davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1920-05-06
THAT THE COUNTRY MAY KNOW
The American Legion Believes 1t Is
Living Up to Its Highest Ideals
In Asking For the Passage
of the Compensation
Bill.
By JAMES E. DARST

~ OhHliND lS' DAhiNOi
This is the first of four article:
setting forth the reasons which de
termined The American Legion tC
lend the fight for an adjustment Of
compensation for ex-service men anC
women.)
The American Legion had moi
passed its first birthday when it was
called on to- solve one of the biggest
problems it probably will be called or
to face in many years.
1t was as if an infant were sud-
denly put to it to decide what his life
work should be.
1t was a delicate and puzzling
question too, differing in this from
the majority of American Legion
issues, whish are clear-cut and out
standing. We are banded together
"for God and Country to uphold and
defend the Constitution of the
United States of America. Surely
matters of policy should be easy of
determination with this broad
foundation to build upon.
But this question is not so easy.
Similar situations have arisen in
the past to puzzle the most intelli-
gent and sincere of men. The Con-
stitution of the United States is a
broad and noble charter But this
nation battled with a matter of
ethics fer fifty years until the solu-
ton could be postponed no longer
and Lincoln made the decision with
his words: "Ths country cannot exist
half slave and half free"
Easy enough-now. We second
guesses, with half century of
demonstration behind us, can be
complacent that Lincoln chose the
right way But it was not so easy
for Lincoln. The fifty years of
demonstration were ahead of and
not behind him.
So, The American Legion was
only few months old when this
"bonus question" came up for de-
cision.
Here we were, pledged to be the
nations defenders. Our ideals were
the loftiest; we were bound by the
hottest of pledges. Then, with our
hearts still thrilled by the sanctity
of our vows, we were put to it to
decide whether it was our duty to
ask our country for something.
The matter stood like this: Four
and half million men and women
had served the United States in the
World War. Were they entitled to
and compensation or assistance in
reestablishing themselves in addi-
ton to what they already had re
ceived?
Let us grant for a moment, they
were, and are entitled to extra com
pensatoon. Indeed, few persons
deny the justice of the claim. Then,
what should the compensation be?
How much? How based on service?
In what form payable?
Grant again that these questions
can be equitably answered by per-
The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1920-05-06
Liberal Produce Co
PHONE 344

forts service men underwent. No
good to mention to him the extreme
unpleasantness of being shelled; the
days and nights in mud and cold and
filth; the charge on machine gun nest ;
the dreary hours on destroyer or
sub-chaser; the hourly expectation
of sudden death on a transport; the
hunger and the pain and the anguish.
Perhaps the cold-blooded man will
argue that the cost of equaliZing the
condition of the service man and the
man who worked and profited, or en-
ployed and profted, would cost the
country "too much money" Remind
this man that the total cost of nine
teen months of our participation in
the war was twenty-nine billion dol
lars. If the American doughboy had
not finished the war at least six
months before military experts had
reason to believe he could finish it,
the extra six months would have cost
a third again as much, or about nine
billion dollars. The estimated cost of
three-billion dollar total. If the war
had lasted, the extra billions would
have been Forthcoming from some
source and the country would not
have been wrecked to raise it.
Vast sums of money were obtained
by Congress after the Armistice to
take care of war contracts. This
money was ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS it
was needed-without any hue and
cry being raised about it.
The sneering opponent of COM
pensation says it amounts to sand
bagging the government" Nothing
is said about the 100000 Ameri-
The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1920-05-06

