The Pittsburgh Press (March 30, 1944)
Legion, VFW defend ‘G.I. Bill’
Washington (UP) –
Representatives of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars today defended item by item the Senate-approved “G.I. Bill of Rights” now before the House World War Veterans Committee.
The bill, backed by both groups, provides some $4 billion for discharged servicemen, including hospitalization, education and free home and business loans.
Discussion of the educated provision yesterday brought from Chairman John E. Rankin (D-MS) the warning that he intended to “go over this bill line by line, page by page to eliminate anything which might create any discord in the South or North.”
He expressed fears that “the Fair Employment Practices Committee” – designed to fight employment bars based on color, creed or religion – or some other agency under the bill’s present wording might foment discord by intrusion into the veterans’ educational program.