The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-29

J. Mercer Barnett. retiring presi- dent of the International kiwanis club. upon his return from the Cleve- land convention. issued the following statement yesterday:
 "On my return to the city from Cleveland, where I have been attend ing the international convention ol kiwanis clubs, my attention has been called to very unjust and uncalled- for article published in The Birming- ham Age Herald on Wednesday morning, June 22, and signed by Jo- seph A. Yeates adjutant of the Amer ican Legion.
 This attack was caused by a speech I made at the convention. which was reported only in part by the press For the benefit of my friends and the general public, I hereby reitetate sub stantially what I said:
 "As a private citizen and not as your chief executive, l would like to leave thought with you for what il is worth. If you think it is worth while. follow it through; if not for get it. The soldiers bonus is one of the biggest questions of today, and feel that these men who have made the sacrifice and fought for their country are due every honor and ev- cry consideration should be shown them. However, l am against the cash bonus for this reason. l believe that q great majority of the soldiers would run through" with this money in very short while and would be worse off financially, physically and morally and the very ones that would do this would be in dire distress in a comparatively short while. On the other hand, a great many men really need the money.
 Realizing this. l believe it would be best for all concerned if the gov ernment would in every state estab- fish and build magnificent homes with hospitals and schools for the men and their families. and in this way when man is out of employ ment he would have a place to go to- if he was sick he would have d refuge and in the case of his widow she would have a home and place to educate her children, and this home could be made a garden spot in every state, and this would be petuated
 Talked With soldiers
 q have talked with soldiers from every state in. the union. and this plan hAs met with their hearty approval as they stated that after what they had done they would not care to ac- cept mere pttance; they considered what they had done their patriotic duty, something that was priceless
 1.I tt,.a T lattp rod n dollars and cents.
 1T further stated that the sick and needy should be taken care of imme- diately, and if these homes were started immediately it would give employment to thousands of able bodied men and the soldiers should be always given the preference further stated that q cash bonus at this time would necessitate two and half billion dollars, and with this additional tax placed on tine business interests of America it would cause a great many plants which are already taxed to the limit to shut down and this in itself would cause much more 
 "When I made this talk there were a great many ex-servlce men Tn the audience and they cheered it to the GcnO. The eA-StTNiCS ihCh VI NhO AiNoA NA my speech wrote and sent this teie- gram to the editor of the American Legion Weekly, at Indianapolis. a copy of which was sent to MT. Joe Yeates in response to his telegram;
 Cleveland. O.. June 23. 1921. "'Editor The American Legion Week
 ly, Indianapolis. Ind:
 Speech made before kiwanis con ventiofi by J. Mercer Barnett was earbIed by press. It was quoted he was not in favor of soldiers's bonus. Plan outlined by him was for imme- diate relief of needy soldiers con struction by government of hospitals. homes and schools not only for sol diers. but soldiers families as well. This statement from President Bar nett personally. Signed, w. r. Quist, Commander North Side Post. Minne- apolis. Minn., Kiwanis delegate.
 Divergence of Opinion
 "The soldier bonus is a matter that is creating a great deal of talk and has been much discussed throughout the nation. both In the magazines and new3papers. by statesmen and finaneiers; and there Is a great di- vergence of opinion among the hest people of the country, as well as the American Legion, as will be shown by the following In this mornings Age H eraid:
 Washington. June 27.-Opposition