The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-08-21
VETERANS SLOW
IN Seeking
BONUS
Rival Organizations Also Are
Squabbling, Complaining
Matters In Congress

. y =
This is the fourth of series Of
efr articles dealing NTH the VGrious
phases of the World 4OGr bonus.
The author Is the director of the
bonus information bureau main
tanned By The Washington Times.
In common Nth Hearst newspapers
throughout the United States.
BY JIM RING.
What reaction are the veterans
organizations getting on the bonus?
Here we must mention no names.
It is too touchy. We will present
the information as we have heard
Il, but you must take our word that
e Is so. Far be It from US to stir
up dissension In the ranks Of our
veterans associations.
The question asked above cannot
be answered in one word, and 1t
cannot be answered in two, either.
The reaction has come. but 1t doesn't
mean anything.
Veterans Are Nonchalant
The one great emotion, which over.
shadows all else, is the devil-may.
care attitude which the ex-service
man assumes when he comes into
his pet organization office to talk
about the bonus or to get blank.
He doesn't care whether he gets
one or not. If the man at the desk
says, why, the blanks are all given
out!," the visitor would probably
yawn and say, well, that's all right.
Just thought I'd drop in. What
do you think Of this weather."
This Is predicated, Of course, on
the assumption that the blanks had
all been dispensed. AS q matter
Of fact, they haven't. At first.
there was a comparatively large
demand. The men were curious
to see what the blanks looked like.
The novelty intrigued them.
Many were leaving town and they
wanted to get the thing off their
hands before departing.
81 don't believe that one veteran
has ever come IN here for the
specific purpose Of getting a blank"
said one organization official the
other day. '"They stroll In on
other business, and see the blanks
lying around, and say, Well,
guess I might as well have one
Of them
Cash Is In Demand.
Proportionately, the New York
State bonus, which il in cash, is
considerably more in demand in
Washington than the gift Of the
Federal Government.
Now, there were some veteran
bodies who worked for the passage
Of the present law. And there
were others which took no part in
the Washington fight for the
measure. So, II you make q tour
Of the offices Of these organizations.
you will Get a glorious hash OF
opinions.e u
The pro-bonus veterans ars
whooping 1t up mildly and are do
Ing their best to get the applica'
lions In at once, according to Ad-
jutant General Davis request.
The anti.bonus men are attend.
ing to more immediate problems.
II anyone wants bonus blanks
well, help yourself, buddy.
Hurt by Squabbling.
Under the surface, these organiza-
lions are jealous of each other. BY
quiet innuendo, they call each other
too conservative or too radical.
They admit that the opposition Is
doing good work as far as 1t goes,
but-afd after that but" follows
the pet grievance. This grievance
often 10 related to the bonus cam.
patgn.
IT don't belong to any organiza.
tion.'' service man tolds this
writer recently, but I'm willing to
support the one that is willing to
bury the hatchet for a while, stop
grabbing about his rivals in the
field and get to work for a modi.
fication Of the bonus law.
THE law can be improved, but
only by the united action of the
organized veterans. Congressman
are distinctly against squabbIing in
the ranks of the petitioners. II they
don't stop carrying on this little
war Of their own, they won't get
anywhere. If they do declare an
armistice, they have a good chance
Of putting over some great work
on the bonus"