Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 206, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 August 1919 — THE SIX MONTHS’ BONUS. [ARTICLE]

THE SIX MONTHS’ BONUS.

The Rainbow Division Veterans’ association last week unanimously adopted a resolution opposing the passage of the bill providing for the payment to aH discharged soldiers of a .’bonus amounting to six months pay. The meeting, which was held in this city, felt that the effect of such legislation would be to place patriotism on a mercenary basis, and further that the financial condition of the country did not warrant so 'large an expenditure. We are sure that this action reflects the feeling of a large majority of the men who served their country and the world in the greatest of all wars. It is a pity that there should have been such an appeal to selfinterest, and that the soldiers should have been subjected to such a temptation. There will, however, be many such appeals and temptations. It is cheeriijg that the Rainbow Veterans’ association should have turned a deaf ear to the one and have risen albove the other. The soldiers from now on would do well to be on their guard against the politicians after votes. For toe assumption of such men always is that the soldiers are now inspired by other motives than those that inspired them at Chateau Thierry and in the Argonne. That, of course, is an insult, and should be so regarded. To bid for votes in this way is, in effect, to offer to buy them.

The fine courage and self-reliance the war will continue to be manifested in civil life. Thus it will be possible for them to render another great service to the nation at a time when so many men are looking to Washington for help and support. The soldiers have learned to make their way over obstacles and through entanglements—barbed wire and other —and they have not lost that power. We hope and believe that there will be a general concurrence in the resolution adopted by our Rainbow Veterans’ association. The first test has come early; that it will be triumphantly met we can not doubt.—lndianapolis News.