Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-08-31
AS WE SEE 1T

There is very evidently two minds in America regarding
adjusted compensation for the men who wore the uniform 0
Uncle Sam during the war. Even II the present Dn pelore con
gress results favorably to those interested there VIII De d ieei-
ing amounting almost to shame for every man who VIII De a Dehe-
ficiary under the act. We did not do it in the large generous Am
erican way-the way it should have been done, and the way we
thought it would be done while the war was going on. IL mas peen
a fight and a bitter humiliating battle, even that part OF IL Whlcn
secured a measure of action toward the disabled. To be sure, the
struggle for Justice for the ex-Service man has been hghtened IN
spots by the energy and persistence of many of those IN power,
but in the very nature of things, there Is no way to determine tne
line between sincerity and, policy even IN those VINO nave Iought
for Justice and helped in the cause Of the eX-soldler.
The controversey has engendered a feeling of bitterness
among those who served, not that the great majority care greatly
for the material benefit to themselves, but that they feel that per
haps the other fellow really needs it and they want 1t settled
one way or another quickly and the whole thing closed up. Al
though quite often we hear the assertion never again" among the
ex-service men, it is not to be taken seriously, for there has been
no actual cooling of the right kind of patriotism, and there is ht
tie doubt but what the ex-soldier would be early in the game If
it had to be repeated. Most of them have a clear understanding
of the sluggishness of national legislation and Furthermore nave
had a grand opportunity of cutivating patience In the matter at
issue. They will have further opportunity in that direction before
the benefits materiahze in cold cash.
The American Legion has been the principal, in fact, the only
real force behind the fight for adjusted compensation, and the
most bitter opponents of the bonus will have to concede that the
fhght.has beer clearly Hsdegead ake.thatthe kegsen stands tor
the propagation of the best brand of patriotism. For the DIS
abed soldier they have done much already in the way OF securing
rapid and adequate justice. We read of thousands upon thousands
of Great Brtians' disabled veterans reduced to actual beggary
while the claim is put forth that Great Britain did more for her
veterans than we have. We earnestly believe that the WatcnIul-
ness and aggressiveness of the Legion has had much to do with
preventing a similar condition here, in a lesser degree, OF course,
for England's losses and casualties were UNNECESSARILY greater
than ours.
There is one phase of the compensation not fully realized by
the veteran and probably never will be until memory has lost the
disagreeable and petty annoyances incident to the service, and only
the high lights of a glorious experience stand out. InoSe VINO
were compelled by circumstances to fill the role of spectators have
a clearer conception of what they themselves missed Whatever
compensation is finally granted the veteran, he is fully entitled to-
But at the last, he will some day realize that the act OF service
itself brings a greater satisfaction and a sense of duty performed
that outweighs any material bonus a thousand fold.