Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-09-15

STOCK was recently manipulated Tor
the further enrichment of million
aires. 1t was Gen. Hartford drawing
his $4,000 a year from Uncle Sam
who told his colleagues that 'the
largest single economy that could be
made in the national budget without
affecting any operating activity of
government is in the elimination of
certain unjustifable appropriations
now in the law in the interest of
veterans who suffered no disability
in the war;"
Asserting that a number of World
War veterans were backing the
League, he added: These men have
always believed in the sound policy
on which World War veteran legisla-
tiOn was first cOnceived-just and lib
eral compensation to the dependents
of those who lost their lives in serv-
ice and to surviving veterans who suf-
fered any disability in the war.
They found that payments to vet
Grams in one form or another had
come to approximately one-fourth of
our annual Government budget, or,
roughly, billion dollars a year.
This is practically twice the aver
age sum which, under the Young
Plan, the Germans would have paid
for 81 years. 1t is no wonder that
people are beginning cynically to in
quire if it would not have been
cheaper if the Germans had won the
war;"
| wonder if it ever occurs to the
General that his muniicent salary
from his corporation, and his $4,000
pittance from the Government would
not be forthcoming if the lowly
doughboy had not chucked his job for
| a billet in the mud of France.
Let us next consider the unfortu-
nate financial status of other MEM
| bers of the Leagues council, always
remembering that retirement pay
cannot be considered as other than a
justly deserved pension. There is
Gen. John j. Pershing, who is forced
to live on retirment pay of $21,500
per year, and there is Admiral Sims,
who must struggle along on the
$4,000 that the United States pays
him annually. Silent Cal Coolidge, a
consistent opponent of veteran relief,
has never revealed the size of his
bank account, but it seems safe to
believe that he is not suffering UNI
duly from the depression.
| AS to other members of the council,
Elihu Root is probably the best known
and highest paid corporation lawyer
in the United States. If it is true
that Wall Street wanted Fifteen Cent
Archie" as their general in anti
veteran legislation, it is equally true
that they wanted Mr.. Root as the
brains of the movement
| Newton d. Baker has built up a
highly lucrative corporation practice
as lawyer since he retired as Sec
rotary of War. One cannot guess his
reason for allying himself with the
League. Why not call it mistaken
patriotism, and let it go at that?
The last, but by no means the least
member of the council is that great
liberal, Alfred E. Smith. 1t seems in
conceivable that Mr.. Smith would
allow his name to be used if he were
aware of the true objective of Archie
Roosevelts organization.
In conclusion, let one whose tender
years prevented him from being eth
err a veteran or a Stacker offer a sug-
gestion. If the League is sincere in
| its avowed purpose of eliminating un-
due Government expenditures-and
who could doubt that it is sincere
| why does not it's members set the
pace?
Let Roosevelt, for instance, say:
I'm the future my company will not
charge $20,214 for two pounds of let
ters that should have been trans
ported for $780,"
Let Gen. Hartford say: "Since l re-
ceive we'll above $4,000 a year in
salary, will gladly resign the $4,000
| that the U. S. pays me as a pension"
Let Byrd say: "In view of the fact
that the Government pays me $4,000
per year in pension, l will devote my
efforts toward useful exploration,
rather than fight the $12 to $40
monthly that disabled veterans are
receiving"
When this is done, perhaps 10000
900 citizens will enlist "for duration"
in a war on Government extrava-
gances that far eclipse the sum paid