New-York tribune., 1922-02-20
MacNiderInsists on Action
and Denounces Opposi-
ton Of ''ScIhsh Inter
ests" i'm Money Centcrs
SAYS Nation Fayors
Aid 10 Veterans
CitesIndorsemeni of Com
DnerciaI Associations Of
Middle W est Cities
1on TAe T,lhna... Iga.h.nn.as na-.n

ron The Tr4bnac'e Washington sa->ap
WASHINGTON. Feb. l9.-The
demand that the soldiers bonus bill
be Immediately passed was made to-
night in a telegram sent to President
Harding by Hanford NacNider, COM
mander Of the American Legion.
from his home in Mason City, Iowa
The Legion commander charged
that the revenue features advanced
by the President are being used sole
ly for the purpose Of misleading the
public as to tho real features asked
by the Legion, and he makes tn ar
gument that the opposition to tho
bill can be traced to certain selfish
interests intrenched in great fnan-
cial centers" who had the most To
lose financially by defeat in the wa
"and who profted the most by the
victory
Commander MacNider'z Telegram dc
claros that the service mon are IS
much entitled to financial and Other
relief from the government as manu-
facturcrs were for war contracts neve~
fulfilled. which required the expend
ture by the government Of three billion
dollars
Says League Speaks for - Million
Tine American Legion. speaking To-
nearly five million returned service
men and women and fifteen to twenty
millions more Of their immediate fam
lies. who do not understand first CON-
mitment and then retrac.ior, ask tha-
the passage Of the adjusted compen nsa-
ton bill be no longer DELAYED Ny
MacNider said "Wherever and when
ever the people Of the n;ted States
have been given the opportunity -
voice their feelings on this question
their answer has been unfnistakablo.
The Legion commander said that the
obligation Of the government 70 the
former service men could not be easily
swept aside.
Had capital and labor been drafted
when mems lives were drafted tho
present aggravated situation would not
exist Mr. MacNidcr's message said
when it was question Of REIN
bursting manufacturers for war cor
tracts never fulfilled. requiring some
three billion dollars. no such hue and
cry was raised. Il was an obligation
and it was paid. Here Is an obligation
no less just than that of the manufac-
turers, railroads and the shipping in
terests. Certainly their service was
not so much more patriotic than thai
of the men who offered their lives.
Should this whole generation and the
next be made to feel that the country
wants to penalize them for their serv-
ice to their country during dangerous
days? Such an impression should not
be left with the country's defenders.
Asks 5-Fold Compensation Bill
The American Legion. a the rr-
quest Of Congress. drafted he pending
legislation and feels it. to be q Just
obligation. The legion. feeling that
the nation wants this debt recognized
and not confused or endangered hy er-
position to revenue raising riders. e.sss
that the fve-fold adjusted compeuss-
ton bill be passed, that these mer
may be furnished slight stepping
stone up to the economic lcvel OF those
who had the opportunity. whether the
trench themselves in permanent en-
ployment and save from their war-
tune earnings against just such condi-
tlons which the veteran finds confront
ing him to-day"
The Legion chief called attention of tbs
President to the fact that the Chicago
Federal Reserve Bank and the Chambers
Of Commerce in Secretary Of the
Treasury MELONS home city of Pitts
burgh and Cleveland. the largest city
IN the Presidents own state. favor the
immediate passage Of the relief bill.
w hen such men as the directors o.
the Federal Reserve Bank Of the CHI
cago district, chosen because of Their
ability to gauge economic and financial
conditions in that part Of The United
States most affected ny depression. arc
for the passage yf the Bill Mr. Ma.
Nider said, land when great chambers
OF commerce IN such cities as Secrc-
tary Melons own home. Pittsburgh.
and in Cleveland, the largest city IN
your own state, are unanimously m
favor. and when such men and sucn
organizations say the passage Of the
bill would be constructive at this time.
certainly consideration must be given
to it."
Opposition to the bill MacNider said.
comes from the ignorance OF its cause
and the effect OF the measure.
Farm and home aid, vocational train
ing. paid-up insurance, and develop
ment and settlement arc certainly feat
ures which are going to help create
more constructive citizens, he said.
Discusses Cash Features
OF the cash feature of the bill, Com
mander MacNider SAID:
There is cash feature. but with
hundreds of thousands Of ex-servico
men walking the streets of our cities
looking for work we do not feel com
petent to dictate to these men their
choice. The negligible minority in op-
position can be traced in nearly every
case to certain selfish interests in
trenched in great financial centers who
had the most to lose financially by dc
feat and who profited the most by vic
tory. They show a sordidness not in
keeping with Americas feelings for
compensation to her veterans of pre-
vioNs wars.
There has suddenly been evil
denced an interest in the disabled
veteran from these same opponents.