and considered carefully. They got
all the facts and weighed all the evil
dence and then took what their
hearts and heads told them was the
right course.
Some of our fellow-citizens have
not carefully decided. They have
leaped at the easier solution. They
think the Legion has erred in asking
for payment of the debt to the ex-
service man, Some of these citizens
are former service men and women
themselves and members of The
American Legion.
If they knew all the facts it seems
certain they would decide as the Le-
gion as a whole has decided-that
the country does owe something and
should pay it; and that, since the
necessity arose, the Legion did right
to ask for payment. 1t is only fair
they should be given these facts.
what about the bonus?" you for
mer service men are asked
Tell the inquirer, first, that this is
not "bonus" you seek. 1t is just
and fair compensation. Tell him
what you want and why you want it.
A great many former service men
do not even know what the proposed
plan of compensation is. Perhaps in
their hearts they believe loyal Amer
leans always should give and never
take. So the Legion leaders thought,
until they heard all the evidence.
have been spread broadcast. The
real situation frequently has been
misrepresented, either through malic-
iousness or through ignorance. Too
much stress has been laid on the cash
compensation feature. As a matter of
fact it is realized this is the least de-
sirable, to the service man and to the
country. 1t is fairly assumed that
of former service men and
women will choose one of the other
three forms of compensation. But
of compensation have
croaked at the"raid on the treasury
as typified by the issuance of bonds !
to former soldiers. They have con-
viently forgotten the benefits of land
settlement, home and and vocational
training, not only to the service man
but to the country as well.
You have been told payment of |
would wreck the coun-
Try? Have you ever heard the answer
20 this? Have you ever pondered that !
four more months of the war would |
nave cost the country as much as the |
cost and that the money would have
been raised, somehow, without |
"wrecking" the country?
You have been told it was unpa-
,riotic to ask for compensation Have |
you questioned the motives and the
connections of the man who told you
this? How patriotic was he? The ar
advanced against your in
terests have been legion, and they
have been wrought by shrewd minds. |
They are all answerable and you
should know the answers.
Looking at it in mere dollars and |
cents way, soldiers and sailors I'M
were underpaid. The buck |
private at $50 a month was under
paid. His was hard job that requir-
ed skill, the aborption of training
courage and devotion. General |
Pershing was underpaid, at $4,000 |
a year for a $25O,00O a year job.
The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1920-05-06

cans who were unmarried and went
into shipyards and munition plants
and other necessary war work"
Did they sandbag the government
when they asked and received high
wages?
This man is the person who is so
fond of telling you that The Amer
lean Legion is forsaking its high
ideals by demanding what is due.
Does he say anything about the gov
eminent clerks who banded together
to get $50 a month bonus and who
now seek $40 month increase?
Next week we believe we can as
sumo it is proved that the former
service man was not paid enough and
we shall show he should get his extra
compensation now.
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1920-04-16
LABOR STRIKES A BOOMERANG

Three partners form the Company
of the Industrial World-Captial. La
bor, and the Public. These are the
stock holders, share holders, in the
material values accruing from their
respective invested interests. Neither
is independent of the other. United
they stand, divided they fall. If labor
standing between the two parties i'm
perils or impairs, the interests of the
others it is going to commit suicide.
and, sooner or later, invite the legal
infliction of an outraged public sent
lment. Private utilities will be fore
ed to become public utilities. The
Government will enact and enforce
(for public good such laws as will
safeguard the life and happiness of
the commonwealth. And So the Unions
are becoming more and more liable
to extinction. Not by threats and
force may they hope to attain the
ends of justice in IL free Republic
but by an appeal to arbitration for an
equitable and justifiablc regulation Of
their claims to living wage.
A distinguished speaker before n
labor union in Roanoke recently.
warned the unions of the dangers of
losing public sympathy, and of Com
hitting suicide" Mark my words"
he said, eff you lose public opinion
it will take one hundred years to re-
gain it to the extent that you now
have it."
A fate similar to that which be-
fell the saloon and the breweries in
this country, will befall any orguniza-
ton or society which renders itself
and conduct no longer endurable. The
public will find way to either regu-
late or destroy.
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1920-04-16
HOW TO MAKE THIS TOWN
BOOM.

No town can grow unless there is
constant inflow of people. This is
q trite statement, but true now and
always. More people means more
support for all purposes.
The merchants, schools. churches,
town and county revenues, good
roads, streets, electric cars, banks
all, everything, grows in proportion
exactly as the town increases in re-
sources, and greater resources are
wrapped up in population. The town
can double its population before the
next census. Is this desirable? Do
the people here desire the increase.
OF course, unless we are satisfied
with present conditions, which is
easily inferred from past history. But
growth is Il natural condition of all
live things-stagnation OF dead
things ,as we all know.
This article proposes to indicate
how and by what means the town can
double its population. Not by cstab-
fishing industries, not by building
more good roads. Manufacturing
plants are all right under proper con-
ditions, conditions which are want
ing here. Good roads are essential
but chiefly for present population OF
county, and convenience of transients
In the absence of one other necess
ity the town cannot grow. What is
is? Houses for people to live in. I,
goes without saying that no man cur
move his family to this or any other
town or community unless he car
find house to live in. Good roads
good schools, highways into the coal
iields-what good these to pcopl,
outside if there IRE no houses to BIZ
bought or rented?
The writer of these lines is in 4
position to know what he is talking
about. There are constant and in.
crensing inquiries here for houses
There are none for rent, and very
few for sale at II price within the
reach of the average man.
People want to come to Tazewell
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1920-04-16

