The Carbon County news., 1931-09-10
NO VETERAN RAID ON THE TREASURY
By GEORGE B. LOCKWOOD


The president of the Carnegie Foundation makes VIC
lent attack the American Legion and the Grand Army
of the Republic the charge that through political
cion they have raded the treasury to provide unjust
pensions and other forms of compensation for veterans
He declares that the g. A. r. twas transformed from
patriotic society to subsidy seeking organization
The Grand Army of the Republic has been the target
of such accusations before Looking back the record
of what the nation has done for the who saved the
Union from dissolution IN the sixties, and thus made It
possible for Mr. Carnegie to accumulate the fortune with
which he endowed the Carnegie Foundations few Ameri
will agree that the government has been too generous
One familiar with the operations of the pension laws
knows how difficult it at any time to procure for
veteran pension to which he not entitled That
there individual Of imposition III large al
number of pension applications is doubtless true but
that general pension legislation unfair that many
cases of injustice developed under it. is not true.
When the nation, after Americas entrance into
the World War aside certain portion Of the popula
tion obligated to military service, and permitted the
remainder to continue civilian pursuits and in many
instances to personally profit by the war; incurred
special obligation to those who called to the ma
tlona colors. 1t incurred moral obligation for some
adjustment financially between those who went to war
and those who stayed at home That the adjustment
has been overdone to date thoughtful person will be
inclined to believe.
The money paid out by the nation to World War vete1
does not represent net loss to the American people
a
afford to pay, and puts into the pockets of many who
need it. and who have claim on the nations gratitude
But for their service there would be values in this
country; the endowment fund of the Carnegie Founda
ton would be worthless Some excessive demands have
been made the government by some representatives
OF the World War soldiers But what has been done up
to date has been moderate The additional loans made
bonus certificates, described by the President of the
Carnegie Foundation raid the treasury did
not increase the obligation Of the government penny
the contrary since the loans made to veterans at
higher rate of interest than the government pays for its
money, it is profitable transaction
The Carnegie Foundation along with some highly use
fn activities has of less value 1t agitaes for inter-
natlonasm and the dsaming of the nation Its eminent
founder who made many noble benefactons nevertheless
expressed wish for consolidation of the United States
and the British Empire Certainly the cause of peace is
not harmed when is made costly because our
people vote themselves heavy burdens in caring for
veterans and to some extent making up for what they lost
financially by their service while others in safety
pursued their usual profitable occupations.
It may be assumed that Congress has done nothing in
the matter of veteran relief that does not meet the ap
proval of the American people, who pay the BILL for CON
gressmen not in the habit Of voting for things they
do not believe popular Ii Congress has Graded the
treasury to help the veterans then it simply means that
the American people, through their representatives have
made raid on their treasury.
1t is remarkable fact that while in the United States
we have some four hundred foundations of one sort and
another endowed to the extent of several billions in the
aggregate we do not have single one committed to the
cause OF mculcatng American patriotism
OF American institutions ideals and principles There are
many such foundations which, the contrary are on
gagged in deprecating and breaking down American ma
onalism in favor of futile and ultimately fatal inter
natonalism From such attacks upon the orean
lied veterans of all may be expected But if
there had not been willing to stand between tbe ma
tion and destruction in time of peril and if the spirit back
Of their service is not kept alive the endowment funds Of
these institutions might in due time become about as val
liable as German marks Immediately after the World
War