The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1920-03-19
THE SOLDIER BONUS.

Not all ex-service men are agreed
| that the American Legion's executive
committee did the wise thing in ask
| ing for bonus for all ex-service men
| of $50 month. The Post at Nash
vile has not endorsed the demand.
The Post at Rome, Ca, refused to APP
prove 1t and in many OF the daily pa
pers letters from members of the A. e.
f. are being published protesting
against the granting of the bonus.
Republican and democratic leaders
in congress have warned of the dire
consequences to the treasury If fur
Their debt of two billions of dollars
incurred at this time.
1t is rather difficult to understand
how the executive committee of the
legion arrived at its conclusion to
make specific request for bonus
in the light of the resolution adopted
at the last annual convention of the
American Legion. That convention
adopted this resolution:
'Be it resolved, That while the
American Legion was not founded for
the purpose of promoting legislation
in it's selfish interest, yet it recog-
nizes that our Government has an
obligation to all service men and wo-
men to relieve the financial disad-
vantages incidental to their military
servce-an obligation second only to
that of caring for the disabled and
for the widows and orphans of those
who sacrificed their lives and one
already acknowledged by our Allies
but the American Legion feels that
it cannot ask for legislation in its
selfish interest, and leaves with con-
fidence to the Congress the discharge
of this obligation"
Discussing the action of the Rome,
Ga, Post the News of that city makes
these sensible observations
"Ex-service men affiliated with
the Joseph Attaway Post of the
American Legion deserve commenda-
ton for their action last night in re-
fusing to join in the demand for a
bonus from the government for their
services. 1t was such action as
might have been expected from the
veterans of the world war represent
ing county. that ranked second in
the United States in number of
volunteers. 1t was such action as
men Of patriotic rather than selfish
impulse might have been expected to
take.
1.-THE question of bonuses for ex-
service men is one that appeals to
the selfish instincts at first considera-
ton, but close study of it reveals con-
ditions that even the person of strict
ly selfish instinct would not approve.
No matter how much bonus is grant
ed the men it eventually will come
largely from their own and the peck |
cts of their families besides serving
to further initiate monetary values
and thus raise notch higher the al
ready high cost of living.
Nobody, whether he be a veteran
or lowly civilian who was not per-
mitted to wear uniform, would be-
grdudge any bonus or compensation |
to soldier, sailor or marine who &C.
tually is in financial distress or whose
family is hardship brought about by |
hs service for his country. But
leyel-hcaded patriots, whether they |
be men who served in the uniformed
branches of the country's forces or
occupied only the insignificant places
of civilians during the war; cannot
approve a blanket bonus to all ex-
service men regardless of the nature
of their service, the sacrifice made
by them or their present needs. This,
it seems, is the attitude taken by the
Joseph Attaway Post in the refusal
to be party to the demand that con-
gress provide the proposed bonus"
4