The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1921-07-22

1921 Railroad Financie
Treasury-Lo0ting Plan.
WASHINGTON, D. C.-In an ad-
dress before the senate on July IL
President Harding devoted almost his
entire time to an attack on the plan
for federal bonus for the returned
soldiers.
This action, in the opinion of OBJ
servers here, makes the passage Of
such bill practically impossible until
= different set of congressman is elect
ed. Such steps are taken only after
consultation Of party leaders.
Senator Penrose had been chosen to
rise to his feet and move that the bill
be recommitted to the committee
which reported it out as soon as the
president had finished.
Stripped Of its involved and high
sounding phrases the presidents mes
sage means that, in his opinion, this
country is too poor to pay any bonus
and that terrible things would happen
II an attempt were made. Perhaps if
he had explained why Canada and
Australia had been able to pay such
bonus while we can not, the ex-sol-
der would find the speech more con-
vincing.
Another thing which arouses the
soldiers is that while the Republicans
hdded them along during election
time and since and while the president
asked congress to defer action only,
his argument was against any bonus
ct any time.
Forced at last to be definite one way
or the other, the president made the
hardest speech of his career. And this
action will undoubtedly stimulate
progressiveness in the country, for the
soldiers have the advantage Of q great
lesson in politics-worth more to them
in fact than q bonus would be.
That lesson is: Progressive leeis-
lation for the common people does not
grow on reactionary bushes even if
the bushes are labeled 1OO-per-cent
American"
Strong issue will probably be taken
with the president by the progressive
press for his statements as to how
well the disabled had been taken care
Of. The neglect of large groups of
these men for the past three years has
been notorious.
In the last minute of his speech the
president asked congress to hurry tax
matters and revision Of tariff sched-
ules.
NATION ATTACKS LEGION
The Nation, weekly published in
New York City, is the first paper Of
the country outside Of the ranks Of
radical papers to make an attack on
the American Legion.
In . series Of articles under the
title, 1.-THE Truth About the American
Legion" the Nation holds forth the
view that the Legion is creation of
reactionary politicians and represents
only one-eighth Of our ex-service men
ct the most.
I'm Europe" says the Nation, ..the
ex-soldters are found generally with
the progressive, not to say radical
forces. Our army, Of course, had q
unique experience. Half of those mob
liked did not get to Europe and only
= part Of those who did engaged in
actual fighting. None knew the pro-
longed physical hardships or spiritual
torment that 30 many went through
IN the European armies. Still, our
youth 10 our most progressive and
hopeful element, and our former serv-
leo men are fairly representative Of
Il. How, then, explain the American
Lssion? Simply on the ground that
i never was-and now less than
ever representative Of our former
service men.
The Nation then goes on to give =
laxge number Of specific cases Of at
tempting 70 perpetuate the war psy-
chology % it, contribution to peace"
That q Of mob violence, threatened
mob violence and the championing Of
fepressive. measures against free
speech and free political action.
i will Be interesting 70 zee what
reply the Legion makes 70 these in
dtcements. Il Il unfortunately true
thate some Legion leaders have been
guilty Of the things charged BY the
Nation. The issue to be determined
II whefhsr these are representative Of
tie Legion Il not, ana TO get e that
- have 70 hear both aides.
OTTO KAA1a's NEwPROPAGANDAH
Otto a. Kahn Of Kuhn, Loeb q CO.
o 6naneto4ing oyndieate SECOND ONLY