Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-02-21


Editor Times-Recorder AS spokes-
man for the American Legion in
Georgia it becomes my duty to make
reply to your editorial of the 18th.
The gist of your editorial, | take it
is this:
That you do not look with favor
upon the cash bonus regardless of
whether it viii upset conditions or
not.
At the outset, / wish to make a
| correction. The word bonus as APP
piled to this bill is misnomer. No
name could be more irgeyelant. 1t
is worse than erroneous. The word
bonus stamps upon just and I'M
questioned national moral obligation
the designation "gTatuity. The bill
in no sense seeks to express ma
tional gratitude by money gift to
the soldiers. The purpose of the bill
is to correct the inequalities suffered
| by those who performed actual SOL
| der duties and received the meager
soldier wage.
/ The name, Adjusted Compensation
Bill, therefore, better expresses the
true purpose of the bill.
There is an economic disadvantage
which rested on those men who were
in the military service Shall that
economic handicap remain perma-
nent thing? Is it not debt the ma
tion ought to adjust or pay?
All the debts of the nation for
other things in connection with the
war-munitions and similar things
nave been paid. Many of the con
tracts, voluntarily entered into, were
paid in full even though the war was
over and the supplies could not be
used by the government. What of
the soldier? The government de-
manded his services and fixed his
wage. The manufacturer could, and
did, press his claim before the ap-
propriate tribunal. To whom could
the soldier appeal for fair adjust
ment? Only to congress and the
American people The soldier asks
for an adjustment, settlement of
an economic, not a sentimental debt.
Nothing has been said about pay
ing the men for the military risks.
They cannot be paid for that. Not
word about pay for glorious sery-
ice well done. They cannot be paid
for that. The soldier was detached
from his ordinary vocation and told
to serve for $l00, $500 or $500
day, while less capable men in civil
life were earning from SIS to $25 a
day. Should a certain class, the SOL
der class, accept this loss or is it
a debt, the same as any other war
debt, that should be shouldered by the
entire nation?
Your editorial attacks the bill
along the lines suggested by the y.
-. Chamber of Commerce, concentrat-
ing on the cash adjustment and ig-
|noring the other four features. In
sponsoring this bill the American Le-
gion has been at great pains to see
that 1t is constructive in all provis-
ions. That the benefits conferred be
such as make for good citizenship.
There is the land settlement pro-
vision that even the enemies of the
bill have trouble finding fault with.
Then there is a home aid provision.
# man can get 800 or $500 as a
boost to buying a home, he becomes
2 better citizen and it is certainly to
the interest of the nation for these
men to become home owners and
home builders.
There is a vocational training fea-
ure. This will give many MAJ
an opportunity to fit himself for a
better job.
means-bther
Again there is provision that
permits a man to take paid-up insur-
ances This provision SENS to be
sound, at least there is very little
criticism directed against it.
All the provisions of the bill have
been 50 framed as to make the cash
feature the least desirable. Never
theless, it would be manifestly unfair
TO leave out cash provision for if
q man is in urgent need of cash that
will be the greatest benefit to him.
This briefly outlines the five OPP
tons in the bill. The ex-service man,
up to the rank of captain, may choose
one. The benefits derived to be
based on length of service. Home
service at the rate Of 800 per day;
overseas service at the rate of $125
per day.
The American Legion asks for no
bonus, wants no bonus, that sounds
lMERICUS CAMP, 202, WOOD.
MEN OE THE WARIn