The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-01-01
WORKER. Elk SERVICE MEN IN
DEMAND FOR FULL PAYMENTS
NOW OF TOMBSTONE BONUS
Demands Payment to Worker Veterans Only
AS Immediate Relief to Avoid Suffering
League Warns Worker Vets Against Bunk Put
Out by Legion and Boss Politicians


NEW YORE.-rhe Workers Elk
Service Mems League, with head
quarters at is East Srd Street, New
York City, is voicing the demands Of
the ex-service men who, as workers,
nose the rank demagogy being In
d in by numerous capitalist
clans connected with the out
ling capitaist-led veteran
..Dnues, the American Legion and the
Veterans Of Foreign Wars, a new out
fit.
DemobiIized in 1918 and 1919, the
workers among the service men were
confronted with the reward" OF
looking for a job and trying to es-
tablish themselves at a time when
the capitalist class was beginning an
attack on the little gains" won by
the workers during the war.
A demand for bonus was raised,
and against this the capitalist class
fought bitterly, under the camou-
flsge of patriotism" and duty to
country" But the Russian Revolt
ton has given terrible scare to the
capitalists, who feared to see the
mass OF workers among the service
men turning to "Bolshevism" and to
cooperation with the Communist
movement.
So finally, the stingy compromise
was made, not of bonus, it is true,
a bonus in cash which the rank and
file of ex-service men demanded, but
an insurance policy" paid by the
government. All ex-sewice men
should realize that not even this
concession, nor the state bonus which
they got in cash. was given out OF
the kindness of heart" of the cap
italists, but was very directly trace
able to the fact that the soldiers OF
the Russian Gear had raised the red
flag of working class revolution over
one-sixth the earth and that the en-
tire mass of European ex-service men
was tending to follow suit.
The insurance bonus" therefore,
has not due to the supposed ability"
y capitalist boot-Iekers among the
upper class leaders Of the Legion,
ahich was organized in reality to
head of the leftward trend among
+ the ex-sef nee men.
These insurance. policies were to
mature in 20 years; that is, in 1915.
The date of issue being Jan. /, 1925.
The amount of the policy varies ac-
cording to length of service during
The inlpsrlalist World war, 81 per day
being allowed for service within the
u S., and S1.25 for service overseas,
plus interest compounded on the
total.
A man serving during the whole
period of U. 6. participation in the
war, from April s, 1917, to Novem-
Der II, 1918, would have a policy OF
about $1,000 for home service, and
$1,700 for oversee service.
Inc eX=5eTVlce man could Dorr6R
a certain amount of money, accord
ing to the loan value, being charged
six per cent interest on the loan.
The workers, of course, had to bor-
row yearly, due to times getting
worse and worse, paying interest to
the government, the interest re-
ducing the value of the policy. The
veterans who are capitalists, politi-
clans or fat job holders have the
benefit of collecting in full, the face
value of the policy.
The worker veterans, unable to get
me use of any money without in
crest being deducted, and disap-
pointed at the policy only being pay
bic upon Death, to his heirs, have
ically called this the Tomb
Bonus" expressing their re-