Evening star., 1932-04-06
A Patriotic Stand.

a Patriotic Stand.
The national commander of the
American Legion, Henry L. Stevens, has
informed President Hoover that the
rank and file of the Legion are not
favorable to the passage of the 30
called soldiers bonus bill at this time.
The American Legionnaires, 1t may
be supposed, are anxious to serve their
country in time Of peace as well as IN
time of war And patriotically they
have turned their backs on proposal
to take from the Treasury sum in ex-
cess of 100000 900 in the present
emergency, or to have the United States
endanger its financial credit and stability
by the issuance Of fat money. Out of
a total of ten thousand American
Legion posts the country over, the ma
tional commander says, only twenty
three have gone on record as favoring
the passage of this proposed bonus
legislation now. This statement of the
attitude of the Legion shows the pro-
ponents of the legislation in Congress
in a poor light indeed. They appear
to be backing this bonus bill for their
own purposes and not for the sake of
the Legionnaires. Perhaps they see
votes in bonus, with an election i'm
pending. In the end, however, and
with the American people in their pres
ent frame of mind, they may lose more
votes than they, have hoped to gain.
The American Legion, at itS>national
convention in Detroit last year, went
overwhelmingly on record in opposition
to bonus legislation, with the Treasury
facing a huge deficit. It's present de-
termination to stick by its guns in this
matter does the Legion credit.
In the last Congress bonus legislation
was put through which turned over to
the veterans more than billion dollars.
And now Congress is in the process of
putting through q revenue bill designed
to raise from the already burdened tax
payers 81 ,100, 10000 in additional rev.
enue, in order to bring about a bal
anced Government budget by the close
of the fiscal year 1888. The need of
balancing the budget has become ap-
parent to the entire country. 1t is the
very essence of financial recovery.
Members of the American Legion take
the same view of the country's neces-
sity as do other patriotic citizens
President Hoover visited the Ameri-
can Legion's convention in Detroit. He
made an appeal to the veterans to act
again for their country and to reject
the demands that were In the process
of forming then for the payment Of
the entire sum due to the veterans un-
der the terms of the original law, al
though the adjusted service certificates
do not become due and payable for
years to come. The action of the Le-
gion was definite and, it was thought,
conclusive. But the agitators for the
payment of the bonus in full were not
quieted. Those members of Congress
who believe that they can gain by their
solicitous attitude in behalf of the vet
erans have never lost their stride.
1t would be no compliment to the
members of the House and Senate
to say that the passage of the
bonus bill is inevitable Yet even
members of Congress who are them
selves opposed to the payment of
the bonus at this time have rather
thrown up their hands and declared
that the bonus sentiment is running
away with the National Legislature;
that in the face of coming election
members will not stand up to what
they believe Is In the interest Of the
country and vote against bonus bill.
And now the commander of the Amer
ican Legion and other Legionnaires are
pointing the way to courageous posi-
ton. The opposition to the bonus bill
is gaining ground fortunately. Within
day Senator Pat Harrison of MiSsis-
sippi, ranking Democratic member of
the Senate Finance Committee, has
fatty told supporters of the bonus pay
ment that he is against the bill and
will vote no" If it comes before the
Senate committee or the Senate itself.
President Hoover has shown clearly
that he will veto a bonus bill If II is
sent TO him now. But there should
be a majority Of the Congress willing
to act as courageously and patriotically
as the President in this matter. 1t
would be a sad commentary should
members Of Congress shut their eyes
and vote for the bonus bill, relying upon
the President TO get the country out of
hole by exercising his veto power.