The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1920-02-27
Congress to Be Asked to Award $50
for Every Month Spent in the
Service.

A concentrated drive has been made
on congress for a bond issue of ST.
900 900 in soldier bonuses by the
American legion. Nine members have
been designated to take charge of the
campaign.
Legion Officers Disguised.
The legion executives are disguised
with the leaders in congress for their
attempts to dodge the two subjects of
bonuses and universal military train
ing favored by the legion. So far the
legion has been disposed to give con-
gress its advice and go no further,
relying on that body to do something
later. 1t has gone on record for uni
versal military training and is making
an active campaign to get this legis-
lation adopted.
The democratic caucus held on Feb
ruary 9th, it developed, was largely
responsible for the legion turning it's
guns on congress. A telegram had pre-
~viously been sent to the caucus saying
that the legion favored universal mil
itary training and urged the democrats
not to 60 on record against such a
policy. The democrats paid no atten-
ton to what the legion had to say.
Showdown Demanded.
The executive committee held a
meeting at Indianapolis February II.
After hearing a report from Chairman
J. w. Miller of the legislative CON-
mittee, who reported that there ap-
peared to be slight hope of the legis-
lation before election, the committee
decided that the legion might as we'll
have a showdown with congress now
as later. By a unanimous vote it was
agreed that nothing should be left un-
done to get bonuses for former SER
vice men and force through universal
training.
Reversing the action Of the st. Louis
and Minneapolis, conventions, the exec
utive committee voted to ask congress
for a $50 bond for every person who
was in the service a month and an
additional $50 bond for each addition
al month of service. This would elm
mate from bonuses the thousands of
men who were called to the colors and
released at once.
1t was estimated a bond issue of
$1,000, 900 900 would be necessary. The
average bonus, it was figured would
be $4OO as the average service was
eight months.
The committee which Commander
D'Olier has appointed, is expected to
clay down" on congress at once. The
plan of campaign calls for legion del
egations from every state to visit here
and have sessions with the congress
sional delegates from their states.
The intention is to force the bonus
legislation to a vote before election.
While the legion has decided on two
occasions that it will not engage in
politics, the bonus drive that now is
being prepared will put the legion
squarely in politics. 1t will be made
plain to every senator and represen-
tative that the legion will oppose at
the fall election every candidate who
opposes the bonus bill. The legion
executive committee has adopted about
the same tactics as the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor, except that it is 60
ing to deal with specific matters and
not generalities.
The legion, in it's drive IN congress,
will not use the expression "bonus."
1t will be adjusted compensation
The legion says all it wants for for
mer service men is justice. Statistics
have been compiled showing that the
average savings account increased
$40O during the war. The legion takes
the ground that this sum represents
the economic gain during the war of
the person who stayed at home. The
soldier completed his service without
a cent in his pockets. The government
gave him $50, which in this era of
high prices, was scarcely enough to
buy a suit of clothes. The legion takes
the position that the former service
man is entitled to the same economic
gain as the mar who stayed at home,
or $4O0.
Bonds, Not Cash Settlement.
The legion recognizes that a cash
"settlement" is out of the question
so it will urge bonds. The average
service was found to be eight months,
so a $50 bond for each month of SER
vice was decided as a legitimate claim
to make of the government.
Opposition to bonus legislation in
congress has been chiefly that Of econ
omy. Republican leaders have opposed
universal training on the same
grounds.
The legion is understood to be pre-
pairing a vigorous campaign in behalf
of universal military training, too. II
congress is permitted to dodge the is
sue now it will keep m lodging it fol
years to come, in the opinion of the
legion officers, it is said.
One excuse now being offered il