II HAVE PLAYED THE FOOL"

The above expression was used a
long time ago by one of the Old Tes-
lament characters. 1t dawned upon
him after it was too late
Many man, land woman, tool,
have said the same thing since. And
before the coming and gong of many
moons, there will be large numbers
of Tazewell people thinking if not
saying, 81 have played the fool" What
people? Why the folks that have been
spending money lavishly, right and
left, for the past year or two, and
still at it. Listen to them wall pre-
sently, "What fool was"
This paper has sounded note OF
warning number OF times, as have
also other papers. But no attention
is paid. Every tide has it's cbb and
flow-comes and goes. The tide has
been coming i'll for good while now
1t has about reached high water
pun pIpM4no 8! oAom 9Xou oqI, 'YIrM
when it reccdes it will sweep numb
cr Of folks clear outside. Like Egypt,
we have our "fat years" and our
"lean years" Look out for the lean
years.
Save, economize, work every day.
~ have played the fool" may be your
cry. You will think d-if you don't
say it.
AS an offse to this somewhat pess-
imistic view, it is gladly noted, that
Mr.. Vail, one of the most level-head-
ed men, says that the United States
is not only the most prosperous coun-
try in the world, but that our great
est boom and prosperity is just ahead
of us, and gives his reasons for SO
believing.
His opinions are worth of credibi-
lily.
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1920-04-16

1t is fine residence town-good
schools, good churches, good water,
good stores, and a citizenry of the
best men and women in the world.
People will come to Tazcwcll if they
can find Il place to live. They can't
live in tents. They must have houses.
Tazcwcll and North Tazewcll can
double their population within a few
years if suitable houses can be fur
nished. If not, we will drag along as
usual, and confirm the impression
that "Tazcwell is a finished town."
The men and money we have amongst
US.
Wont some public spirited, unset
fish citizen rise up who will start
something? AS the auctioneer says:
"Are you all done?
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1920-04-16
CROP OUTLOOK NOT ENCoURAG
ING.

According to bulletin issued April
8 by the Agricultural Department,
the crop prospects for 1920 are not
so good in Virginia. In fact, the
wheat prospect is the poorest in
years. On April 1st the estimate was
80 per cent of normal, nearly 20 per
cent lower than last years crop.
In addition, there is IL per cent re-
duction in acreage from last year,
1919. Late seeding, severe and freq
uent freezes, are. given as the causes
for the falling off, according to this
bulletin.
In the United States at large the
estimate is rs per cent normal. At
this time last year the estimate was
over 80 per cent.
Owing to the lateness of the spring
season. prospects for bumper corn
crop is not very encouraging. The
farm labor question is serious, being
10 per cent less than last year, and
so per cent below normal require
ments.
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1920-04-16
COAL OPERATORS AND COAL
PRICES.

The increase in the price of Goa
seems to be governed entirely by thu
law of supply and demand, and no
fairly chargcablc to greed on the par
of the operators.
The writer saw Il letter last week
written by II coal buyer to an opera
tor, Offering $3.50 ton for all tn
coal the operator would sell him, an
minated that he would pay more
necessary. The operator asks, can 20
blame us for accepting the high,
prices when offered us, particular
unsolicited?
This is the explanation. There is
great shortage in cars. Transports
ton is seriously hampcred. Til
creates scarcity of coal at Ncwpoi
News for shipment to large center.
Coal buyers send their agents int
the fields in person or by letter, an
bid against each other for coal, tn
same as at public auction o
course, the highest price takes til
goods. If coal is sold at SIS or So
ton to the wholesale buyers, the cor
sumcrs in town and cities must e.
pect to pay higher prices, or demar
that the operators lose money.
Something like the above is IL
situation, which if fully understood
would prhaps save some of the c,
ticisms hurled ut them.
On the other hand, there are pc
pie around here and sensible pcopl
too, who contend that the coal oper
tors, railroads and even labor union
are all in cahoot, banded together, I
regulnte prices to suit themselves.
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1920-04-16

