The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-03-11
IT'S A LOT OF MONEY, BUT

IT'S A LOT OF MONEY, BUT
Washington (Iowa) Democrat: Thu
action of the national executive com
mittee of the American Legion seek
ing a war bonus, or adjusted compen
sation," for the four million men who
saw service during the World War is
causing considerable comment al
over the country. The plan woult
provide a payment of $50 for every
month in service to each eX-soldiel
and sailor, total of about $1,90O,000,.
900, according to experts who have
estimated the bonus plan.
1t is quite natural that comment in
presidential year should lay much
stress on questions of economy when
considering so great an expenditure
and quite natural that people who are
not directly interested would look
with more or less disfavor on a ma
tional bonus. And it is again the nat
ural thing that veterans of the wal
want the bonus, and are willing to
work hard to get it. Action by state
delegations will push the proposal in
Congress-, and opponents are pretty
well agreed that if the country's four
millions veterans ask bonus, it will
be given to them.
Here's statement from the nation
al commander of the Legion, an or
ganization over two million strong,
which has made adjusted compensa-
ton" a slogan: "The American SOL
der is not seeking pay for his patriot
ism. Nothing can recompense him for
the sacrifices he made. The American
Legion believes, however, that it is
possible to relieve him of his financial
disadvantages which his war service
entailed. Savinrs-bank deposits in
the last few years have increased on
the average of $500 per capita. The
government saw fit to grant to govern
ment clerks bonus for war-service
rendered in the safety of the nation
al capital. Workmen safely ensconced
in ship-yards and munitions plants
were rewarded for their war-service
by exceptionally high wages. The Am
erican soldier does not want bonus;
he wants fair play
Among objections expressed are
t,lose which do not approve of giving
compensation now so long after de-
mobilization, arguing that the aid is
no longer necessary and would only
encourage additional spending. There
is little doubt that among four mil
hon men suddenly supplied with from
500 to $500, few could be found
who would handle it foolishly,-almost
as foolishly as Congressman handle
pork barrel plums, but the majority
of men aided in this manner have set
tied in civilian life to a sensible real
ization of money value, of the loss
they sustained during the war, and
the opportunities for home an dbusi-
ness building which are theirs. Any
one of the four million can tell you
that his disposal of added government
compensation today would be far diff
ferent and more sensible from dis
posal on the day of his discharge from
the service.
Other objections are largely based
on economic considerations, with in
definite threats of disaster if the coun-
try's indebtedness is increased by
nearly two billion. And yet the same
individuals failed to find serious fault
with the tremendous drain on our
funds when each day of war meant
millions expended; they would even
admit that our participation for a
much greater period than two mil
lion dollars would pay would easily
have been possible-ahd not then de-
stroy the country's financial founda-
ton. What wonderful thing is
economy in presidential year! What
a horror have some people of spending
money from which they cannot direct
ly benefit! 1t is quite easy to under
stand how large group favors uni
versal military training and the ex-
penditure of nearly two billion over
a period of years for that purpose, yet
find no favorable point in providing
proper pay for men whose service is
over.
If the ex-service men want the COM
pensation, they should have it. If they
go after it, they will get it. Any
doubtful ones might take year ortwo
off in the army at $50 per,-and re-
fleet on the financial disadvantage of
the position.