The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-12-20

the measure after the Capitol has sent
IL 10 the White House with its ap-
prOyal.
Members Of veterans organizations
interested In the subject have said
from the first that the passage Of a
bonus bin at some time was lneyit-
able. IL Is more than possible that
proof soon will come that they were
right. II Is even said that Mr.. Mel
Ions tax reduction plan will not avail
against the bonus
How much influence there has been
In the veterans word 10 the country
that the case OF the bonus bill Is one
Of Main Street against Wall Street II
Is hard 10 tell. but naturally this kind
OF statement Of the matter must
have had some effect. II Is true that
great associations OF business men In
the United States have declared pub
Iicly against the bonus. saying that IL
would raise taxes and hurt prosper
ity.
Not Seeking Pay for Services.
II has been said In a thousand places
that the soldier Is seeking pay" for
his service. Here Is what representa-
lives OF the veterans organizations
who are charged with the work Of
forwarding the cause OF the legisla-
ton say 10 this charge; II Is an ex-
act quotation from an official state
ment:
The charge has been made that
former service men are seeking pay
for their services. Can any charge
be further from the TRUTH Can II be
supposed for a moment that II snch
were the case, such a modest adjust
ment Of about a dollar a day would
be asked for what service men went
through?
THE soldier asks no reward for his
service In uniform. That Is his pride.
For the hardshlps dangers and suf-
ferings he endured already have been
paid for In his knowledge for all dime
that In the hour OF his country's need
he was called and not found wanting.
But he Is forced to share the tx
penses OF the war. now and In the
future, and pay his proportion OF the
debt incurred and OF the profits
earned In his absence by others.
HE was forced to pay for the high |
cost OF living. imposed on The entire
country through the prosperity of the /
civil population. He was forced TO
pay his share OF the S20-a-day wages
paid TO civil workers. He was forced
10 pay his share Of the bonuses paid
to the railroads and the war contract
ors. He will be forced TO pay In the
future for the huge war debr incurred
Ia part through these large payments
10 others In which he did not share.
but for which he is Jointly respons-
ible."
Illustrated by a Story.
This Is the way the service men
have put the matter TO the country
and It's Legislators. II Is an old story
now, but all OF the things which are
said In the quotation given are per-
1aps better expressed In little hui
nan nature story of the front In
France. for II Is human nature that
= at the bottom OF the demand for
,onus.
Two soldiers met In France. One
vas from one division and one from
mother. but they were from the same
ZONE town In the United States
~Bnl." said Jim. have you heard
rom homer
''Yes, Jim. 1 have heard from home
Bob Jones managed 10 keep out Of
he army"
Eyes, BIll," said Jim. Bob Jones
ept out OF the army and he has my
OBJ and my girl"
This little interchange between two
rlvntes OF the A. f. =. In perhaps
omewhat sharper form was Included
A vaudeville performance given for
he men at the front. The army CEN
ors cut the dialogue out because IL
'as believed TO be bad for the morale
I the men. but nevertheless In that
iterchange Is to be found the human
eason for the demand for the bonus
Recently II seemed that the bonus
m might not be endorsed by the sem
te and Il seemed virtually certain
rat even II II went through the up
er house the senators would not vote
override the Presidents veto. To-
ny things look different President
coolidge may sign the bill. but II he
pes not II seems probable that CON
ress viii pass It over his forblddlnx
ord