New Britain herald., 1924-01-01
THE BONUS AND THE ANTIS

A rather amusing situation has been
 created in New Britain within the past
 week or so by the formation Of an
 Anti Bonus League here. The natural
 reaction to it's formation, of course,
 was the smoking out of one or two
 active advocates of the bonus plan.
 Individuals. as a rule, are speaking
 for the plan, organizations. in the
 sense that the Anti Bonus league is
 an organization, are opposed. There
 can be little organized effort to spon-
 sor a bonus to veterans Of the World
 War because organized effort takes
 money and those who are in favor are,
 AIS 4 rule, lacking in that essential.
 The American Legion, as national organization. believes in q bonus. ac- cording to the remarks of eX-Com-
 nander Kelly at the recent state con vention of the Legion here, but the Legion is not rcsortins to propaganda as widespread as the propaganda is sued by the opponents, preferring, doubtlessly 10 work through the arguments of individuals at a much lower cost.
 A national election soon to come has furnished the impetus to the op- moments of a bonus, possibly the ad- vocates will shortly throw their hats into the ring. But, as it is the oppon- ents have stolen a march on the ad- vocates.
 Tracing the whole movement Is easy. Secretary Mellon of the Treas ury made his declaration for lower taxes. demonstrated that they could . he lowered. but specified that the bonus could not he allowed for, that il must be discarded. He attracted many people to his standard, any proposal to reduce expense usually has that ef- ract His words were enthusiastically received by the organization and might easily become the dominent feature of the presidential campaign. The feasibility of the scheme. tho arguments pro and con. are out oi place here. They will unquestionably be widely taken up within the next few months.
 The enthusiasm for lower taxes may become so general that the bonus is- sue will be entirely lost sight of, fl so inc desired end has been accomplished. Bpt il can readily bc seen that fl was decided that no stone must bo left unturned to compsl public attention. m active group of individuals had to he formed to oppose the bonus for the moral effect or the group at election time. That is what happened, even in New Britain.
 Quite likely the opponents Of the plan here arc as honest in their be ifafs as the advocates but they have l certainly been welded together by tho forts Of some inspired orga nization' national in scope. Prepared interviews , with oaiqrrs of the organization, have , ,can sent ont to each local chapter hat Is perfectly evident in th" similar ty of the words and thoughts oi th" !, ,ncials in each town as reported in heir local papers. Something has .firrod them to activity after four or t five years Of inactivity.
 II is not hard to imagine th" origin IF inc organization. Such things may { ,e left to thc reader II will be inter- | sting to watch developments. to see rbat will he the next mote Of those n favor. Providing they. too. organ ze and spread their propaganda through thc agency Of interviews, pre- ,ared somewhere else. tho bonus and ,ot taxes, as far as tho two may be .aparatcd may be tho issue Of the .ampaign to come.