Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-14
JUSTICE OF SOLDIERS BONUS
PRESENTED BY SPLENDID ARRAY
SPEAKERS At MASS meeting

With voliey after volley of staccato
and singing invective for the war
profiteers and constituencies citizens
who hearken to the trsidious and
highly subsidized propaganda OF the
anti bonus element, and brilliant ora
tory clearly setting forth the justice
of the adjusted compensation meas
ure to in some small measure adjust
the remuneration of those men who
offered their all for the United States
in the World War. an audience az
Several hundred people at City Hall.
last evening were treated 10 one OK
the greatest arrays of speakers ever
assembled on one program in this
city for the avowed purpose of edu-
eating the citizens to their RESPONSE
bihty in seeing that right shall pre-
vail and the service men receive their
just deserts. rather than that our
Congress shall be controlled in their
action on the bonus measure by the
big interests of the country.
The mass meeting was under the
auspices of the James Fitzgerald post.
American Legion, AMI was one of
many hundreds of similar meetings
which are being held throughout the
nation during this week, in an effort
to combat the influence and pressure
being eXerted to defeat the bonus bill.
In introducing the program and the
purpose of the meeting, Chairman
Harry o. Barney asked those present
to consider the matter fairly after
hearing the case of the soldiers, and
after deciding as TO the justice of the
Nrs ON
men OF their desire.
Commander George \. j. Froberger
of the local Legion post reviewed
briefly the circumstances of the plt-
ter campaign being wagCd by the OPP
porents of the bill. whom he charac-
terized as the money interests, and
supported his assertion by several re-
ferences to authority, and findings
from inycStiga tons. lie Indicated
that questionable methods were being
employed by the anti-bonus element.
including coercion OF employees by big
corporations. in their effort to make
it appear that the majority of the
people We're in. opposition TO the en-
actment into law Of the adjusted
conversation bill.
Presents Record of Legion
Everett MaXcy of Gardiner. repre-
senting the state department OF the
American Legion, presented briefly
and in q clear manner a statement
| of the activities, aims, purposes, ana
accomplishments of this great organ
! iZation of the veterans of the World
| War; He said that with the winning
Of the war the soldiers did not re-
! linuuish all further responsibility,
! but rather accepted It as their fun
damental duty as soldiers of peace to
watch over the affairs of state and
nation.
MI. MaXcy called attention to the
splendid accomplishments Of the Lee
! gion in the trying days following the
war, when the red menace threat
ened the internal peace of our coun-
try. He indicated that the Legion
was first and foremost consecrated TO
the task of seeing that the wounded
and physically disabled veterans of
the war were adequately cared for,
and related something Of their sue
cess in this. He spoke Of the COM
prehensive programs of AmericaniZa-
ton, Immigra ton control, education.
community endeavors. and service III
civil strife and disaster, which the
Legion has carried out. and in each Of
which they have established won
derful record of accomplishment.
4 communication was read from
General Albert Greenlaw OF this city.
who is National committeeman CT
the Legion from Maine. in which
Gen. Green!aw reviewed the history
of the adjusted compensation meas
IRE and told of the inside details OF
its oriSinatiOn.
George Il. Gay. commander of tho
Seth Williams post, G.. \. T.. and
past department commander of the
organization of the veterans of the
War of the Rebellion, brought q
message from the fast thinning ranks
of the comrades OF the Grand Army,
and i'll his tirery and emphatic man
ner called upon the audience to con-
secratc themselves to the effort of
seeing that the veterans of the ma
tons most recent war, obtained JUS
tice. Mr.. Gay said that tho in
sidiOus propaganda of the antis was
poisoning the hearts of men. In
speaking of Secretary of the Treas
ury Andrew Melons extra ordinary
error in prophcsying a treasury ,ie-
felt. when the fiscal year ended with
more than a three million dollar sllr-
plus. Mr.. Gay likened the Secretary
to the violin, held by one of the
musicians in front of the stage. "IIc
could play almost any kind of tune
the occasion demanded
State Librarian Henry +. DunnaCk
defined the provisions of the adj
iusted compensation measure in a
most understandable manner. Mr..
Dunnack put the audience i'll a happy
frame of mind from the start. and
his exposition of the subject was
thoroughly sound and logical as was
the splendid speech Of Hon. Benedict
+. Mahcr who followed him. and who
was the last speaker of the even
ing.
Judge Makers remarks were fire.
Quently interrupted by the applause
Of his hearers. He scathingiY eX-
coriated the Secretary Of the Treas
ury in the matter of his mistake or
nistatement az to the finances Of
the country at the time of the bonus
bill was vetoed by President Hard
ing on figures supplied by him. after
the bill had passed both branches
OF Congress by overwhelming votes.
In explaining the present SEEM
ing lack of interest on the part of
the public. on matters which con-
Germ the men who went to the front
when this nation was threatened,
Judge Mahor declared it as his be-
lief that the people at heart had not
forgotten, but rather that tho feel
ing still remained that activated
them during the stirring days of
191TlS. when they shouted thcm-
selves hoarse at preparedness par
AIDES. and rilen when aroused to their