Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-11-11
REWARD CLAIMS
FOR WORLD WAR
VETS ARE RIGHT
Ex-senator A. J. Beveridge
FavOrs compromising
Soldiers.
ARMISTICE DAY SPEECH

war on the theory Of cOnscripting the
services and wealth OF every citizen and
had prseticed that theory. there would
be. no reason for reasonable pay, or any
pay at all, for former service men," said
Albert J. Beveridge in an Armistics day
American Legion
But we do not go On that theory.
the former United States Senator pointed
out 'If the Government required prop
erty It paid for it richly-eoo often more
than it was worth II labor was re-
Quired It was paid for at the highest
rates In the history of tie world When
the Government called millions Of young
men to arms. to do the hardest and most
dangerous service, they had to do as
they were told and take what was given
them"
Adjusted compensation cannot hon
orably be denied. the soldiers OF our war
with Germany" Air. Beveridge declared.
1T is neither just nor accurate to call
this compensation a bonus; nor to
dole or charity. Reasons are given
against the financial expediency of grant
ing the demands Of the service man; but
the overwhelming argument in favor o.:
adjusting their compensation IS the sheer
justice of it. In my Memorial day speech
to the legion at Alexandria last May
tried to point out this browning con-
sideratiOn.
eff we had made war on the theory
OF cOnscripting the services and wealth
Of every citizen and had practieed that
theory there would, OF course, be no
reason at all why our young men who
were required by the Government to.
serve in uniform should now, or at any
time, receive reasonable pay, or any pay
at all; since in that case everybody
labor, capitalist and soldier-would be
on the same level of absolute and i'm
partial equality.
'The Government then would have re-
qUired men to give their labor without
substantial compensation; to give their
wealth without substantial compenBa-
ton; TO give their property without sub
stantial compensation, as well as to act
as soldiers without substantial compen-
SatiOn- All would have been considered
alike in their common effort in behalf
Of our common country; and the re-
ward Of all would have been nothing
more than that intangible but ineffabls
reward with which patriotism glOrihes
the hearts Of those who have done their
duty.
But this was not the theory upon
which we acted. II the Government re-
quired property. it paid for that prop
erty and paid for 1t richly-Often much
more than ii was wort! manual labor,
skilled and unskilled eeded, that
labor was paid for CHEST rates
ever known in the his. the world;
bout when the GOvernuI.-t called nit
lions Of young men to bear arms they
could neither refuse nor make bargains
they had to do as they were told and
take what was given them. Is this
a square deal? Is this equality Is
this justice? Shall our enemies, foreign
and domestic, be given excuse to say
that ours is the only the sOrdld pa
tri0tism OF property:
IF the Government ought to conscript
soldiers to fight out 1t not also be con-
script labOrers to work and capital to
pay? Why apply the principle OF con-
scription to those who do the hardest
tasks and render the most dangerous
servcie and not apply CONSUMPTION TO
other classes? All are equally interested
in the defense of the country. All arr
equally benefited by victory. All would
equally suffer from defeat Why should
not all equally receive the same treat
ment upon the same principlef
"Other countries have done better by
their soldiers then we have. Our neigh
Dor, Canada, numerically smaller and
with only 4 fraction of our wealth, has
put us to shame in this regard All the
nations that fought Germany have made
generous provisions for their fighting
men. Even Germany, broken. crushed,
dismembered, utterly pOwerless, and on
the brink of financial collapse, is caring
for her millions Of disabled soldiers.
''The neglect of our sick and wounded
is another story and one Of black dis
grace. Had any one predicted, when
these men were fighting for US overseas,
that We would forget and neglect them
when they came home such a prophet
OF our ingratitude would have been
mobbed. Indeed, any one would have
been physically assaulted who, when our
boys were marching away, declared that
upon their return we would deny them
the adjusted compensation they are now
asking. On the contrary,-had anybody
then proposed that our soldiers should
be given the amounts involved, or any
y Their amounts whatever, such a pro-
POsaI would have been accepted unani-
--Su'AS uHA Win mighty enthusiasm.
We all know that billions were being
prodigally spent in material war prep
aratiOns and we now know that hundreds
or millions Of this was needlessly spent.
We all knew that billions were being
handed out by our Government TO other
nations, although It was not until the
war was over that we learned the ap-
palling magnitude Of these loans: but tn
all this outlay we made no protest. and
make none now How then can we re-
Iuse the Just demands Of those who Of
Tered or were ready to offer their lives
Tor our country when the total sum of
THIS so-called bonus is not half as great
as the amount actually loaned to other
nations? O'"ei
1t IS true we have gotten ourselves
INTO an inereditable financial mess: true
that we are still ground by a system
OF taxation so crazy that It might have
been the device Of msdmen: true that tba
wheels OF American business and indus
try are clOgged and almost stopped bv
war exacrions; true that the direct ana
inevitable result Of this slowing down
ana stoppage of business is that millions
OF Workingmen are now idle: trua that
we have entered upon the gravest econo.
mic period Of our history; true that II
viii require the ab1est and most fearless
craftsmanship the country can command
70 guide the Nation safely through the
troubled seas around and ahead of US
sui surely the ability Of our public men
Is equal to the task Of devisinR means