The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-11-21
Cash PAYMENT OF
BONUS URGED BY
VI. ". CH|EF'EAIN
Van Zandt Says Congress Will
Pass Bill at This Session;
Leaves for Minot

Belief that legislation to pay the
soldiers bonus in cash will be enacted
at the next session Of congress was
expressed In speeches here Tuesday by
James E. Van Zandt, national COM
mander OF the Veterans Of Foreign
Wars.
Van Zandt, who left for Minot
Wednesday morning after compli-
mentary breakfast given by local war
veterans at the capitol building, spoke
four times Tuesday, first before the
Kiwanis club, again at dinner In the
evening, at the city auditorium and
over the radio.
In each Of his addresses, Van Zandt
made special reference to the bonus,
contending that it should be paid In
cash and without delay. Indications
are, he said, that such legislation will
pass both houses Of congress and there
is strong indication that sufficient
votes could be mustered to pass 1t over
the presidents veto II the executive
takes that stand.
Raps Government Spending
lntimating that many expenditures
Of the federal government are waste
full or designed to provide political
jobs, Van Zandt asserted that payment
of the adjusted compensation certifi-
Gates issued to veterans in 1925 could
be accomplished without creating any
new jobs and would be big stimulus
to business. No politicians would get
their hands on the money, he said, as
it would 60 direct to the veterans.
They, In turn, would put it into cir
culation by making new purchases or
investments or paying their bills. #
the bonus Is paid, he said, about
$4,000, 900 will come into North Dakota
rat once and about $3.50, 900 into Bur-
leigh county.
Apparently anticipating that Presi-
dent Roosevelt would veto bonus
payment bill, Van Zandt said the
president Is placed in difficult posi-
ton since he is forced to listen to
Wall Street." and the so-called money
power Is opposed to cashing the bonus.
In his address at the city auditorium,
Van Zandt outlined the seven-point
program Of the Veterans Of Foreign
Wars, calling for creation Of q pen
sion board and establishment of q
uniform pension for disabled veterans
Of all wars; providing for adequate
pensions for widows and orphans ane'
the parents Of dead veterans: asking
elimination Of Communist aliens and
other anti-American forces from the
United States and demanding strong
national defense. On the latter ques-
ton, he said. the position Of the
v. F. w. IS that all requests by the
secretaries Of the war and the navy
should be granted by congress that
the country may be adequately pro-
tected.
Would han War Profit
Favoring plan to take the profit
out of war;" he said the v. +. w.
would place the entire nation on q
military basis, for example, making
the president Of big railroad q
colonel, an industrial leader q captain
and the president Of . bank a top
sergeant" In the event this Is done,
he promised. there will be no more
war.
At the close OF his address in the
auditorium, Van Zandt administered
the v. F. w. pledge to 1873 candidates
for membership in the local post,
many Of them members Of the veterans
6. G. G. camp at Mandan.
In introducing w. F. Burnett OF
Fargo. state commander of The WV,
p. G.. Harrington, state vice COM
mander, outlined the difference be-
tween that organization and other
veterans groups. This lies in the re-
quirement that eligible veterans must
have served In time Of war on foreign
soil or In hostile waters. Van Zandt
emphasized this difference in his adj
dress, pointing out, however, that
veterans who served abroad are not
attempting to reduce or impair any
benefits which may be granted by the
government to men who served only
in this country.
State Commander Burnett intro
duced Van Zandt both ct the dinner
meeting in the evening and at the
auditorium. He Is veteran Of the
Spanish-American war.
Accompanying the v. +. w. chief to
Minot Wednesday were Burnett, H. w.
Rosenthal, chef de care Of the 20 and
8, honor society Of the American
Legion, and Dr.. L. w. McLain, COM
mander Of the North Dakota veterans
home 1T Lisbon.