The New York herald., 1922-04-05
LEGION POST HEAD
REBUKED ON BONUS
President Edgerton Of Nation
al Manufacturers Replies
to Critic.
RAID is CLASS CAMPAIGN
Tells Veteran He Disregards
Fact That All Of This Ma
ton Went to War.
RAID is CLASS CAMPAIGN

John r. Edgerton, president OF the
National Association of Manufacturers,
yesterday made public a letter he has
sent to Samuel w. Reynolds, COM
mander of the American Legion post OF
Douglas county, Omaha in answer to
one sent to him by Mr.. Reynolds. in
which his stand against the payment OF
a bonus was criticised. Mr.. Edgerton
asserts that the bonus bill now before
the Senate Will tax one part or an army
to compensate another part for its con-
tribution to a common cause.
.If we are to bankrupt our Government
or destroy the just principles on which
it is founded in an effort to pay sono
of those who helped preserve ii we might
as we'll have turned 1t over to the Kaiser
in the beginning OF the conflict ard
thereby saved many lives and much suf-
fering," MIR. Edgerton said.
1T appears to me that your natural
sympathies have blinded you to some
very real and fundamental facts. You
seem to have overlooked the fact that
America entered the war as whole, and
that every citizen, male and female
black, white and yellow, who was not
Stacker was a soldier. It was the ex-
alted privilege of some to fight in uni
forms with guns. Others of necessity
had to fight out of uniform with plows,
hoes, axes. looms. forges, lathes and
other implements with which wars are
won. Each class OF fighters was abso-
luteiy essential to the other.
Those on the other side could do
their duty only as those on this side ala
theirs. Both wings of the army-those
out of the uniform and those In it--hao
slackers in their ranks. On this side
there were some who profiteered and
wageteered lodged the draft and other
wise dishonored the flag. On the other
side there were some whom the records
show to have been thieves, murderers
rapists and towards.
.It is unfair to take the slackers on
one side as the criterion of that branch
Of the army as it is on the other. We
only know that those who fought IN
uniform had the more conspicuous. the
more privileged and the more glorious
part. On the other hand. that part of
the American army that fought in uni
form was the best paid, the best cared
for and the most honored OF any soldiers
who ever answered their country's call.
1T is true that many of those soldiers
VINO fOuEnC III the uHilOIIIl are IoW Will
out jobs. 1t is also true that vastly
more of those who fought out of the
uniform are also without jobs. This is
due to an economic situation growing
out of the war and is natural part OF
the cost of such conflicts. But certainly
this situation cannot be remedied by
raiding the Treasury of the United
States which is largely dependent for
its maintenance upon the very industries
which have been already crushed into
silence by the staggering war loads.
Already more than one and a half
billion dollars have been appropriated
for the care of those soldiers in uniform
who suffered from the conflict, and other
billions viii be added in due course as
the necessities will and may appear.
In all the history Of mankind was there
ever such lavish consideration shown
men who fought for their country?
Never before has there been any attempt
to put a money valuation on civilization
and patriotism. l do not believe that a
ajority of those who fought in uniform
are seriously seeking more pay for their
services