The Washington times., 1924-03-01
ATTACKS
ANT|-B0NUS
LEAGUE
Legion Commander Claims It
Has Been Taken Over by
Wall Street.


This Is the si1th of a series
of articles prepared for The
Washington Times By the national
commander of the American
Legion, 0iving the facts about Gd-
jMsted compensation as the IUOrld
'OGr veterGms Vie1O them. In the
precious articles Commander
Quinn told how s., 900, OOO, 900 sOas
appropriated to big business for
the settlement and adjustment of
tCGr contracts, yet the soldiers 1OhO
rtsted their Aves for their country
did not receive an adjustment, but
we're dfsc7anui1tGted against.
BY JOHN r.. QUINN
National Commander American
Legion
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, March L.
Before paying my respects to the
ex.Service Mems Anu-Bonus League,
let me say that have the highest
respect for a world war veteran who
opposes adjusted compensation on
principle and openly says so. He is
entitled to his opinion, the same as
the majority Of veterans are entitled
to their belief that they should be
compensated for the economic handi-
cap suffered by loss Of time and
money In the service of their
country.
A little over a year ago, the
ex-Service Mems Anti.Bonus League
was organized by p. L. Allen, a
former sergeant in the army. He
was selling membership in the
league to ex-service men opposing
the bonus" for one dollar a year,
and using the proceeds to fight
adjusted compensation.
Mr.. Allen was willing to receive
contributions from business men,
but only where they opposed ad-
JuSGeo compensation on principle.
He did not receive very much
money because the adjusted compen.
sation issue was not pressing. But
IN 1898, when 1t loomed I'D as the
greatest single issue since the war,
business began to think about using
the league to create the impression
mat the majority of ex-service men
olo not want a bonus"
Interests Seize Opportunity,
New York and Pittsburgh bust.
ness interests were willing to under.
Wrlte the expenses Of the league.
out only If 1t could use the anti.
bonus tight as propaganda for tax
reduction.
A joint committee of the New
YORK chamber Of commerce and the
merchants Association was formed
headed by John T. Pratt, a wealthy
man. The committee was to raise
$zO,OOO as beginner. The legion
mas Photographic proofs that at
least $50 was contributed to this
committee by New York business
man.
At the same time, Major Buck
and a man named Bronson Bachelor
went to Pittsburgh to interest big
business there.
George Dawson, president OF the
Gulf Oil Company, Of which the
principal stakeholder Is Andrew w.
Mellon, said he would raise $40 900.
A man named Rust, an official of
the Koppers Company, also owned
by Andrew w. Mellon, made a sub
stantial contribution.
signed as execu, director. He
even refused to allow his name to
be associated with the league. He
said: THE league no longer rep.
resents the ex-service men opposed
on principle. 1t has sold out to
Wall Street, and has become a tool
to get tax reduction. 1t represents
Wall Street, not the veteran"
Durham Elected Head
When Knowlton Durham was
elected president of the league one
OF his duties was to draw up a
resolution to present to Congress
outlining what the league wanted
done for the disabled veteran. Tlis
was In line with the leagues slog n:
Everything for the disabled, FOR
the able bodied nothing"
When Allen quit the leagu, in
disgust at it's tactics, that resolu-
ton had not been drawn. This
bears out my contention that If the
| disabled veterans had to wait until
the anti.bonus league did anything
for them they would have got what
the league wanted to give the
Notwithstanding. It is a matter
of public record that the only or.
ganization caring for the disabled
veterans Is the American Legion.
The American Legion has spent
nearly $10,000,000 caring for its
wounded buddies while the anti.
bonus league spends more than
$4,000 trying to brand the former
service man a treasury looter and
"unpatriotic."
The ,anti-bonus league which
claims that a majority Of veterans
are opposed to adjusted compensa.
ton has been able to get free mem.
bership of only 5000. Opposed to
this Is the legion membership of
100000, other veteran organizations,
and the millions Of veterans who
look to the legion to speak for
them.