Gunnison news-champion., 1920-05-07
THE AMERICAN LEGION AND
THE BONUS QUESTION

. E2Al4.Ha -lHA 20 Ey4Nf one Rl tslt u4sstrA
pro- aras that il probably will be ask
ed 90 lace in many years-
]: vas A. II an infant were sudden
/ ly pat 20 i 20 decide what its LIES
WoT. would be.
S. the American Legion was
I but y fgE months old when this ques-
/ tor a very delicate and puzzling one,
! can. lp i0E decision.
Here we we're pledged 70 b. the IA
l ti0r offenders Our ideals were the
I lOft..sf, gge we're bound by the hohesi
Of pledges. Then, with our hearts
/ still thrilled by the sanctIty of our
vow. ae were TO decide what was our
duty 10 this matter.
The easiest way out would have
I been 20 cater 20 eNpediency in solving
tn problem. The Legion could have
/ pointed with pride 20 its lofty ideals,
and have asserted that II the nation
did not care 70 compensate US, we
I would not unDsnd TO ask We could
I have said: We love our country and
cannot ask it for anything; We want
TO give, not take"
Beautiful sentiments! How every
one would have applauded the deei-
sion The boys who fought, but who
| scUrned 20 ask. What wonderful
I idCallsm!
The decision was not an easy one.
Il vas made only after the Legion
Leaders had looked deeply and consid-
end carefully They got all the facts
ani weighed all the evidence and they
took what their hearts and their heads
told them was the right course
Some have not so carefully decided.
They have lcaped ut the easiest solu-
tion and believe that there have been
errors in this system.
You have been told that payment of
| com - cnsation would wreck the coun-
try Have you also heard the answer
1 TO this2 The war ended six months
sooner than the best military experts
thought possible. Four months more
of war would have cost more than the
proposed program. II the war had
continued, this money would have
ben raised, and the country would
not have been wrecked. So, that ques-
tion Is answered.
How abou. shipyard and munition
wo rkers who received from $40 TO $50
pc day, and other government work
ers who demanded and received bon
use as their wages? Was this sand
bagging the government?
Let US see what other nations have
done in this respect:
France has paid her soldiers $50. 90
To S233.35, according to rank, and
higher grades get correspondingly
higher gratuties.
Italy pays S3474 70 s63.93 TO priv
a,cs, and up to ss52.42 to a major-gen-
eTal. OF course, living is much cheap
er in Italy.
England pays privates 'S24.30 TO
Si0i.94, according to length of SER
/ vice. and up to S729.40 to a major gen
tefal. Field Marshal Sir Douglas
Haig and Admiral Sir David Beatty
each get si00,000.0o.
Canada has advanced bonuses to the
amount of $1,000 per man for con-
structive purposes.
Even Germany. overwhelmed with
misfortune, was able to pay com
pensation.
These nations are much less able
to pay than our own country. The
public debt Of Great Britain is 40 per
cent of the nations wealth. France.
also, owes 30 per cent of her national
resources. Germany's debt comes to
53 per cent The outstanding obliga-
ton of the United States is less than
per cent of the total wealth of the
country. These facts speak for them
selves.
What have other wars cost in this
respect through pensions?
After the Revolution soldiers and
their widows got $500 per month,
which was later increased to $1,000
per month.
Pensions for the various Indian
wars ranged from $500 to $1,000 per
month.
After the Civil War. pensions were
granted. and increased until now any
person who served 80 days or longer,
gets up to $50 per month. The Con-
federate States, although bankrupt,
provided for veterans. During the
Civil War, large bonuses We're paid
to get men TO enlist, running as high
as 500 per man. Was that putting
a price on patriotism? Spanish War
Veterans receive $1,000 per month in
pensions.
How does the compensation COM
pare with pensions? In the first place
it does away with pensions. The
soldier gets this in lump sum which
enables him to do something. 1t is
therefore, much more economical and
more efficient than pensions. PEN
sions would cost the government many
times over the figures of the pro-
posed program.
This program is not for the benefit
of the ex-serice men alone, but for
the entire nation.
How much is it worth to the United
States to have a million more produc-
ing farmers in the days of 15c milk,
25c sugar, and 10c potatoes? How
much is it worth to add millions of
new home-owners in these nervous
days of readjustment?
How much is it worth to the United
States to add millions to the ranks
of trained workmen in these days of
insufficient production?
Farm-owners, home-owners, skilled
worimen-they are the foundation of
the nation and always an influence
for peace and prosperity.