Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1922-02-17
THE SACRIFICE OF THE LEGION

fore the birth Of the Legion hailed with enthusiast
tic support army Of soldiers make Of itself
in peace legion Of workers for The general good Of the
country. political It TO stand for right
and justice he ign ideals Of Amecansn Then some
thing happened The Legion organized diverted it, attention
almost Al once from - high purposes regards
rest Of world ana concentrated Is attention upon itself
Somewhere somehow fhe Idea repayment for time lost n
the service projected and Ike forest fire ~ agitation
spread from gsst pos B5Has became the Rachw0rd Of
the Legion and the bugaboo 81 the politician Highly organize
on military lines with militant executive body. the bonus de-
mand the Legion became useparabF associated with
the other Elections occurred and Representative and senators
ready promise anything rather haH Jose their Congressional
seats gave willing and promises to the large voting
element which constitutes The Legion Then there
and the party Fl Office did not hesitate 10
sure soldiers that the bonus and Just
thing that Office TINS parythe Republican party
would that the veteran repaid amply for the time he
had lost fighting for his country
There followed Bonus Bill Congress In the
House Representative for by though
would 20 further than the committee But
the strength Of THIS approving vote all the little Congressman
hustled said members
Of the Legion Ser have voted for the bonus what good
little Representative L and IN almost every they rode
safely the landslide safely office There fol
lowed short period Of quiet and then the approach o.
young lobbyists Of Legion Washing
ton brought pressure bear and again the bonus promised
the Administration bobbed sereney Something had
be done
Meanwhile there another ques
When Administration power also made
another easy promise which to the effect that would bend
every the reduction Of appalling Of
ton that had grown up during the The relief from
taxation would stimulate business stabilize financial
situation caused b the and finally would have the effect Of
decreasing the burden living average citizen
has suffered with painful 1914 The average
citizen proved himself less nsstent this reduction Of
ton than did the Legion official bent and determined
the bonus for the former soldier. Hence the tug
Now, what il the situation? Mr. Harding honorable
and politician 10 boot The Legion helped him into Office
He debt His large Republican majority the
Of I'M farga
Harding unfortunately for the Legion also by
million voters who. eleeng him. seeking
bonus but seeking rid themselves of administration
which they had come - believe responsible for practically
all Of the Ills from which heythese million average
suffering acutely Mr. Harding helped into
Office by the II these citizens and he also them
debt
PLAIN f#ta 81 The matter i that the Administration has
fallen between stools Il promised the ezsodiers bonus
and The bonus means severe taxation promised the o
the country relief from taxes. and the bonus Whatever
FINAL form bound - fs heavily upon be average citizen
The Administration Is conscious ot s dilemma Those
Representative promised the bonus back
last election that there must be bonus bun passed nl ihe
present COMPRESS the welfare u the nation REGARDLESS Ihos"
Senators and Representatives candidacy office
again imminent say there bill The American
Legion that there bonus bill public has
paid too little attention the entire during past
years has suddenly and probably itself to
shouting deuuncaton Of further whether
bonus any other purpose Meanwhile the Administration.
conscious approaching election reckoning always with
the highly organized soldier seeks yany for form
alton whereby the eNaban necessary may
be raised and distributed bonus bill probably will be passed
The Administration risk the any portion
present Congressional majority Despite the already depoabe
position OF business and the American taxpayer viii
probably be raised and paid.
But there viii be day Of eekoning The raising of the
bonus viii be the Of which will over
the period of office present Administration once the bin
passed any hope Mr. Harding associates materially
decreasing before November 1921 viii be practically am
mpossbliy Moreover the President Congress Will have
The taxpayer vino voted for Mr. Harding hope lower
tax legislation will have been repaid by legislation which
does not lower the taxation He viii be- forget
this At the elections viii lis first effects
in the elections Of Representatives o Congress
But in the final summing up OF the will be tho
American Legion that will By very persistence
IN demanding the bonus the Legion has ignored the
nation whole II has upon splendid war services
.ha..M TIN. ..-- "a. ...-..... - ~.