Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-03-30
SOLDIERS BONUS
(By Fred II. White)

belington, March. ZF--bonuS for
military service in time Of war is an
old established custom, as the follow
ing fact will prove.
Twenty years after his service in
the Black Hawk war, an Indian war
in which he enlisted as young man,
Abraham Lineold applied for his bon
us, which was in the form of
special land grant made to soldiers
of that campaign. The recorded APP
plication, dated August 81, 1866, is
in the Genreal Land Office at Wash
ington. In it Lincoln described his
serve as, captain Illinois Mounted
Volunteers"
In those dayes none called accepe-
ing land grant putting price on
patriotism" On the other hand, it
was regarded as the proper reward
for military service, over and above
the usual service pay and cash bon
uses, bounties, State payments or
other sums allowed to the Nations
defenders. Some of the orators who
insist that Lincoln would disapprove
the adjusted compensation legislat-
ion should study the facts.
The objection has been made that
a financial burden would be imposed
BY II beyond the ability Of the United
States to carry,in il the Bonus Bill
should becomes law Rank nom
sense! a;sAs-s S6qa f4ou
The soldiers bonus is estimated at
little more than two billion dollars,
depending on how many accept the
cash payment plan. But what il the
cost was still larger? What If the
men had been slower in arriving or
less formidable on the battle field?
How much more than the proposed
bonus would America have had to
pay?
The country called the service men
to duty. They did it. They gave up
careers, went through all the fires
Of sacrafice, and by their exposures
and gallantry saved the country from
having to pay many times the price
of the proposed bonus. They pro-
tected the property and the profits
Of the very men who are crying loud
est against the national soldiers
bonus.
Thousands of ex-service men would
not now be looking to the Govern
ment for help if they had jobs. But
the general business conditions have
kept thousands out of work, and they
have to appeal to the Government for
aid Meanwhile organized business
interests are fighting the bonus with
underhanded methods and misrepre-
senting the facts in every way pos
sible. The sea men who made enor-
nous profits during and after the
war are now crying down the appeal
of the ex-service men for justice.
Copies of the new adjusted COM
pensation bill, as drawn by the House
Ways and Means Committee be sent
without charge to those who make
application to Melvin Ryder, Chief of
Staff, U. F. w., A G. st. N. E. Wash
ington, d. C. The bill provides for
bank loans instead of cash, and diff
fers an several other respects from
the five fold plan indorsed by the
Veterans of Foreign Wars and the
American Legion.
Comrades, Attention! Line up,
Fall in 1t isn't the "Top" Speaking
now, but Comrade. Listen: If we
ex-soldiers wish to accomplish any
thing, and be recognized as the
fighting men of the United States.
we must organize, those foreign ser
vice and are likely to be interested in
the Veterns of Foreign Wars, which
is purely "Gold Chevron Organic
ation," composed Of the rank and file
of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps
should write Fred H. White of Route
2, for literature and particulars. A
post will later be established in Be-
lington. Alright, let's go = for in
union there il strength.