The New York herald., 1922-08-30

soldier who admittedly served his coun-
try well In time ofwar. is there not an
obligation resting upon him as there is
upon every citizen to serve her well in
time of peace? Ii he serving her well
now when to her burden of debt he
would add the immense sum demanded
and provided for in this bill?
"Mr. President, to forego this gratuity.
this bonus, or. II you please, this ad-
justed compensation. would save the peo-
pie of the country . mighty burden and
would cause him, the ex-soldier no sac
rifice at all unless indeed 1t be the sacri-
fice OF o desire not worthy Of him to
secure gratuity or recompense-and
now note-a sratuity or recompense
of which he never dreamed when he
entered the service or at any time be-
fore the great day OF the armistice.
Mr.. President. as view 1t. the bill
Is not defensible and 1t ought to be
defeated: First, on the ground of prece-
dent; second, on the ground of the coun-
try's needs otherwise; third, on the
ground that the ex-service men can get
along without It fourth, on the ground
that the bad example il will set and
the evil consequences that may flow
therefrom in the future: fifth, on the
ground that the terms of the bill itself
are iniquitous In that they violate sound
business principles and invite prodigality
and recklessness on the part OF the
beneficiaries or supposed beneficiarfes of
the bill.
Must Consider Situation.
"Now. Mr.. President, in constituting
the measure, great and important and
all-absorbing just at this time as it
seems to be, we ought to consider all
the circumstances surrounding US, sur
rounding the nation, circumstances
which are very pertinent to the consider
alton of the measure. Among these, f1rst
we place the tremendous burden of debt
under which the nation is now stag
gering, $4,000. 100000.
Mr.. President it is to be observed
that we are now In a condition so far
as labor and so far as industry are
concerned such as has never before,
think, quite confronted the country. We
thought a little while ago that prosperity
was right here at the door. I saw
cartoon some time since which well il
lustrates the situation. Prosperity was
about to return and enter the house OF
Uncle Sam. He had reached the gate,
but there were two giant dogs at the
gate. one labeled the Coal Strike. and
the other labeled the Railroad Strike,
and because OF these barriers prosperity
was not permitted to enter and greet
Uncle Sam. That is the situation now.
I'VE might with more reason talk
about the enactment OF bonus bill il
conditions were anything Hike normal but
We know they are abnormal and we
do not know how long the abnormal
conditions will continue and how much
of this stress and how much of debt
to the people throughout the coutry will
ensue as result of these abnormal
conditions. We. until a little while ago,
thought of the farmer, and let me refer
to him now.
III there was any man whom we be-
lieved to be profteer during the war.
not that he was q profiteer in the ap-
propriate sense ut all, but q profteer,
1t was the farmer who was getting ex-
ceedingly high prices for his wheat and
for his corn and for his hogs and for
his cattle. He profited, IL he did not
profiteer, by reason of the war
But what Is the situation to-day?
Let me read just a short letter from
the president OF the Association OF State
Banks in the State of South Dakota.
1--WE are threshing very satisfac-
tory crop. this year. but the low prices
are causing considerable discomfort
among the farmers"
Senator Dial, In making his objections
to the bonus now, said he had never
favored the scheme.
II feel that this proposition" he said
in part, was not conceived in patriot
Ism but was conceived In politics. 1t is