The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-09-17
SOLDIERS TREATMENT AND
DrSERTIONS.

Secretary Taft'S statement that the
men in the army should be better paid
to prevent assertions may be correct
and all increase in salaries might have
a tendency to make men more loyal to
their calling, but among many of the
enlisted men the opinion prevails that
this is not the remedy. AS a usual
thing men do not desert because their
pay is insufficient; they did not enlist
on account of the salaries paid.
There may be a cause for deser-
ton in the treatment accorded the
men. not by the Cheers. but uy the
public. When a man goes into the ar
my people are universally prone to
say and think he does not amount to
much and while he wears the uniform
ne is treated accordingly. While it is
true the enlisted men may be, to
great extent, responsible for this con-
dition of affairs. there appear to be
other reasons which are not easily ex-
planned. -->~
The same man in civilian clothes
will be accorded different -trea tment
than that which he receives while in
uniform. Not only socially, but in
many other ways. While in uniform
he is looked upon in many places as
rather an undesirable citizen and he
feels deeply the disregard for what he
has a right to believe are commendable
qualities. Nothing will so surely cult
vate lack of self respect in a man
as manifestations of disrespect, and in
some instances, contempt, on the part
Of his fellows.
With many it is hard to understand
why a man should enter the army in
these days of prosperity and serve sew
eral years for practically nothing
when there are so many opportunities
for making money in other callings.
Money seems to be the standard by
which the responsibility of a mans
business is measured. People are
rather inclined to the belief that the
army is selected as an easy life by
many who are too lazy to attempt to
keep up with the mad rush for ex-
istence They do not understand the
patriotism which prompts man to serve
his country. Laboring under this be-
lief the average citizen deals with the
the man in blue accordingly.
While better pay of the men in the
army might have a tendency to place
the calling on a higher plane and
while the amount of money a man
receives in his occupation has much
to do with the esteem in which he is
held, there mus still be more respect
ehgenderei for the army if it is to be
maintained with men who have good
supply of self respect.
As long as a man is considered in
poor business when he is wearing the
uniform of the army of this land of
the free and home, of the brave" there
will be many desertions and the time
is not far distant, il. fact, it is almost
at hand, when it will be almost. if not !
quite, impossible to induce men to en-
list.
A talk with the average soldier will
demonstrate that his salary is the least |
consideration with him, Although the |
morals of many of them are by no
means of the exemplary kind they are
as rule patriotic. and it may be that |
their careless ways of living and |
their seemingly disregard for some of !
the better things is the result of the |
treatment accorded by the public. |
What the people expect of man and |
what they think of him frequently has /
much to do with making him what |
he is. 4,