The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1934-11-14
COMPROMISES
ON VET BONUS
SECUTED
By FRANKLIN G. sARTWELL

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Talk Of compromising out Of
existence the soldier bonus move
ment, which has been gaining
ground steadily among Admins
tration leaders since the American
Legion convention, today was
greeted with snorts and chuckeS
of amusement by proponents Of
immediate payment of the ad-
Justice service certificates.
It was noted by those favoring
payment that all the talk of
compromise originates with the
opponents of the movement and it
was declared that reports from
Washington that q compromise Is
being perfected are without solid
foundation.
About all that has been accom-
plished toward offsetting the de-
mands Of the veterans for imme-
date payment, it was said today,
is that several tentative proposals
for less than immediate and full
payment have been advanced by
those who have persistently fought
the proposal for payment.
compromise" Doubted
Obviously these proposals can
not be taken as Compromises"
and the veterans are somewhat
amused that usually careful OBJ
servers Of the washington scene
are circulating them as bona fide
plans for setting aside what the
Administration freely admits Is
likely to be it's biggest hurdle in
the coming Congress.
The strength behind demand for
immediate payment of the bonus
is felt by veterans to be so great
now that compromises which
might have been acceptable in the
last Congress and which, If made
in that Congress, would have
obviated the situation confronting
the Administration today, are
totally out of order at present.
The Administration, it is held in
informed circles can get off the
bonus "spot" only by the leaders
of the veterans getting on that
spot"
Would Doom Leaders
In other words, the veterans
leaders who surrender on the
bonus issue even before the issue
is presented to Congress will very
promptly cease to be leaders Of
the veterans.
They might be able to accept
a compromise later and escape
with more or less whole skins, but
they can't even talk compromise
now without losing prestige with
the rank and file of their organi-
cations.
The leaders fought off indorse-
ment of immediate payment Of
the bonus as long as they could.
They kept the Legion out Of the
fight for years after it was in
dicated that the majority Of the
rank and file Of that organization
favored it.
The rank and file has now
made its position on the fight
clear. For the leaders to drop
the attitude so decisively taken
by the overwhelming vote Of the
organizations Of veterans would
be for them to commit q form
Of suicide.
Vets Position Clear
Thu veteran nv and large. Is
out for the bonus. He has gone
to his organization convention
and made his position clear. The
leaders he has elected have been
chosen with the understanding
that they would Submerge their
own preferences and fight whole
heartedly for what the MAORI
ties Of the organizations demand.
Whether the veterans would
accept entrance into a compro-
mise as a "whole-hearted fight"
is a question that Washington
observers don't hesitate to an
swer with a loud and emphatic
negative.
So the compromise" on the
bonus issue, about which there
is so much talk, should be under
stood to be offers from opponents
who are fighting for what they