The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-03-04
KenOsha Post Behind the
Movement for Ser
vice Men Bonus.
APPEAL TO CAPITOL
Legion Sends Message Affirm.
ing Stand on the Bonus
Question.

The Kenosha Post of the American
Legion at an enthusiastic meeting held
Tuesday evening at the former Odd
Fellows Hall on Church street, went
on record as unanimously in favor of
the granting of the $50 month bonus
to service men which is now being de-
bated by Congress. The Kenosha leg
ionnaires by unanimous vote passed
a resolution, which is to be forwarded
to Washington Immediately, and which,
after thanking Congressman Randall
for his past efforts in support of the
bill, informs him that the Kenosha
Post is unanimously in favor of the
bonus and that it urges him to use
his influence to secure favorable action
on the measure during this session of
Congress.
The resolution was passed after more
than an hours discussion of the meas
ure and of other measures, such as
the land grant bill for service men
now under consideration by Congress,
all of which clearly showed that the
Kenosha Post was solidly behind the
national leader of the legion in press
ing the claim for a bonus for the SOL
diers.
No Thought of Charity.
Discussion Of the measure brought
the statement from several of the mem
bers Of the Kenosha Post that the re-
an
cial consideration was in no way a
request for charity but merely de-
mand that they be paid what was due
them for their services. This state
ment was clearly expressed by reso-
luton introduced by Fred Steinert,
formerly an officer in Battery E, and
which was enthusiastically applauded
by the members of the Post.
Zii, ceolution read: "Whereas, the
government can afford to squander mill
lions on freless cookers made under
government contract in Virginia and
exempt from military service several
hundreds of men who were paid SO
day FOR making the sane, and where
as, expert mechanics who were draft
ed into service and for $50 a month
worked beside exempted men who were
receiving $40 and more day, and
whereas further, the government can
Mt this time afford to make huge loans
to countries overseas and does not
exact huge income tax to carry on
such business, therefore it appears that
the patriot who sacrifices home and
opportunity and risked his health and
life willingly should be placed on a
financial condition at least equivalent
TO those who could not serve in the
trenches but were paid high wages for
expressing their patriotism in war
work.
Is Only Logical.
wherefore it seems that an addi-
tional burden of possibly two billion
dollars to pay the debt due the men
who served the colors would not en-
barass the government but to the con-
trary such an expenditure for the pur-
pose intended would place four million
men in position where they could
continue to work out their individual
schemes for life, liberty and happi-
ness"
This resolution was not formally
introduced but the applause which
greeted it showed clearly the senti-
ment Of the Kenosha Post. Other
members of the post pointed out that
since the soldiers had returned from
the war to find that the majority of
those who had stayed at home had
prospered greatly, they could support
the claim for bonus with no fear
Of being unpatriotic but with the con-
fidence of asking merely for what is
due them"
After More Members.
The Legion also discussed plans for
securing a large membership in the
post and voted unanimously to secure
double the attendance at the next
meeting of the Legion. In connection
with this question it was brought out
that new members could be assured
that there was no military service
whatever connected with the American
legion and that for this reason, the
olan to have the cause of the National
Guard presented at the meeting was
not carried out. cit would not be
keeping faith with the members of the
Legion said the commander of the
post, "to place the members in the po-
sition of having to refuse the re-
quest" He emphasized the fact that
while the American Legion was in fav-
or of the National Guard movement it
did not feel that the meeting of the
post should be utilized to carry on the
campaign for recruits since the Legion
has always emphasized the fact that
it is in no way military organization
Under the miscellaneous business the
post accepted the invitation of the
Girls Community Service League to
attend St. Patrick's day party which
is being planned for the service men.
Then Came the Vaudeville.
After the regular meeting was closed
the entertainment committee pre-
scented a vaudeville show which was in
every way success. The headliner-
Continued on page s.