The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-02-20
G. N. Mp. BURLINGTON
COMBINE, IS PLAN
AMERICAN LEGION IN
sIsTs ON BONUS
Congress to Be Asked to Award
$50 for Every Month Spent
In Service.


Washington, Feb. PA conceI
trated drive on Congress for a bono
issue of $1,000, 10000 in soldier bonus
es will be opened here Monday by the
American Legion when Commander
Franklin D'Olier arrives to designate
a committee of nine members tc
take charge of the campaign.
Legion Officers Angry.
Word reached here from Indiana
polls that the executive officers of
the Legion are up in arms over the
manner in which the leaders of both
parties in Congress are trying to
dodge going to bat on two subjects in
which former service men are vitality
interested. These are bonuses and
universal military training.
On the matter of bonuses the Leg
ion has been disposed to give Congress
its advice and go no further, relying
on Congress to do something later
1t is on record for universal training
and is making an active campaign to
get this legislation adopted.
The Democratic caucus Monday
night, it develops, is largely respon-
sible for the Legion turning its guns
on Congress at this time. A tele-
gram was sent to the caucus saying
the the Legion favors universal train
ing and urging the Democrats not
to go on record against such a policy.
The Democrats paid no attention to
what the Legion had to say.
Show Down Demanded Now.
The executive committee of the
Legion held meeting Wednesday at
Indianapolis. After hearing a report
from chairman j. w. Miller of the
legislative committee who reported
that there is no hope of the legisla-
tion before election, the committee
decided that the Legion might as well
have show down with Congress now
as later. By 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 executive 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 additional month of service
This would eliminate from bonuses
he thousands of men who were call
ed to the colors and released at once.
1t was estimated bond issue of
Il, 300, 100000 would be necessary The
average bonus, it was figured would
,e s400 as the average service was
Eight months.
Delegations From Every State.
The committee, which Commander
)'Olier will name Monday, is expect
ID to "lay down" on Congress at once.
rhe plan of campaign calls for
legion delegations from every state
o visit here and have sessions with
delegations from their
tates.
The intention is to force the ponus
egislation to vote before election.
While the Legion has declared on two
occasions that it will not engage in
'olitics, the bonus drive that now is
eing prepared will put the Legion
quarely in politics. 1t will be made
lain to every senator and rerrestn-
ative that the Legion viii oppose at
he fall election every candidate who
pposes the bonus bill. The Legion
xecutive committee has adop-ed
out the same tactics as the Aneri- !
an Federal of Labor, except that ii |
) going to deal with SPECIAL matters
I'D not generalities
The Legion in its drive on Con-
ress, will not use the expression
bonus. 1t will be adjusted COM
The Legion says all 1t
Tants for former service men is JUS
ice. Statistics have been compiled
howing that the average savings
ccount increased $400 during the
rar. The Legion takes the ground
hat this sum represents the eco
omic gain during the war of the
ersOn who STAYED at home. The
older completed his service without
cent in his pockets. The govern
rent gave him $50, which in this
RI Of high prices, wa sscarcely en-
ugh to buy suit of civilian clothes.
he Legion takes the position that
lc former service man is entitled to
le same economic gain as the man