This outlook is not encouraging to
the consumers of bread and meat.
The farmers, it would appear arc
pretty we'll assured of top prices for
what they may grow for market.
There is A per cent decrease in
breeding sows in Virginia, and 10
per cent decrease in the United
States, over last year. This means
high priced meat next fall. This pic
ture is gloomy enough without add
ing the probable destruction Of much
of the fruit crop by unfavorablc
weather. But we will all get along
somehow.
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1920-04-16

When labor union men bolt, mutiny,
ely authority and regard agree
ents as Scraps of paper" as in
he strike of switchmcn now on. right
hcn mob rule sets in, and the seeds
disntegration begin to sprout.
nbor unions" are doomed to dis
'pt if such uncivilized, anarchistic
cthods are tolerated.
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1920-04-16

Another suggestion: Mr.. Bryan
dominates as candidate for the
Presidency, the new Secretary of Ag-
riculture and editor of Successful
Farming, Mr.. Meredith. Beins, as
ow MIR. Meredith is an editor we
eel kindly.
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1920-04-16
BLOWN-IN-THE-BOTr MER-
CHANTS.

The Chicago Tribune says "there
are two kinds of merchants. One
sells his old stock at old prices, the
other marks up the old stock to the
new prices. The latter are blown-in-
the bottle proiitcers." DO you know
one or both Of these gentlemen?
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1920-04-16

"Iioover's support Tin California;,
comes largely from the old reac-
tionary Republicans, led by the Los
Angeles Times" says Hiram John
sons campaign manager. A hard blow
if true. Nevertheless, if Hoover should
carry California he is still a long
jump from the White House.
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1920-04-16

Wouldn't it jar you to hear of a
trike ordered to avenge some one or
iore of the wrongs and sufferings
f the public?
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1920-04-16

A New England shoe compa,
made one hundred per cent and ov
on last years sales. The sales la:
year were only 81 per cent great,
than the year before. says Cincil
natl paper. This is interesting.
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1920-04-16

This strike is largely, rs are all
trlkes, sympathetic strike" said
ne of the leaders of the strike in the
'iices of the N. and w. Sympathy"
here and with whom? Noh the pub
certainly.
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1920-04-16

The women OF Roanoke are or
anizing bungalow Apron" clubs.
What next?
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1920-04-16

low ABOUT A BAREFOOTED
CLUB?
New-York tribune., 1920-12-05
Argentina Quits League
Because of Its Refusal
10 Admit All Nations
Collapse of League Predicted;
U. 5. View Upheld, Says Lodge
Senate lrreconciables Assert Withdrawal of Argen
tine ENJOYS Means Failure Even Be-
fore They Expected 1t
I-o0I 1Ne T1l5lo,.-e Nasatnaton Rnrcou

l'oo 4Ae T'a5inr's Wdsa{ngton Bureau
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-There was
COY among the irreconcilablcs on the
treaty to-day at the report that Arec0-
tina he'd Withdrawn from the League
OF Nations, the idea that the "collapse
mad started sooner than even we
hoped" being the most prevalent.
The reservationist group. headed bv
senator Lodge, seemed pleased that
other countries were now discovering
that the Wilson covenant was far from
perfect and would need important
changes to make it workable.
Meanwhile, there is discoverable no
where any opposition so far to the pro-
posal of Senator Harding for some sort
OF association of nations which would
work toward the end of avoidlrg wars
without either any alliance OF any
super government. Practically every
lrreconcilable in town has expressed
III the last few days the hope that
something along the line Senator Har-
ding has been talking about cou!d be
worked out. and it is thought that the
next President viii find, at the outset
at least, very warm support from ell
factions on the treaty dispute
Following are some Of the views
expressed to-day on the news from
New-York tribune., 1920-12-05

