New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-02
Bronx Legion
I Insists State
! Validate Bonus
28 Chapters in Convention
y Demand Amendment to
Constitution. If Needed
+ to Bring About Payment
Machold Aids Soldiers
Speaker Asserts Legislature
Will Act Favorably; Kin.
caid Also Lends Support

Stek@seS lIoHt tWenty-elgnt posts
Of the Bronx County chapter of the
/. American Legion, meeting in third an
! nual convention last night at the Nor
Iris High School, 1B6th Street and Bos-
ton Road, went on record as .unani-
mously favoring a constitutional
s amendment which will validate the
payment of a soldiers bonus by the
State of New York.
Not q. voice in opposition was heard
when William F. Deegan, first vice COM
3mAnder Of the New York State Legion
And commander of the Bronx County
Shepter, called for vote on the bonus
resolution which was first in the ordex
81 four resolutions offered In behalf
Of ex-Service men of the state. There
was smashing chorus of "aycs,'
which, it was declared, left NO doubt
that Bronx County legionnaires were
determined to sight it out" and obtain
the compensation which the Court of
Appeals on Wednesday held unconsti-
tetsonal
The vote followed minute ova-
ton to Major Deegan, chairman of the
convention, as candidate for tho
leadership of the New York State De-
.partment of the Legion
The adoption of the bonus resolution
proceeded in an orderly manner, as
part OF the general business before
the convention.
Would Amend Constitution
The resolution said that "if no other
feasible way can be found to legally
achieve the end sought by this legis-
lation, we favor a constitutional amend
ment which will validate the payment
OF the bonus by. the State of New
York to all 'honorably discharged ex-
service men who served in the World
War, and who were residents of the
state at the time they entered the
service Of the United States govern
ment."
-. Major Deegan announced that State
= Commander Charles H. Blakeslee had
Just called a meeting of the state ex-
secutive committee to be held at Albany
Wednesday night to take definite action
on the bonus. This followed develop.
ments. during the day which point to
: , determined fight on behalf of the
bonus. These were:
The statement by Adjutant General
j. Leslie Kincaid, chairman Of the
bonus commission, that he was strong
~ in favor of new law in the form, OF
constitutional amendment which
give wounded and disabled SOL
diers special compensation and under
whose provisions every veteran who
was q resident of the State of New
York at the time of his entry into the
service would be made to profit
The prediction was made by II, Ed-
mund Machoid, Speaker of the Assem-
bly,, that "the next Legislature will un-
douhtedly find some means Of making
these payments"
The fact that the referendum was
carried by a majority vote of 100000
indicated, Mr.. Machold declared, that
the people of the state desire the bonus
paid.
Commander Blakeslee issued state
ment in which he asserted that the
over the action of the court. He said:
while there is no disposition to
criticise the court, it has seemed to
the rank and file of this organization
and to ex-service men generally, that
this proposition embodied the definite
and well-considered mandate of the
people of the State of New York, ex-
pressed with all the formality REQUIRED
for the enactment of an amendment to
the constitution itself.
Many Members in Need
"Many of the service men have been
led to believe they would be benefited
under this law and are in actual need.
Economic conditions have thrown thou
sands Of service men out of employ
ment in New York State. The average
service man never had the benefit Of
the high wages caused by war condi-
tions, and consequently has not been
able to prepare himself financially for
this present period of depression.
Without any criticism of the legal
reasoning involved in the decision, the
American Legion will stand united on
the fairness of the underlying idea
of this bonus legislation, and in taking
that stand it is confident that it has
the united support of the people Of
the state"
Besides the bonus resolution the
Bronx County chapter adopted reso-
luton calling upon Congress, through
tho state and national departments
OF the American Legion, to make an
immediate and thorough investigation
of the serious charge that while the
United States government is paying to
the State of New York the sum Of So
day for the care and maintenance
of our mentally disabled comrades
confined in state institutions. the lat
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