The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1921-07-19
THE BONUS
MUST WAIT

Those timid creatures who fear that
the postponement of the soldiers bo-
nus bill Is going to raise hob with
the Republican party In ensuing
elections are not very complimentary
to the American veterans OF the world
war. says the Republican Publicity
Association. 1t is an insult to every
living soldier land to the memory of
every dead one) to suggest that his
political views would be dictated. not
by his desire for the welfare of the
country for which he fought, but by
the $500 tip for patriotic service.
Many Of the vets" will vote the DEM
ocratic ticket In coming elections,
some because they were brought up
that way. some because of their sec
tional location, and others because
they honestly hold to Democratic
principles. even though those princi-
pies have been discarded by their
party leaders. But the ex-soldier who
casts spite ballot for democratic
candidate because the bonus bill
failed might as we'll continue to trav-
ell with the party whose criminal
waste Of public funds is the chief
reason why the nation is unable to
grant extra compensation at this time
II the nation could afford it, an hon
orarium to our soldiers might be JUS
titled. and bonus would be a mis-
homer. But since the Wilson admin
istration has we'll night bankrupted
the nation. to insist on bonus would
be to insist on a holdup. and the vast
majority of the ex-service men do
not belong In that category.
The Republican party did not come
into power on any such promise, and
any party which would do so would
be guilty of purchasing an election
The Republican platform of 1920 dis
tinctly said: I'VE hold in imperish-
able remembrance the valer and the
patriotism of the soldiers and sailors
of America who fought in the great
war for human liberty. and we pledge
ourselves to discharge to the fullest
the obligations which a grateful ma
ton justly should fulfill, in appre-
citation OF the services rendered by
its defenders on sea and land Lib
eral legislation for the care of the
disabled and infirm and their de-
pendents has ever marked Republi-
can policy yard the soldier and
sailor OF all the wars in which our
country has participated The
amounts already applied and author
lied for the fiscal year 1920-21 for
this (the disabled of the world war;
purpose reaches the stupendous sum
Of $1,180.571 1893. This legislation is
significant of the party's purpose in
generously caring for the manned
and disabled men of the recent war.
During the present Congress many
additional millions have been pro-
vided for the manned and disabled"
The platform promise Is being well
kept. 1t has the entire support of the
administration. and Secretary Mellon
in his letter to the senate advising
against the passage of the bonus bill
at this time, said: Our first con-
Germ, of course, should be to make
full provision for the needs of the
disabled veterans. To that object
the country is pledged to give with
out stint of Its resources. 1t would
be unfortunate in the extreme, while
we are still struggling with that prob
lem. to dissipate our resources in a
sweeping plan for cash payments to
able-bodied soldiers and sailors"
1t is one of the results of the Dem
ocratic orgy Of money spending that
proponents of the bonus bill, at least.
seem to have lost all appreciation
of what a billion dollars means to
the country. And the bonus plan
contemplates three times that sum-
according to the treasury estimate
Wilson authorized, and Secretary Nc
Adoo wrote checks for hundreds of
millions with the sang froid of a
Louis XIV checking out hundreds of
thousands. The Republican party has
Inherited these colossal obligations,
and the American people have been
pledged by their former reckless for
mer stewards to pay them. Until
some practical plan has been worked
out for this purpose. honorariums
must wait.