The New York herald., 1922-02-18
LEGION MEN WRITE
AGAINST BONUS BILL
Senators and Representatives
Get Many Protests by
Mail on Gratuities.
APPEALS FOR WIDOWS
One Service Man Recalls That
Slain Soldiers Families
Must Share Burden.
APPEALS FOR WIDOWS
Special Dispatch 20 THE New YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. c., Feb. IL.

Special Dispatch 20 THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. c.. Feb. IL.
In order TO protect the writer's from
annoyance Senators and Representa-
tives receiving protests against the
bonus scheme are Withholding the
names OF men and women who have
communicated their views regarding
1t. From the mails Of several Sena-
tors and Representatives to-day tke
following protests were selected:
1T is n-American. not just COM
pensation to the soldiers nor a reason
able demand upon the people"
II enlisted in the National Guard of
the State of New York in May, 1917,
and was in active service until June.
1919. and of this period ! spent nine
we'll known fighting divisions. will
admit that the temptation to seek
legislation which will grant men like
myself a bonus or some other form
Of compensation is great. ] am, how
ever, unalterably opposed to the idea
in any form. and know a great many
of my former comrades who feel like
wise"
'As a former service man I wish 10
go on record as being opposed to the
contemplated soldiers bonus act feel
that the enactment Of any such bin
would cause an Increase in taxes, and
would continue for q number OF years to
como. and would be In direct opposition
70 the Efforts OF our best minds TO en-
deavor to SO conduct the Government as
TO reduce taxation. A point that I think
has been overlooked is that the men who
were In the service went In to fight for
the protection, anG future of themselves
and their own individual positions as
much as they fought on behalf Of those
that stayed at home"
Fighter Dcnounces Bonus.
Permit me as member of the
American Legion to address a word or
two TO you regarding the proposed bonus
legislation. The persistent and con-
tinuous clanor that is being made by
the proponents of these ineasur. $ must.
1 suppose, lead you gentlemen in Con-
gress to believe that all of US who served
i'm the army or navy during the late war
are in favor of this so-called adjusted
compensation. Let me assure you this
is not so. There Is a large silent minor
ity. or possibly majority. who feel that
they have been generously treated by
the Government and that 40 further
compensation is due them"
LAS an ex-service man in the late war
beg you to use your influence against
the soldiers bonus legislation. ear
nestly believe the deserving do not wish
the bonus"
AS a member Of the American lie
gion 1 protest against the bonus BIZ
The legion comprises only about one
fifth of the ex-servlce ulen, and OF these
a large minority oppose the bonus"
"As a voter and an ex-service man
7 beg to inform you that It is my belief
that the passage Of a bonus bill would
be very serious menace to the welfare
of the country to-day. Furthermore.
believe that the majority of the people
of the country feel as do about II. and
know from personal experience t'a'
n very large number OF ex-service men
who are also members of the American
Legion are not in favor OF it,"
Aged Woman Writes.
This letter was on black edged mourn
ing paper from a woman. the wavering
writing indicating old age:
"T would like TO register my vote
against the bonus bill. Two OF my boys
were in France. but they went into the
war for strictly patriotic reasons and d
not believe in the bonus bill. II seems
to me such bill would be great
smirch on tho patriotism OF the coun-
try"
"As an cx-servicc man who served
during tho war I wish 20 go on record
as being strongly opposed to the bonus
for soldiers and sailors. 1t seems TO
me that this is no time TO increase our
Government debt, and ] believe that All
pa triotic Americans will agree with me.
have spoken to many of the enlisted
men | served with. and what they want
is Jobs, not a bonus"
"The ex-service man who demands
that he be given a bonus when he knows
that the widow OF his buddie next door
will have to bear part OF tho burden
by taxation Is a pItNAS hoi'ON htAD'
"I feel It my business as an ex-service
man 10 register my opposition to the
bonus. None Of my friends who served
in the war are for IT,"
Finds Few I'm Favor.
Living here on the edge of Camp Dix,
have met hundreds Of soldiers. !
can hardly think OF one that would be
benefited by i. None Of the ex-sol-
dlcrs that have talked TO seem to re-
gard the bonus as anything else than
n joke-something for nothing"
AS an ex-soldier in the United States
Army | desire to enter my protest on
the proposed bonus bill. Why any
American should ask or expect cash
compensation for defending his honor,
his family. HIS country ls beyond my
comprehension. y am therefore taking
Continued on Page Two.
WEST COAsr-ATLANTrC COAST LINE.