Geneva about the Argentine Republics
action:
Senator Lodge. of Massachusetts,:
am very much interested in the
report from Geneva. but We do not
know enough to pass any Judgment
upon It. The indications seem to be
that some of the nations represented
IN the league are beginning TO find out
objections to it which we discovered
nearly two years ago"
Senator Moses, of New Hampshire:
Has the Argentine fulfilled all its
international obligations and all other
Obligations under the covenant? Other
wise Lord Cecil. member of Parliament
from Oxford and delegate to the
League of Nations from South Africa.
VIII have something to say about it.
The Argentine has now discovered
what the Senate irreconcilables have
always known, namely. that the COW
eHant OF the League of Nations is a
straltJacket too narrow to contain a
great and powerful and independent
people"
Senator Borah, Of Idaho:
The Argentine has started the stam-
pede. All except Great Britain will
follow in due course Of time"
Senator Ashurst. Of Arizona:
Sic transit gloria mundi (thus pass.
es the glory of the world)."
Senator Knox, Of Pennsylvania:
THE inevitable disintegration has
begun little earlier than / had antici
pated"
New-York tribune., 1920-12-05
Greeks Cling
10 oPlcbiscite:
Allies Defied
Premier Says Election Will
BE Held To-day, in Spite
OF Warning; Cabinet Not
to Resign at Present
View of Powers AssaiIed
Critics of Constantine VIII
Be Asked TO Show How
the Ex-king Was DislovaI

Al AIHtNS, Dec. 4 (By The Associated
Press).-Premier Rhalls said def
niteiy to-day that the pebiscite on the
return of former King Constantine
would be held Sunday, despite the atti-
tude Of Great Britain, France and Italv.
He also asserted that the Cabinet would
not resign for the present.
Constantine. the Premier added. still
was counting on returning, and the
Cabinet would issue note So the Al
lies asking in what way Constantine
was disloyal and also how Greece failed
III her OBJ cations or showed herself
hostile, as asserted in the Allied note
to the Greek government.
Tie Prime Minister, who is eighty
years old, in discussing the Allied note
IN the Foreign Office at 2 O'Clock this
morning was pointed in his criticism
OF the Allied course.
"Ihe note came as a SURPRISE" said
N. Ehalls "ln it the Allies saw thew
Dc not wish to interfere in our internal
affairs. Then | would like to know
what arc they doing now by sending
such note?
The Allies say they are painfully
surprised by such events. What events E?
1t is merely that we nold elections in
which the people expressed their will,
and that is what elections are for. The
Allies pushed Venizelos to hold the
elections, although the royalists op-
posed Them.
Contracts With Allies Valid
BY the election the people have
shown they want Constantine. They
also gave Ncnizelos his political death
blow, pilins him in Il huge tomb Of I'M
favorable voirs. He cannot return. The
Greek peop.e stu are willing to carry
cut the contracts undertaken with the
Allies.
1t is the Allies who arr falling us.
If the Cabinet should resign what
tCon.nued next psse)
New-York tribune., 1920-12-05
Crowds Cheer Mrs. MacSwinev
From Landing at Pier TO Hotel
Greeting to Widow of Mayor of Cork Extended bv
Thousands in Fifth Avenue; III Thank
America,'' She Says

Mrs. Muriel MacSwiney, widow of
Terence MacSwiney, who died in Brx-
ton Prison. London, stepped ashore
from the liner Celtic, with her sister
in-law, Miss Mary MacSwiney, yester-
day into the midst of an unplanned
but boisterous welcome For fifteen
minutes the two Irshwomcn were
jostled and pushed IN the center of a
mob of impassioned enthusiasts, each
one striving eagerly to shake the hand
of the widow Of the Lord Mayor of
Cork.
Mrs. MacSwiney brought with her q
message from her countrymen. which
she issued after she had been rescued
from her admirers and had reached
the security of the Hotel St. Regis. In
1t she said that her husband and her
self always expected America would
help Ireland win its freedom. and con-
cluded by saying:
We feel in Ireland that Amor;ca
has greater responsibility in the
matter than any other land on account
OF her fine traditions and her war
pledges, and because there are so
many millions of our kin in this conn.
try"
Police Blunder at Pier
The unplanned welcome to Mrs
MacSwiney and her sister-in-law came
as a direct result of a blundcr nv tho