The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-11-04

will be able to offer, and what they'll be able to get.
 This statement may be chal- langed, but when you add every thing up, the prin cipal contribu- ton of the veterans of the last war to bettering their country has amounted to seeing that the veter- ans of the last war are well taken care of,
 Before you start throwing things at that, stop and think.
 The formation of Q veterans party as political organization could never be realized because an Army and Navy are made up of men from both the major parties and the is- sues they have to back arc not of such transcendent importance that they override the platforms of Re- puhlicans or Democrats.
 The vets of the last war could not even unite in one big organiza- ton to promote veterans affairs. There. is the American Legion with a membership of a million, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars with . membership of a quarter million, and several minor outfits besides, But no ono big union. Furthermore, the membership of lall these organizations takes in less than ore man out of three who wore the uniform from 1917 to 1919.
 NO POLITICS RULE
 The Constitution of the Legion provides that it shall be non -politi- cal, shall not be used for the dis semination Of partisan principles, nor for the promotion of the can- didacy of any person seeking public office. In spite of that, numerous individuals have tried to ride the coattails of the veterans organiza- tions for public offices both great and small.
 Leonard Wood was a soldier candidate for the Republican pres idential nomination in 1920. but couldn't get enough delegates to win the G. O. P. nomination at Chicago, and Harding was the re- suit. Republican Hanford Mac Nider of Iowa and Democrat Paul V. McNutt of Indiana are both ex- national commanders of the Le- zion who have looked longingly at the possibility of becoming presidential candidates
 Tn the present congress there are l33 World War vets in the house and g in the senate. That number has grown from nothing in 1918. It has increased in every congress, and 1t will continue to increase.
 But even in congress the ex- soldiers do not form bloc of any power or influence and do not act together. Even on veterans leg islaticn, the non-vets arc apt to be found pitching just as hard as the old soldiers to gain whatever there is to be gained from cater ing to the eX-soldier vote.
 On this matter of legislation to benefit the eX-soldiers. particu: larly the wounded and disabled, the veterans organizations have done tremendous job for which all credit is due,
 INTENT GOOD
 One other legislation, the record of the veterans organizations has not been notable. though the intent was good. Ever since 1921. for instance. the Legion has been trying to put over universal service law to draft agriculture, industry. capital and labor as we'll as manpower for the armed forces. Ever since 1921 the Legion has battled for national de- fense. Those ideas are just now beginning to catch on. Indirectly, too some of the other things iUr which the Legion has battled are being adopted. The government now does take over war plants, and the tax bills do take most of the profit out of war. But the veterans themselves were not able to put over these reforms as pre-war leeislation.
 But in remaking the world. after the armisti1e Of 1913, the soldiers of World War I have teen pretty generally stymied and if history repeats. the veterans of World War II will have their troubles