South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-08-18
PRO AND CON
Editorial Comment on the
Activities of The Amer.
lean Legion
Press Comment on the Bonus Bill
Action

Press Comment on the Bonus Bill
Action.
Capper's Weekly: The one war
debt which has first claim on the
gratitude and conscience Of the ma
Il 7. is probably 10 be pal last, If
ever 1t is on the con-
science OF the American people that
The lime for them to have II Is when
* vii be of most us. 10 them.
Now YorE American: The real
truth is that the big business con-
Germs. the big financial concerns,
the big war profteers. didn't want
10 pay the soldiers. They were
mighty willing to have these men
fight for them while they stayed
home and cheered and made money
with both hands. But that's over
now. The war is won. The men
are out OF uniform.
Chicago Tribune: We know that
superior men went TO war and re-
turned to find their professions
businesses and jobs taken by infe-
rior men who remained safely at
home. We know that the soldier
has been penalized from the day Of
his enlistment or induction into ser
vice until the present. And now
we are made 10 realize that, be-
cause our home conduct Of the war
was a disgrace, and millions upon
millions of dollars were crowded
into the pockets OF profiteers. into
the building up Of political strong
points. and into the reward Of pinks
and pacihsts. there is nothing left
for the men who fought and sacri-
feed.
Cleveland Press: The proposal
comes (and is about TO be allowed)
that the government pay over an
other half billion dollars or there
abouts 10 the railroads and let the
roads postpone for 10 or Is years
payment Of their debt to Uncle Sam.
That isn't square deal. If with
holding the soldier bonus Is merely
"a step to conserve public money so
that more hundreds of millions can
be turned over TO the railroads, then
that isn't a square deal.
The New Majority. Chicago:
Prest Hardings address to congress
in which he put the ktbosh on the
bonus for ex-service men rot only
insulted the intelligence of Congress
and the nation, but 1t carried a di-
rect blow in the face for the ex-ser-
vics men.
Chicago Post: If there had been
no slackers and no able bodied men
to dodge into shipyards and into
other places of remunerative en-
ployment while their brethren were
lighting trench rats. flu and Ger
mans In the ArgOnne and along the
Meuse, there would be no demand
for bonus money today.
Chattanooga (Tenn.) Times: II
has already been discovered that
many of those Of the faith who
nave entered politics and others
who have secured fat jobs are not
nearly so vociferous for adjusted
compensation" as they were. The
Legion will have TO fight the 'jobO-
Gratis" as well as big business and
the bosses TO win.
Salem (Ore.) Journal: Pres't
Harding has exerted his influence to
side track the bonus bill until the
winter session. thus supporting the
contention of Sec'y Of the Treasury
Mellon that the draft Of bonus pay
ments on the treasury would be ca
lamitous. However. the treasury is
amply able TO withstand the draft OF
the railroad bonus.
La Fo!lette's Magazine, Madison
(Wis.): OF course the big steel
concerns demand the big construc-
ton plan for a big navy. But Is
this administration only concerned
In saving money when It comes 10
giving the veterans of the world war
a square deal?
Newburgh IN. " Daily News
II conditions were prosperous. II ex-
service men all could obtain en-
ployment at fair wages and If their
prospects were promising, they
would be we'll satisfied. But many
OF them. ever since their return
from war. have been huffeted about
They gave up everything when they
entered the service. and they left