Each
state should be represented and each
representative should be able to speak
with authority as to the wishes of the
American Legion in his state and assist
in working out in detail program OF
beneficial legislation which will repre-.
sent the ideas of the American Legion
and also be consistent with the welfare
of the country, and therefore likely to
mass Congress. This conference is very
important and means much to the ex-
service man and to the country as well.
and to the American Legion
Opposition to the proposed adjusted
compensation for former service men
was voiced last night by the Benjamin
Franklin Post No. 405 by resolution
adopted at its meeting In the Chamber
OF Commerce assembly room, Chestnut
and Juniper streets.
This post took action in accordance
with the suggestion of the Department
Of Pennsylvania on the question Of ad-
justed compensation. Every post in the
state is expected to report to the de-
partment by March 1S its stand on this
legislative issue in order that the state
commander of the Legion may be in a
position properly to report the senti-
ment of their membership at the confer
ence Of state commanders called by the
national commander, Franklin D'Olier,
in Washington March %.
DR.. William +. Ashton and DIR. NJ.
B. Miller lead the opposition to the So
called bonus. ~ believe" said Doctor
Miller. that IL this bonus bill is passed
We, as former service men, will place
ourselves in precisely the same position
as proiteers.
Doctor Ashton said that what we
did in the war we did because it was
our duty. We did not 90 to Europe to
help France or to help England, but
we went because the first line trenches
were in Europe
a resolution was then presented by
DR.. Robert s., McCombs to the effect
that the Benjamin Franklin Post voice
its opposition to any form of bonus to
the former service men, and this was
carried by an overwhelming vote.
Pennsylvania history on the so called
bonus proposal is a bit checkered. First
Of all, the state cantonment, which con
vened in Harrisburg. adopted resolu-
tior against any bonus. Secondly. the
state delegation in the national conven-
ton in Minneapolis opposed the bonus.
but joined with the delegates from other
states in approving recommendation
that Congress determine what form Of
adjusted compensation should be meted
world war.
Then the Philadelphia county com
mittee, representing the seventy eight
posts in this city, approved the rec
ommendation Of the national executive
committee of the Legion to the effect
that adjusted compensation should be
given former service men. This was done
iE the presence of the national com
mand er and following the recommenda-
lion by the national executive commit
tee to Congress to this effect.
Now, the various posts throughout
the county are placing themselves on
record for or against the bonus, the
majority opinion Of the posts in this
county. however, being in favor Of some
form of adjusted compensation.
From a state standpoint, it would
seem that the majority Of the posts
throughout the state will favor some
form of bonus. 1t is altogether likely,
therefore, that George f. Tyler, the
commander of the Department of Penn.
sylvania. will go to the conference
March % prepared to report that the
american Legion in Pennsylvania favors
by majority vote a bonus for former
service men,. The posts that are ex-
pressing opposition to any form of ad-
nsted compensation are like the oasis
IN the desert-tew and far between.
The Harry lngerSoll Post. No. ia,
IS planning a membership drive. The
post meets on the third Thursday in
each month in the assembly room OF the
chamber Of Commerce, Widener Build
Ing; Juniper and Chestnut streets, Phil
adelphia.
The present membership is over 400
and 1t is especially desired that every
former service man having residence
or office in the central part Of the city
should become n member, and applca
dence.
post membership committee has
been appointed by II. n. Tully, the post
commander. as follows: Charles J. Bid &.
dic, John W. Brock, Jr.. Robert X.
,assatt, Burton Chance, NJ. D.. viii.
liam j. Flynn, Hobart A. Hare, NJ. d, .,
Hiram Huber, Jacob Keck, Murdoch
Nendrick, Francis A. Lewis, Sd. John
~ iroome. JASPER Y. Brinton, Henry
l.. Mcmillan, Edmund II. Nash, David
~ Newbold. Jr., l.. Irving Reichner,
n; Eowen Roper, Jos"ph =. Savage w.
llunket Stewart, II. r. Tully, T. John :
son son Ward, the Rev Joseph l.. NJ. Wolfe,