The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-10-02

Written Especially for NEA Service and
The indianapolis Times.
A FOUR-POINT program, OF
L n justice to the veteran and
fairness to the government, will
come before the American Legion's
national convention at Chicago
today to Thursday with the in
dorsement of forty-thre depart
ment conventions and every pros
pect of adoption.
This program is as follows:
l. That no war veteran disabled
in the line OF duty shall suffer
any reduction of those benefits
granted such veterans in the
World war veterans act, as in
effect prior to March 20, 1888.
2. That disqualification under
federal government auspices shall
be afforded war veterans not dis
charged dishonorably. who re-
quire hospital treatment and who
are not reasonably able to pay
for their own treatment.
3. That perpetuation of service
connection for all veterans prop
erly granted such connection I'M
der laws in existence prior to
March 20, 1888, be recommended
as an item of legion policy.
4. That benefits provided for
dependents of veterans as estab-
lished in the World war veterans
act shall be resumed and main
tanned as the governments policy,
and that in no event shall widows
and dependent children of de-
ceased war veterans be without
government protection.
These resolutions reflect reac-
ton of the legion TO the policy
adopted when the economy act
was passed by congress and be-
came effective.
THIS policy was that the
Il American Legion turned away
from the signpost of seNishnesS
which marked the road to dis
credit and went straight ahead on
the road which led to justice for
the war disabled and full public
confidence.
These resolutions, among the 400
or more which will be considered
by the national convention at
Chicago, contain the approval of
this program by each of the forty
three department conventions so
far reporting, with very few va
riationS.
The program first was formu-
lated at five area conferences
which covered the United States,
and in which department officials
participated. 1t then was pre-
sented at department conventions
and it is safe to assume that ap-
proval of the few that have not
yet reported will be given.
The press generally, as shown
by more than 300 editorials from
large and small newspapers alike,
has given approval to these pro-
posals as the future legislative
policy for disabled veterans. The
elements of this program have
been weighed on the basis of
equal justice to truly disabled vet
Grams and the government.
At the time the economy act
was passed, the legion opposed it.
We foresaw untold suffering to
thousands of helpless men. We
are not ashamed of that stand.
We realized, however, that the
majority of the American people
were in favor of that action by
congress. We recognized the fact
that some veterans not entitled to
compensation were on the lists.
WE could have denounced the
w president and congress for
inf1icting grave injustices on hon.
estly disabled veterans. We could
have thrown every possible OBJ
Stacle in the path of the govern
ment's efforts to end the depres-
sion and to restore prosperity and
happiness in our country.
In short, like so many of the
smaller veterans organizations, we