Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-08-01
Increasing the Bonus

At the annual at The Daes the Ameri-
Legion adopted resolution memoralzing the legsa-
ture to raise the loan that may obtain
der the state bonus law from $4,000 to $4,000 request
ing that all Oregon who served in allied armies be
tended the benefits of the Oregon as well as those
who served in the American army.
But why this moderation? Why not make it $4,000 or
$4,000 instead of measey $4,000? The Oregon taxpayer
has to foot the band he's rich and has nothing
do And is it fair to conne the bonus system Oregon
men? Why not extend it to soldiers from other
also fought at Camp Lewis and similar bate-fields as
well as those who fought in foreign armies?
Oregon has treated her ableboded ex-servce men very
webetter than almost any other state She most
liberal She is educating many providing
others and financing others to purchase homes farms
the cost of many millions Yet the done the more
wanted Like hungry little Oliver Twist they always
clamorng for and each is but stimulus
70 fresh demands Probably only good sized annual pen
sion in addition to house and lot for each drafted man
will satisfy the Legion and then there will be perpetual a
ation for increasing the pension just Romans the
days of decadence for increasingly greater gifts
and bigger crcuses from the conqueros the price their
support.
One feature about this bonus grabbing that the ex
service overlook is likely TO return plague them n
the future and that is Oregon their state and every dis
advantage to it is eventually disadvantage to them
one more vtay interested in it's future progress
veopment The public treasury made free for all
grab bag without its reecng directly upon them and what
ever personal feetng advantage may be secured in the
present will be more than offset by the eventual
that the present policy of extravaganza leading
Senator Borah in recent speech dwelt upon the folly
OF the policy now being pursued follows:
In times of adversity in a severe economic crisis a
people, IKE individuals must to first principles
turn 70 the simple homey virtues the only basis
either individual prestige national power roads
were TO US and to all the world at the close of the Great
War-ha Of waste extravaganza, taxes and debts that
OF economy, frugality, work and self denial s
The former leads inevitably to increased worry greater
misery and ultimate run the latter to contentmen pros
perity and strength So far chosen the former
course When have heard of political dscon-
tent we have readily and generously rendered appropra
have bravey put the burden upon prosery Like economic
cannbas we are preyng another and going the
and our childrens children.
Prosperity assume is to come not through indivd- -
ual sacrifice and individual effort through sefexerton
and personal initiative but through the open door of the
Public Treasury Although the of taxes are driving
up yet those who are not making their from Public
Treasury with what they could get vending their way
toward it to see what is left
grant that if this policy to continue there is no
argument by which you exclude the American soldier
from participating its temporary advantage but II shoud
so oe sad that there is no logic by which exclude
h from Its permanent disadvantages No more deep
~ concerned in getting back to right principles and sound
pocles than these young men, No valy inter
esea IN the future welfare OF the country The unwsdom
o. tne course we are now pursuing will fall heavily
upon these young and theirs in coming years than up
on those who are now in places of authority ci
1T be vain in this hour of political egencv and
reckless appropriations to these views but the newt
able hour will when the soldier himself will regret
deeply regret he consented part of any
scheme 1t be idlet may be thought presmpt I
ousat this time to speak for different standard but
ioubt not at all that in later years the soldier himself will
rue the needless hour when he exchanged noble
or less than of pottage The thing which he gave
ma stood ready to give without money and without O
oree Inc thing which he earned the glory which was his
anscends the miserable values the market He does
ghfuy belong in this futile scheme rebuild civilization
md reconstruct bankrupt world through subsidies bonuses
appropriations taxes and debts"
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