Evening star., 1924-02-25
Ex.Service Men and
Adjusted Compensation
Anti-Bonus League Not Repre-
sentative of Veteran Sentiment.

@AhSA-DoAuo ACdSuC lNOt leCpIC'
sentative of Veteran Sentiment.
To the Ed tor Of The Star: .
wish to thank Mr.. Charles I
Stanton for the information he so
kindly offers in The Star Of February
Is. His statements, are interesting
! In the extreme, but they lack a con-
vfncing tone. This Is a fatal defect Of
all of the specious propaganda dis
seminated by the Ex-service Mems
! Anti-Bonus League, Inc the United
States Chamber of Commerce and
| kindred organizations.
With regard to Mr.. Stanton'e
statement that a very small percent
age Of this anti-honus league were
commissioned above the rank of
captain. / must confess that ] have
no statistics on this organization
with which to combat his assertion.
No one of my acquaintance has any
personal knowledge of this league,
beyond the articles which are given
prominence In the newspapers. This
solitary small band who are In op-
position to all of the real soldiers,
organizations, is too negligible q fac
, tor to merit extended discussion. 1t
was organized by New York business
Interests, and financed in the same
J manner. Let me name some of the
mempers OF their ad 'isory board, all
wealthy. and all identified with New
York business interests, as published
: in the American Legion Weekly:
Brig. Gen. Avery D. Andrews. Brig.
Gen. Henry L. Simpson, Brig. Gen.
William B. Parsons, Brig. Gen. Milton
F. Davis, Col. Francis l.. Robbins, jr.
Lieut.. Col NewDoid Morris, Lieut..
Col. L. Simon Plaut, Lieut. Col. Ben
jamin F. Castle. Mai. George Brokaw
Compton. Maj. William II. Kobbe
and Maj. Boudinot Keith.
In addition to the American Legion.
the Veterans Of Foreign Wars at
their last convention passed q resolu-
ton indorsing emphatically the ad-
justed compensation measure. Every
recognized organization of war vet
Grams had goncon record as indorS-
ing this legislation.
K ~ 4
The American Legion alone, accord
ing to the latest figures recall, COM
prises nearer 25 per cent than 10 per
cent of the total body of ex-service
men. The disaffection within its
ranks may possibly amount to as
much as one tenth of one per cent, all
on the eastern seaboard, and prac-
ticaliy all centered in New York city,
where all this clamor originates.
twenty-five posts opposed to adjusted
compensation, rs against the total of
1900 posts Of the American Legion.
is really a very small percentage.
Does Mr.. Stanton dispute this? In
stating that so per cent of the ex-
aervice men are not enrolled on
either side afr. Stanton has overshot
ms mark badly. Ex-service men
everywhere. organized and unorgan-
lied, have declared themselves in
favor Of adjusted compensation. II
Is notable fact that an overwhelm-
Ing majority of the members Of the
House House OF Repre- entatives Of the
United States. at the Sixty eighth
Congress, are committed to the Iegis-
lation under discussion. as we'll as
most or the senators who were sue
&C sful at the last elections. Even
New York could not return Senator
Calder, who was opposed to adjusted
compensat ton but sent in tead Sen.
ator Copeland. who is outspokeniy
in favor of this legislation Veterans
or the late war had a powerful voice
IN this result and these men know
II. They will carry out their pledges
to the people of their di tricts, re-
gardiess of the inspired clamor now
resoundins.
The Chamber of Commerce of the
United States took a referendum
vote some time ago to determine
the sentiment of its members on
adjusted compensation. with the re-
suit that Ais of the local chambers
OF commerce voted in favor of the
measure. with 1851 oppo ed. Know
ing they do not represent their mem.
ure. Why? Most people know.
Judge from Mr.. Stanton's remarks
that ne Is what might be termed
an organizer OF the Ex-Service Mems
Anu-Bonus League. He may be per-
fectly sincere in his opposition to
adjusted compensation. But he can.
npt, if he wishes to be accurate, con.
scientfously state that any material
proportion of the ex-servioe men are
opposed to this measure. He must
remember that the east Is not the
entire country and that the small
membership in his 104 chartered
units Is not in any degree repre- :
Sentative Of ex-soldiers' sentiment.
In conclusion. ! wish to reiterate
my statement OF several days ago
and to amplify it: Mr.. MuIford and
the rest of the gentlemen who ex-
pre- opposition to adjusted COM
p!nsation are in an infinitesimal
minority. and would, in my opinion.
feel much more comfortable in the
EX-Service Mems Anti-Bonus League,
Inc. where their opinions would be
more in conformity with the pur-
poSJs of their affiliations.