Evening star., 1934-10-22

whether this convention should take
an unequivocal stand for the imme-
diate cash payment" of the veterans
bonus.
The Legion can, with utmost
propriety, stand vigorously for a pro-
gram of justice o its disabled COM
rades but adjusted compensation
affects all alike. ! am doubtful OF
the ethics of able-bodied men making
a demand for immediate cash pay
ment of claims not yet due when
many of them can we'll afford to wait
for payment until the certificates
mature" in 1945, the Senator said
in the prepared text of his address.
Senator Steiwer proposed the Le-
gion consider the advisability of
standing for early payment and ask
ing only that our Government meet
this obligation at time when it will
result in the minimum burden to the
people of the country. A position
of this kind would increase the pres
tige of the Legion. There is much
reason to believe that a demand for
immediate payment would intensity
animosities and arouse an organized
opposition which will make favorable
action more difficult"
Hits Political Experimentation.
Preservation of the guarantees of
the Constitution, the Senator said. is
the first duty of citizenship" He
lashed out at those who would follow
a will O. the wisp in quest of social
betterment in behalf of a
program of political experimentation.
They seek Innovations he de-
clared They believe that the con-
ceptS of Americanism have not proved
sound. They would limit or deny the
right of private property. They would
limit opportunity everywhere. They
would cast all men in a common mold
and thus take away the unequaled
privilege which has belonged to the
boys and girls of America to build
themselves up from humble begin
nings to positions of honor, affluence
and power.
"As one who served with you on the
muddy Shell-torn fields of battle, per-
NIT me to sound a warning. If the
American institutions were worth pre-
SGI wing III 1870 dlC LlOG lCoo
worthy of preservation now. If we
were sincere in the sacrifice which we
made in 1918 there comes now
challenge which should arouse in us
again the better selves who offered
everything we had for our country.
If we permit innovation and inSidious
political experiments, step by step. to
tear down and destroy the rights
which we have treasured for over a
century and a half, the sacrifice of
the World War becomes mere futility."
HeaIy Urges Preparedness.
Healy told the convention dis
armed United States would be
menace to the peace of the world.
He declared that the surest way to
prevent aggressive action by other
nations is to be armed in advance.
After reviewing the opposition to
national defense-"a strange lot OF
bed fellows"-Healy said. every sane
person would be delighted II war
could be abolished and armaments
reduced or even eliminated.
TT is generally admitted that
scarcely any of the grave problems
causing dangerous international fric-
ton have been solved, and that the
existing situation is so critical that
1t would not take much to light the
fuse of war in a number OF parts
of the globe"
Healy declared:
"The thesis that America could
arm itself overnight is so ridiculous
that it is amazing that otherwise in
telligent persons hold it. it
is astounding how quickly the
grim lessons of 1917 can be for
THE prime reason why we are
compelled to pay more for our ma
tional defense than other nations is
that we have not resorted to compul-
sorry military defense, where the mill
tary forces are paid practically moth
ing for their work
"It is totally beyond my compre-
hension that churchmen cooperate
with Communists and radical groups
in their opposition to national de-
fense when in SO doing they are prac-
tically preparing the way for their
own death warrant" he said. THE
cardinal policy Of these groups is
complete atheism and the destruction
of all established churches"