The Bismarck tribune., 1932-12-17
WAR VETERANS ASK
THAT north DAKOTA
KEEP SERVICE WORK
Commend Fargo Man For Good
Record; Rap Those Who
Are Attacking Legion

War veterans and Legionnaires of
the Fourth judicial district, in ses-
sion here Friday night. adopted reso-
luton asking the state to retain the
veterans service officer and commend
ing T o. Kraabel, Fargo, for his work
In that position.
A committee was appointed to put
the resolution In proper form and pre-
sent 1t to "the proper state author
ities."
Action followed an address by
Kraabel explaining the work of his
office and asserting that there is no
less need for the service now than was
the case six years ago when the Of
flee was created by the legislature.
Most of the work done by his Of
flee, Kraabel said, consists Of assist
Ing veterans in presenting claims
against the government. So success
full has this work been, he said, that
North Dakota veterans and their de-
pendentS received $4,000, 900 from the
federal government III 1882, all of
which was spent in North Dakota.
G. T. Hoverson, manager of the
veterans bureau at Fargo, said 5000
North DakotanS are drawing compen-
sation from the government of whom
1,700 had claims based on disabilities
incurred in the service and / 300 were
being paid under the pension features
OF the veterans law. Payments to liv-
ing veterans in this state, he said, to-
tai 100000 year and the average
payment Is about $500 a year each.
The number of those receiving COM
pensation, he said, is about the same
as the number of battle casualties
sustained by World war soldiers from
North Dakota.
Law Is Crazy Quilt
Hoverson said there are some in
equalities in the law because the lat
ter represents "crazy quilt" pieced
together over long period of time.
Joining other speakers in an attack
on the National Economy League,
Hoverson said the Legion anticipated
that organization In opposing these
inequalities and pleaded that war We
terans trust In Legion leadership and
induce their friends to do so. The
veterans la wshould be revised by its
friends rather than by its enemies,
he contended.
The principal attack on organiza-
tions opposing the Legion's program
was made by Jack Williams, state ad-
jutant, who said those who defended
their country In time Of war, not only
the World war but the Spanish Amer
ican, are being accused Of attempting
to mulct the government as a result
OF the Legion's stand on the bonus
question.
The people who make the charge,
he said, represent those who received
bonuses Of billions following the close
of the war. The railroads got two
billion in 1919, he asserted, and other
billions went to war contractors and
civilian employees Of the government
while the men who fought the war got
nothing.
The man in service was required to
carry and pay for insurance, Williams
said, and those with dependents had
to make an allotment for them, with
the result that many veterans got
little of the $50 a month which the
government was supposed to pay them.
Adjusted service compensation was
proposed by congress, he said. to cor
rect this inequality and to give the
veterans a little of the generous treat
ment which had been accorded to civil
lians and war babies"
Cites Mellon Error
The bonus would have been paid in
cash in 1926, Williams asserted, had
not Andrew Mellon "erred" = billion
dollars in his estimate Of treasury re-
ceipts. In 1880, when the 80 per cent
loan feature was added there was no
strain on the government finances,
Williams said, and he asserted that
cash payment in 1888 could be made
without financial disturbance, despite
the barrage Of propaganda which, he
asserted, has been laid down In an
attempt to poison the mind OF the
public against the war veteran. Those
who claim the veteran Is trying to
sandbag the government are the very
people who sandbagged it 50 heavily
Immediately after the war, williams
said.
DR.. H. 8. Kriedler, Wahpeton. state
commander, urged the Legionnaires to
greater membership efforts and asked
that they stick together" In these
crucial times. r. e. Wollits, Bowdon,
district deputy. also spoke on msm-
bership.
8. 8. Boise, commander Of Lloyd
Spetz Post No. / during 1881, was pre-
sented by williams with . past-com-
mander's button.