Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-15
HARBORD DELIVERS
WARNING ON BONUS
Tells Legion Relief Program,
Together With "Tin Cup"
Would Be Ridiculous.

National officers of the American
Legion today were considering many
suggestions for unemployment relief in
an effort to frame a program for pres
entation to the national convention ct
Detroit next week. The plans were
submitted yesterday at conference Of
its jobless commission and representa-
tives CT Governors of % States.
The officials also will carry a warn
ing to Detroit from Maj Gen. James c.
Harbord, chairman Of the board Of the
Radio Corporation of America, that
mixing relief plans with the bonus will
cause them to be laughed at by the
country"
Hartford, former chief of staff Of the
American Expeditionary Forces in
France, was outspoken in a suggestion
that the Legion take care of the $780,
900 veterans estimated to be out Of en-
ployment. He addressed the conference
after proposals had been submitted
ranging from legaliEation Of beer to a
S10, 900 900 Federal construction pro-
gram.
Says Nation Is Uneasy.
He said there was "a little uneasi-
ness in the country about the Legion
I'VE have listened to a great many
things here" he said, that, it seems to
me, would be more useful if We we're
| preparing for a panic in about 1885
than to meet the present situation"
The Legions unemployment commission
had estimated that there were $3.50, 900
men out CT work, based on a survey
made by 10000 posts. OF this number
100000 were former service men"
Inn a Aeff knI &hok r.
! 100000 unemployed veterans to be
about 1912 per cent Of the total num-
Der Of unemployed, adding:
! IF We can show the country an ex-
! ample Of, say, per cent of the popu-
laticn, which is the total number of
! veterans. taking care Of IL per cent of
| the unemployed. and could say to the
President Of the United States and to
Mr.. Walter 8. Clifford, now in your
calculation of the unemployed leave the
veterans out, for we can take care CT
those boys think you will be doing a
very great thing.
Savage Replies to Hartford.
IT cannot imagine anything more ri
! diculous," he continued, than for you
to go down to Detroit with a program
+ OF relief in one hand and hold out an
empty tin cup in the other.
IF you do. you will be laughed at
by the country. And I say that as a
man in favor of the bonus legislation
| in 1924"
Howard P. Savage, chairman Of the
| Legton'S Unemployment Commission,
and former national commander, in
| his reply to Gen. Hartford. said. IF a
proper picture of that subject is pre-
sented at the national convention at
Detroit. the right answer will be forth
coming
Il do feel this" Savage said, that
If they keep on goading the fellows into
it, there will be a battle. The whole
bonus matter, in my opinion, did not
originate in the Legion. It Is not our
baby"
Conference Is Criticized.
He added that the bonus matter
could be handled at Detroit without
getting ourselves too far involved"
What we are interested in today is
getting some 100000 men back to
work" he said.
Another military man. David J. Davis.
adjutant general of Pennsylvania, and
representative of Gov. Pinchot, frankly
criticized the suggestions which were
made to the conference. He said he had
come here for suggestions that could be
used in Pennsylvania, but was "a little
disappointed" He said most of the
things suggested were already done in
his State, adding that methods now
being used could not be proposed as
solutions.
Relief Suggestions Made.
Brig. Gen. Osborne c. Wood, adju-
tant general of New Mexico and repre-
senting Gov. Seligman, declared that
his State had its unemployment prob
lem, which he believed could be COPIED
without outside aid. However, he is
sued a warning that New Mexico could
not promise relief for those who might
migrate to the Southwest during the
Winter
The Legions commission today had
before it for study the following sug-
gestions:
Restoration of the brewing industry,
to provide work for 1,250,000; a $10,-
000,000,000 Federal construction pro-
gram for roads and bridges: national
forestry program; enactment of the
Wagner bill to create employment
agencies through cooperation of the
Federal and State governments; mobili-
cation of 100000 men to clean up
towns from coast to coast; raising OF
child labor age limits and lowering Of
old age pension limits; national con-
ference of Governors, and others, to
consider five-day week plans and meth
DDS for distribution Of necessities with
out money, and increased State appro-
nriati0nc fnr relief