Evening star., 1924-05-31
Differs With Bonus Foe.
Writer Says Real Reason Exists
for Passing Bill.

To the Editor of The Star:
note what Joseph Gray Kitchen
has to say in your issue of the 2Sth
entitled Aroused by Bonus
Mr.. Kitchell has every reason to
be aroused after Congress passed this
measure over a veto and the enor-
nous propaganda launched at it by
the Soldiers Anti-Bonus League and
the big interests that the league rep
resents.
Mr.. kitchell states that some day
we may know a really good reason
why the bonus allowance was grant
ed. That reason is known right at
present, and IL Mr.. Kitchell has not
informed himself concerning this
measure to the extent of finding out
the reason it was passed he is not
qualified to express himself as to the
merits Of the adjusted compensation
bill. Any member Of Congress can
show him the reason in the form of
hundreds Of letters from all parts of
the country fndorSing this measure,
and at the same time thousands of
form letters, written in identical lam
guage and mailed from the same
places, representing the opposition's
propaganda and the result of the
activities of the Soldiers Anti-Bonus
League. The exposures of the Amer
lean Legion and the Investigations of
the committees in Congress handling
this measure, in which 1t was shown
that most of the opposition came from
big business and through their fntim-
not only afraid of the political out
come Of defeat of this measure, but
they considered the peoples wishes
and the source Of the opposition.
Mr.. Kitchell certainly can stretch
his imagination concerning two mil
lion men whom he alleges are op-
posed to this measure. In my travels
probably 95 per cent Of the ex-serv-
ice men entertaining just the oppo-
site views None of them refused to
accept the paltry pay check of $50
Qess SIS and then $3.50 more for in
surance and in some other cases an
additional IS on liberty bonds) which
Uncle Sam offered them for their
services as soldiers so why should
they refuse the governments offer to
adjust such pay at this time? The
government adjusted the salaries of
all the other patriotic people and or
ganizations in the country, the rail-
roads, the war contractors. the gov
ernment employees, organized labor.
and they did not consider 1t CONNER
cializtng their patriotism. So why
should the soldier consider it COM
mercializing his patriotism to accent
an adjustment of his wartime sal
ary?
Personally 1 do not get adjusted
compensation, as I served as a major
during the war, and they are exempt
ed under the provisions of the law,
but II 1 should be entitled to receive
1t I would accept 1t, and in view of
the governments liberal treatment of
all its subjects other than the SOL
dfers during the war 1 would not con-
slider 1t such a disgrace as Mr.
kttchell seems to think it will be.
Furthermore, 1 am still in the service
as member of the reserve and am
ready to offer my services tomorrow
1 would like very much to see such
an organization as suggested by Mr..
Kitchell, one composed of service men
who want to save the country q bill
lion dollars by refusing to accept the
bonus. formed. / would suggest that
Mr.. Kftchell communicate with the
Soldiers Anti-Bonus League along
this line. He might find them Just as
efficient in organization work as they
were in propaganda work. They
would be sort of nucleus to build
on, and do not see any reason why
they cannot be as powerful in the
future ~ they were in trying to korce.
= defeat n ~ aA1pate4 CON pensa-