The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-09-27
This is the ninth of series OF ten
articles dealing with the outstanding
events in the life of Senator La Fol

world has witnessed the enactment
in America Of a tragedy as old as
history. as old. indeed. as human
nature 1t is the tragedy of a ma
tons ingratitude.
am writing this at a time when
I am candidate for what popularity
is termed the highest office within
the gift of the people. Perhaps it is
a poor time, politically thinking, to
talk of national ingratitude; but.
while I am as appreciative as any
man can be of such honors as the
people may confer upon me, 1 am
not seeking the presidency as an
honor for myself, but as an oppor-
tunity for service. And I feel that
1 would render a real service if
could bring home to the people the
fact that a great wrong has been
committed against our soldiers in
the late war, and could arouse the
voters to insist on righting that
wrong.
speak OF our failure to pay. as
far as it can be paid. our debt to
those of our sons whom we drafted
TO ngnL III the w Orlu W ar
Find a friend who can tell you the
story of the years that followed the
Civil War. He'll tell you of the
enthusiasm with which the wars
heroes We're welcomed home, espe-
cially the frs. OF those returning
He'll tel You how, by degrees. this
4 feIvor grew less: how. IN time, the
blue of the uniforms faded. the brass
Of the buttons furnished, and how
the lessening gratitude Of the repu5-
lie seemed to keep pace with fading
Of the cloth and the furnishing Of
the buttons.
Two Years
Twenty years it took for this nor
nal. if unpleasant. human reaction
TO begin. following the Civil War.
in the war only recently ended. it
required just two years.
The war ended. officially, so far as
America was concerned. with the
signing of the treaty with Germany
Aug. %, 1921. President Harding's
remarkable visit to the Senate 10
urge that the soldiers compensation
bill be not passed occurred five
weeks earlier So, officially, the
President EXPRESSED his belief in the
nations ingratitude before the war
Officially-had ended. Actually, Of
course. the fighting ceased Nov. II.
1918. And within less than two
/ years of that date the House of Rep
resentatives had taken - first vote
on a compensation hill. passing it
269 to 90. Ninety-two members Of
i Congress put themselves on record
as early as that against the meager
amounts It was proposed to give the
4 soldiers to recompense them for their
$ losses.
. After the House had passed the
bill it was too late for the Senate
to act in that session. In the fol
lowing session the Senate Finance
i Committee completed its considera-
i ton of the bill only a few days, be
&fore the 4th of March, 1921, adjourn
n ment. Too late to be voted on. An
n extra session Of Congress having
Il been called. the bill again was in
Produced on the first day. It reached
consideration in the Senate Finance
4 Committee June .. This committee
- struck out provisions for land aid,
Ewhich always had been a feature Of
y soldier compensation following Amer
II can wars. George Washington,
2RIarquis de La Fayette and Abra-
~ nam Lincoln took the greater part of
- heir compensation in land. Lincoln
~ ece:ved only land for his service fl
~ - ID
IS eived it only. Of course, after he
Mad asked for it,
u Harding Opposed
Despite the feebleness of the aid
Extended by the bill 20 the soldiers,
a Harding. as related, asked the SEN
81 tie not to pass it, saying-or the
Y rgent representations of Secretary
4 Eellon-that the country could not
8 lord it. The bill was sent back
q to Senator Penrose's committee.
4 where it died in due course.
] Representative of the soldiers
4 took up their weary struggle again
q in the session which convened Dec.
u 5. 1921. The Ways and Means Com
u mittee of the House began new hear
hing on the measure and Feb. %,
~ 1922, Secretary Mellon appeared TO
f3express MS opposition.
q The Ways and Means Committee
- land relief already being out
~ took out the cash payment feature Of
u the bill. except in cases where the
y4cash payment was not to exceed $50.
FF.Not to relate the long detail of the
hills adventures in the two Houses,
finally was passed by the Senate
Sept. Is. 1922, and was sent to the
White House.
President Harding vetoed it
In his veto he submitted a treas
Iry tatement that there would be
Il deficit Of $3.50 600 600 that year.
The year ended with surplus of
S3I0. 00G. zoe A difference of almost
$1,000. 600 600 between prediction
and fact, but the debt to the soldiers
had again been lodged.
Voting 25S TO 81 the House over
rode the Presidents veto. The Sen
ate, however, with twenty-four men,
bers not voting, failed to give the
necessary two-thirds majority. The
vote was A for and % against over
: riding the veto.
1t was the following December
before efforts could be renewed. The
bin was introduced, hearings once
more were held by the Ways and
Means Committee Of the House and
a bill finally brought forth which
still further whitfield away the COM
pensation for which the soldiers
asked. It provided cash for those
who were to receive $50 or less and
A small amount Of insurance for the
o.barS Vocational training land