New Britain herald., 1923-12-27
COMMUNICATED
Another Talk on the Anti-Bonus
 League.
New Britain, Conn.
 D 0c 1nao

| ANaSuC
 New Britain, Conn. Dec. 26, 1923.
 Editor, New Britain Herald:
 Before additional comment to that
 of Sat. Dec. 22d. pertaining to the
 "Ex-service mems Anti-Bonus league"
 formed, forming or to be formed.
 perhaps it would not be amiss to say
 that in the course of fifteen years of regular military service, the writer
 formed many friendships, now sadly
 disrupted. Among the many friends,
 some dead, some near to it, and one,
 who ''laughs-but smiles no more"
 there is numbered the distinguished and unassuming soldier whom Gen.
 Pershing declared to be the outstand- ing hero of the war, and as such was designated by him as the representa- Itive of the Infantry branch at the dedication of the Unknown Soldiers
 grave. In two years of intimate as-
 sociation, Clan. 1910 to Dec. 191D
 with this man always reserved, in
 manner and speech, there was fur nished me, an example, exceptional
 though it be, of what some eX-serviee men are not.
 In the statement published in con-
 nection with the forming of the local
 branch of the above league, the na-
 tional motto of which is For the Dis- |abled All-for the Ablebodied Noth-
 ing" it was stated by Capt. John J.
 Connors. who will direct local affairs
 we have no political or other ends
 to serve and will make every effort in
 our power to promote legislation that
 will provide the best care for the real
 sufferers of the war" It is the writer's
 contention that there is absolutely no
 sincerity in this national program. We
 have existing governmental machin-
 cry for the disabled which is func- tioning as well as human agency can
 make if. It is in movement, in spite
 of meddling and the mass of legisla- tion, additional of which 1t is self evil dent will not improve it and which, in turn, 1t is further contended is not even the object of this league, the To- cal branch of which, is but a mere cog directed by men who may or may not have the vision 10 sec that they are participating in the age old program of making the sick the cloak for other purposes? How docs MT. Connors, a captain locally but a private nationally, in an organization forming simultaneously with the in- sertion of full page ads, in the New York papers, dwelling upon but single choice between tax reduction and bonus. know that political or other ends" are not being served? Does not the mere program (double shuffle) of legislation, which, it is hoped, does not topple over the al- ready oppressive load. imply the pres ence of lobbyists in the offing and would not assault be committed upon even a kind child should it lisp that where lobbyists are present. pie was not being served? That MT. Connors may have an inkiing of all this. which, it is his duty to know positive ly, may be indicated by the fact that he makes defense of motives before they are questioned, or, on second thought, did the Field secretary for all Connecticut, Mir. Gladstone, who was down at the occasion of tho first and only meeting. thus far, hand to Captain Connors his instructions in- tact, together with statement of glorious objectivos, for publication? In this statement there also appeared an effusion by the Field secretary for the Connecticut forces himself. The Field Marshal for the Connecticut forces instead of metaphoricaly going about his business of gently stroking his sick brother upon the head, in which event the stricken brother would likewise wish to be saved from his friend,---the Marshal. I say, in- stead of going about his business. said about generic terms" which, the more 1t was read, the greater became the confusion. But since the fear, however, is now re- that the term. term" contain ed a threat of jail, where SO many of my old friends now languish, I'll yen- ture the guess. that generic terns," is the very thing that the Marshal will go armed with, like bouquet. on his frequent visits to the sick. Further on in the statement we are approach ing the end--and before it was even charged, the Marshal denied. with some heat, apparently, that ex-service men were "ex-wage earners," lex hired hands," ex-employees." or any thing of the sort" Now this, Mir. Editor, was not very enlightening as 10 what ex-service men really are, but z.f 4N Laa