New-York tribune., 1921-09-01
Legion WiI Fight for
Ne,u Lac for Bonus
Expresses Opinion WiH OF
People Clearly Was Ouer-
ruled IN Courts Decision

The decision of the Court of Appeals
yesterday holding the state soldier
bonus law unconstitutional will spur
ali former service men affected to make
redoubed efforts to obtain the bonus
through the enactment of another law
one winch probably will call for the
payment of the tonus from the annual
tax levv--and "thc war veterans Of the
State of New York will be united as
never before" toward that end
This was the opinion put forward by
the highest officials of the American
Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars,
the State Veterans Relief Fund and
other organizations of former service
men when the news of the decision was
brought to them.
Expressing .exceeding regret" over
the courts decision, "especially in
view Of the unemployment situation"
and other economic conditions. the
heads of the organizations declared
that the granting of the bonus was by
the will of the people. by the over
whelming majority of more than 800,-
000," and that therefore the members
of the Legislature "hold a mandate
from the people to see it through"
MANY war veterans will feel that by
this decision the will of the people has
been set aside" it was declared by
William f. Feegan, First Vice Com
mander of the State Department of the
American Legion.
with thousands of our comrades
walking the streets, looking in vain for
work, or begging, the bonus was never
needed more.
=. Can we blame those men who will
listen to the wles and Establishments
Of the |. w. W., the Bolsheviki and
others against this form of government
when they see the will of the people
openly dsregarded in this fashion?"
"Visit any parry at night and question
homeless men wearing the button in
dicating service. Many Of these had
looked forward to the bonus to re-
habilitate themselves, to get new grip
on life, to take themselves back home
OF to place where they might get
employment, to pay their debts, to en-
gage in business. Now they are forced
of the people in this state of almost
S00000-the largest majority ever re-
corded in favor Of referendum voted
to repay in measure these men for
their hardships, legal techicality has
snatched from them this gift.
THE American Legion will con-
tinue the fight. We know we have
the people with us, regardless cf
the financial or political interests
which have opposed the bonds. Had
these same interests considered the
cost Of German indemnity l doubt
if they would have so promptly hurried
to the courts for relief from small
increase in taxation to reward the
fighting men of the state. Had these
same interests stopped to consider how
quickly and efficiently these same ex-
service men checked the wave of Boil
shcvism in this country after the war,
would they SO eagerly have doubted
the value of compensation for what
they lost financially during the war?
"The American Legion will continue
to introduce new legislation at the
next session, either to amend the Con-
stitution SO as to allow the payment
of the bonus or to allow the payment
from some other fund than that orig
inally provided for. 1t is not the will
nor the desire of the American Legion
that the clearly expressed wishes of
the people be thwarted because of legal
technicalities. If state bonus plan
is constitutional in New Jersey, Massa-
chusetts, Maine and dozens of other
states, why is it unconstitutional in
New York ?"
One official high in the councils of
the Legion, Edward J. Kiely jr., the
chairman for Queens County, made the
assertion that "the proper authorities
in the municipal, state and federal gov
ernments were prompt during the war
to provide constitutional wartime
bonuses to civilian employees who
were not called into the armed forces
OF the United States,' 'and he held trat
the men who did go into the armed
forces of the nation should be given
at least the same consideration.
The American Legions Metropolitan