The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1924-01-03

case for adjusted compensation. II
summarizes the points which Legios
officials have stressed for four years
in presenting the Legion's argument
TO the President. the Congress and
the country and is published in The
Record at the request OF local ex-
service men and American Legion
members
A debt Is owing the ex-soIdier and
cs-sailor.
l. The war was not won by the
I uniformed services alone Capital
and labor performed services univer-
sally recognized to be as patriotic
and necessary TO victory as the ser
vices OF soldiers. Men were legally
exempt from military duty on that
assumption. and were assured that
they rendered the greater service TO
their country by remaining apart
from the armed forces as members
OF the great industrial army which
supported the fighting forces.
2. Equal service was not equally
rewarded. There was a great dis
crepency in pay between those Ia
uniform and the civilian war worker
and the war contractor-betwee the
members OF the fighting forces and
those OF the Industrial forces. This
disproportionate payment increased |
the cost Of the war by several billion 1
dollars. To pay this cost a national |
debt has been incurred
3. The returned soldier Is bearing
his share Of the burden OF paying off
this debt. which was contracted for
the prosecution OF a war which yield
ed enormous sums in increased wages
and profits TO those who stayed at
home. but imposed a distinct econ
omic handicap on the soldier
4. The soldier asks no reward for
his services while in uniform. But
returning home. he asks that, in pro-
viding for himself and his family and
in bearing his share OF the national
debt. he be given economic equality
with the man who stayed al home
The soldier has not had this equality
because OF the superior economic
position attained during the war by
those who did not go TO war. and be-
cause they did not go.
8. Therefore a debt is owing. and !
some adjustment OF compensation or
equalization OF economic values T.
Tue the soldier to balance the scale In
he daily economic Struggle between /.
lin, An hfe rornnafffnr ush.. ,Ffa 80
light and by reason OF that fact was
bile to improve his economic position
Il the expense OF those who did fight
This debt has been acknowledged r
y the country ami payment has bcrn
'romised TO the veteran. /,
l. In the national elections Of
go and OF 1899 a majority OF the n
andidates Of all parties for national
legislative office campaigned and "a
Tere elected on platforms which con- a
aimed the statement that an adjust n
rent OF compensation vas due the b
eterans and should be paid. The II
tie President Harding. as a candi- =,
ate. placed himself explicitly on r. N,
'rd as favoring the passage OF the ~
djusted Compensation Bin. Can N
dates who declined 70 20 thus on II
cord in nearly every instance we're al
sfeated 81 the polls. a.
III n,
/. The people OF twenty states az m
neral elections have voted in favor ar
adjusted compensation.
?. The legislatures OF twenty IN
rec states have petitioned Congress ha
enact the federal adjusted com n,
.nsation bill al
,. The governors Of thlrty-three a.
ates called on the president 10 sign ",
Q Adjusted Compensation BIN no.
len il vas before him. an
4. The legislatures Of twenty-five ~,
ties have acted favorabiy on state "A,
Of a similar nature ~,
g. The House Of Representatives
: passed the adjusted compensation
! three times. the last vote being IA
, 10 20. 49,
8. The United States Senate, ca.
rough its finance committee, has ind
proved Of this bill three times. the