, 1922-04-04
o II SOLDIER

ness presents the veterans case in a very able man
ner. Although we all may not agree with his con-
illusions yet in many respects his views are eminent
ly correct. Mr. Goodwin Gays:
"The bin sponsored by the American Legion known
in its official title as the 'Veterans' Adjusted Compen-
s1tion Bill and elsewhere as the Soldier Bonus Bill
bids fair to become the main issue in the next cleo
ton. The legion demands its passage as drawn, the
congress is apparently willing to pass it as drawn, the
administration has given notice it viii not approve it
unless provisions for financing IL are added to the bill.
In this three-cornered mesh new suggestions of deal
ing with it are appearing almost daily, the latest be-
ing that Of dropping the cash bonus clause per sc but
retaining the cash bonus deferred payment ylln, known
as the certificate plan, which, IL done, will in the end
multiply the amount paid by the government to sol
diers of the world war, as well as the disabled, sew
eral times, the total cost being in excess of five bill
lions.
"And all this on a theory Of adjusted pay without
any limit or standard to which adjustment is to be
made. II it is an adjustment between soldiers pay
and war wages and ~shipyard workers, then this bill is
but the beginning and a small part of the adjustment.
Z. it is the total adjustment Of the theoretical differ
ential, then obviously to be either fair or justified it
would have to differ with the different pay Of army
grades included. and state bonuses already granted
would in all cases be deducted. So It is in fact a de
mand' for money based presumably on a sense of in
justice and the old theory of what the traffic will
bear"
"Now every good citizen wants to deal Justly, even
generously, with the returned soldier. Most will sub
scribe to the slogan that nothing is too good for those
who were called upon TO face the bullets for the pro-
lection OF those who stayed at home. But every true
American will subscribe to it with two conscious or
subconscious reservations, and these are: provided, of
course, that it is not an injury to the country for whose
preservation taey fought or an injury to the soldier
himself.
"The demand that the bonus should be paid regard
less of injury to the country's finances was one that
many veterans themselves resented, ard it has led to
the present situation in which the bill has been prac-
tically rejected and some acceptable substitute sought.
The question whether the payment of a bonus would
help or injure the soldier himself is one that has not
been seriously enough considered. 1t is high time to
review the whole situation from the point of view of
what fundamentally a democratic country does owe
to its returned army after any war.
"'W the people, are the nation. We have a popu-
lar form of government guaranteed by a constitution
subject to amendment-which we are bound to pre-
serve. In times of war the powers of the government
over its people for war purposes are, as they must be,
plenary. Those most fitted physically and mentally
70 fight are drafted as soldiers. Those not drafted as
soldiers can be drafted for other war purposes.
"The essence Of popular or democratic government
Is control by the people as a whole, exercised in an
orderly and legal way. It's greatest enemy. its great
est threat, is control by a class, and consequently the
thing to be most jealously safeguarded or prevented is
the creation of classes with political power. Of all
classes the moat to be dreaded is a military class, and
consequently the prime duty of a democratic govern
ment after n war is to reabsorb its army into its civil
life, social, political, and industrial. To accomplish
this no amount of effort and no expenditure of money
should be withheld or begrudged.
money with which to pay debts, support a family,
build a home, secure an earning power if applied to
these purposes or any one of them is an aid to the end
sought The soldier bonus bin provides money, but
does it provide for its use Tor such or other construct
i've purposes? 1t is given to those who don't need it
on the same basis as those who do, those who benefited
on the same basis as those who suffered from the war.
There are no strings as to its use, and a large part of
il viii be wasted in unproductive expenditure. 1t is a
vast sum, but the payment to those who don't need it
makes of it but a sorry dole to those who do. Is this
the best that a presumably intelligent government can
do for its own protection and to aid the soldier in an
effort to reabsorb him into the civil life of the coun-
try? 1t is pitiable.
"In reabsorbing the soldier into the civil life of the
roupfry we must EpaD in mind that fhera p snrna
so terribly injured that they and their dependents must
and should be supported in reasonable comfort for the
rest of their lives. There are many partially incapaci-
tated who to a greater or less degree will need and
should receive aid, not merely medical but financial.
Both should be treated with the utmost possible gen.
crosby by a grateful country. The remainder, the
physically and mentally sound, should ask no more
than to be given the opportunity, if they need and de-
serve it, as soon as possible to become seh-supporting
members of the nation.
''The provisions of the soldier bonus bill other than
the cash bonus and certificate plan are aimed at this.
They provide for soldier entry into reclaimed lands,
aid in home building, and vocational education. But,
standing alone, are they adequate? I think not. Do
they cover the case OF the unemployed soldier unfit
ted to be a farmer, not needing to build a home, un-
able to indulge in vocational educationT Obviously
not, and yet these are undoubtedly a large majority.
"what, then, is needed7 Three things: To tide over
the period of enforced unemployment in which a will
ing man is unable to secure a job; to aid the man who
is on n job that provides insufficient remuneration to
make him and his dependents self-supporting; to bring
the man willing and capable of more accomplishment
in touch with the opportunity. The soldier bonus bill
does none of these except IN a pitiable way.
"How can It be done?
"Expand the present veteran legislation TO cover
these three points in a proper manner. Decentralize
all soldier assistance that now exists in the Veterans
bureau and that may hereafter be provided for. Ad-
minister it with local offices that come in touch with
the soldier and he with them. Bring it within his range
and comprehension-make him feel it is for him, not
against him"