Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1921-08-11
SOME AUDUBON MEN PLEASED
Others Oppose the Stand Taken By
the President on the
Soldiers Bonus.

Recently President Harding Sc
cured postponement of consideration
Of federal bonus for world war sol
diers. The reasons prompting his
action on this subject were stated
clearly and convincingly at the time
A great majority of the people in the
country whose judgment is unbiased
cordially approve Mr.. Harding's
position on this question. And. most
of those who approve his action are
in favor OF federal bonus for the
soldiers when the country is in pc.
sition to meet the obligation with
out embarrassment.
There is. however, some misun-
Outstanding in the icountry on this
subject. Some of the ex-soldiers have
assumed that Harding and his party
are against the bonus proposition.
Some of the politicians in the coun-
try have siezed the opportunity to
play upon this string in the hope OF
currying favor with the soldier vote.
Members of congress have been re-
ceiving letters of protest from serv-
ice men against the postponement.
They have also received letters of
commentator from service men.
Senator Stanfield, of Oregon, re-
Gently made public a letter which he
wrote in reply to critic who resent
ed the action of congress in listening
to the protest of President Harding
on this bonus issue. What he has to
say on this subject reflects the SEN
timents of majority. of the mem
bers of congress in both dominant
political parties. Senator Stanfield
said he was in favor of adjusted
compensation for the soldiers. ''The
principle of adjusted compensation,
he declared, lis sound and just, and
/ hope at no distant date will be en-
acted into law. ! shall do all can
can to bring it about"
Here are the factors which
prompted this Oregon senator to
consent to postponement of this
measure. First, was the request OF
the president. Next followed the
low price of farm products and the
general stagnation of business.
Large numbers of workers in the
country are idle. Taxes are the
highest in our history. We have
huge public debts which must be re-
funded. We have the promise to
pay of foreign countries amounting
to ten billion dollars on which we
are not now collecting interest.
These obligations must be refunded
and such terms of payment fixed as
can be met by our debtors. At pres
ent our bonds are far below par.
Government expenses are still high
and must be reduced. Taxes must
be reduced in order to stimulate
business.
Surely no student of economic
principles can fail to see that four
or five billions OF dollars added to
our financial obligations in our pres
emit status would simply arrest our
progress toward financial and indus
trial normally and put US deeper in.
to the mire of adversely than oui
present status. The thing we most
need now is to get some sand on the
rails so that our drive wheels viii
pull their present load We must
tighten the load. too, as rapidly az
possible. Ignoring economic prin-
ciples and seeking to curry favor
with the soldiers by enacting bonus
legislation now would be equivalent
to the lack Of wisdom in trainmen
who attached more cars 90 an engine
already overloaded and then pro-
ceeded to soft soap the rails over
which the train must travel to reach
its destination.
When the ex-service men are fully
advised on this point they will ap-
prove the wise action of President
Harding In securing postponement
of this bonus issue.