, 1922-03-01
BONUS BILL HAS
FRIENDS AND FOES
Opposition Growing in East
Local Boys Favor Bill, But
Disabled Soldiers First.

-
There has 90 far been little public
discussion of the Soldier Eonus ques-
ton in Cody. In view OF the fact
however that we have heard consider
able speculation about town lately in
regard to the Bonus, a representative
of The Cody Enterprise has been
studying the situation and Interview
ing various local members of he
American Legion with the hope OF
hearing the ideas and feelings in re-
gard to this from our own ex-soldiers.
The general wish of the members of
h American Legion Post in Cody
seems to be that the bonus be adolt-
ed. However. all favor some plan by
which the government should aid ex-
soldiers in buying farm lands or
homes. n expressed unqualified OPP
position to the cash feature. In other
words they would rather see. assist
ance Of the former service men
Through land settlement projects ra-
Their than he straight cash bonus.
All urged as a matter Of first import
ance. the expenditure OF government
funds in providing adequate care for
disabled veterans.
A general opposition in the East
and in h South seems to be growing
>however in relation to the bonus,
While reports from large cities indi-
cato a division of opinion. with bust
ness organizations strongly opposing
the plan and ex-service men in some
sections favoring 1t. there is general
approval o Z the proposal to confne
the bonus to soldiers disabled In the
war
According to an article published
In the New York Herald of February
twentieth in relation to an interview
with Col ARTHUR Little. in ommand of
h Fifteenth New York Infantry, the
best advertised negro fighting regi-
ment in the world, Col. Little, a South
Fork ranch owner who was at one
time under fire steadily for one hun.
dred and ninety one daysz was seri-
'ously wounded and decorated four
times with the Croix de Guerre. and
once with the Legion of Honor OF
France, is quoted as saying:
THE colored troops fought bravely
and they are not holding their hats
for a bonus"
1t is altogether likely the Fighting
Fifteenth" may be among the first II
not the Very first to repudiatc the
State and Federal bonus idea. wheth-
er masquerading as adjusted compen
sation" or under any other Coax OF
physiological ~camoufage. A move
ment to enlist the regiment and its
host OF friends squareIy in opposition
TO a bonus. not on grounds of financial
expediency hut on those of patriotism.
principle and sentiment is tor crystal
ize soon at a great mass meeting In
New York City at which Col Little Is
to make the principal address. He
intends to make the address a bugle
call to duty.
Col. Little said his purpose was to
urge his hearers. the leaders of the
negro race and all his old regimental
comrades to take immediate action in
that meeting. not only recording their
own convictions but starting an end
less chain to cover the entire coun-
try in the hope of enrolling the six
and a nalf million American Negroes
against the i~niquity of a soldier DO.
nus.
81 am taking this stop under a com.
Polling sense Of duty said Col. Lit
tie. Five years ago our regiment,
of which the country is so justly
proud, landed in France among the
first OF the American troops That
was an Opportunity g~loriously grasp
ed. i hope 10 point the way for them
10 grasp a new leadership-a leader
ship against a danger greater even
than that which threatened the ma
a.. s-- --.- u