Gunnison news-champion., 1924-02-29
INTERESTING DISCUSSION
Of SOLDIER BONUS
(By II. ID. FL

Our =st'oHal pride Is slowly but
surely awakening. Our sense Of
justice is asserting itself thru the
maze Of purchased propaganda, false
f-ures and proftecrs' prayers. The
Soldiers Adjusted Compensation Bill
viii not suffer another defeat II an
awakened public conscience can pre-
vent il.
Turn your thoughts for the NOM
ent to the signing of the ArmiEtice
and contrast the sentiments Of the
moneyed men of that time with these
same men today. for II is the money
ed interests which are offering oppo-
Eition To the Adjusted Compensation
Bill. Picture to yourself the scenes
enacted in any large eastern city
when the news of the signing of the
Armistice was flashed 20 the world.
Pandemonium broke loose, people
went mad with the excitement of the
moment, tons of confetti and stream
ers were loosened into the air. blaring
horns, shrieking whistles, turmoil,
confusion, tears and laughter mingled
with eXultant song and fervent pray
er TO make that day and night long to
be remembered. The pendulum which
had swung to its peak during the
tense strain of work and worry of war
days, swung to the other extreme.
On every lip as praise for the soldiers
and thankfulness that they were to
return. They would be feted and
toasted from one end of the land to
the other. Nothing would be too
good for our soldiers. Our boys were
coming home. What reception they
should have. Let US pause. Today
these same brave men are "bonus
hunting soldiers" Eastern financial
interests have forgotten their graft
tude, and they are charging the soldi-
ers with selling their patriotism" to
the richest country in the worldwide
cant afford to pay" The country
was only too eager to pay a liberal
bonus to the railroads. to war con-
tractors, to ship building firms and
the governmental employees at home
when the war had ended. The fight
ing man has been penalized for his
patriotism in defending his country
by being refused bonus. bonus
for him-emphatically NO"
The American Legion has never
advocated an Adjusted Compensation
Bill. During the four years fight for
the so-called Bonus" the Legion
has maintained strict silence. Never
until today has the Legion taken pub
lie action in regard to such bill,
either afrirmatively or negatively.
Today il is fighting the liquid fire of
propaganda of the capitalists of the
country, as its members fought the
liquid fire on the western front dur
ing the war. To the credit of the
eastern financiers opposing Adjusted
Compensation, it has been conclusive
ly proved that entire corporations
have forced their employees to write
letters to their state senators and
representatives demanding that the
Adjusted Compensation Bill cc defeat
ed. Also hundreds of newspapers
and periodicals thruout the nation
have been flooded with propaganda
and made to order figures of the oop-
position. Millions of dollars are be-
hind the interests which are determin-
ed to defeat the bill when it comes
before Congress. Is it surprising
that the American Legion wishes to
present the other side of the story.
ieven tho they are handicapped by not
having millions of dollars back of
them in presenting their case to the
public?
What are the provisions of the
Adjusted Compensation Bill? Doe,
the public know that $50 is the
largest amount that NAV be paid in
leash to any soldier? Does the pub
lie realize that adjusted compensation
is an adjustment between the war
wages of the patriots who remained
at home and the war wages of the
patriots who spent their DAYS and
nights in mud-soaked, ie-infested
gas-drenched trenches? Do the citi-
zens of the richest nation in the his
tory of the world realize that the
United States is the only allied ma
ton of any standing in international
affairs which has not paid compensa-
cation of some kind to their soldiers?
Is it not national shame? We are
proud of the nations record in the
war, but. in all frankness, will our
record after the war bear the scrunti-
ny Of those unborn prejudiced eyes of
future generations?
We pride ourselves on the thought
that self-expression is free and en-
couraged. We make our wills known
thru our chosen representatives in
Congress who in turn reflect them in
the laws of the land. Now is the
time for all friends of the Adjusted
Compensation Bill to express to our
state senator's, Phipps and Adams,
and our state representatives, Taylor
and Undertake, our convictions in the
matter. Letters, freely written, go
licg to these men at this time will have
telling effeffct. All citizens of this
city and county are asked to give
this your most serious thought and
effort. Letters to our senator's and
representatives will, at least in part,
neutralize the insiduous, coerciveiy
iinducted letters which financiers and
! big business men thruout the country
have forced out Of their empioyees-
NJ. ynrsp hif - So y.n~.l~l ,