The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-06-12
THE SOLDIER BUSINESS.
a Modern Army Should be Organiz
ed So AS To Attract Good Men.


In the old days of chivalry the
soldier did not receive direct pay in
the exact sense that he does to-day
Lut for his services rewards w@r:
uue, and uecCjsariiy SO, TO preserve
il him proper subordinaJiou. His
keep and his weapons were furnish
cd him by his "oyer-lord, and with
them food and raimcnt, and certain
privileges pertaining to his art. no"
known and included in the modern
term loot"
The rule has passed down the ages
that a fighting man must neeIs hgh'
for something more substantial than
principle, and more satisfying than
pa triotism, so that even in the Rev
olution, the obscure pages OF history,
Is found this momentcus question OF
pay, and right troubling as it was al
that time.
In the War of 1912, better resu'
lation had come into effect and the
allowances for rations and clothing
and pay were saner and more salts
flying, as indeed was true in the
later war with Mexico, and in the
great Rebellion Of 1860. The side
won which had the money behind It;
the armies which were fed and cloth
ed ans paid, were maintained at
effective strength during the terri
Die later days struggles, while the
less fortunate opponents found their
lighting strength dwindling away,
true perhaps, owing to physical ex.
haustion, but nevertheless equally
true, indeed, owing to an uncertain
supply of the essential elements tor
soldiers; and not the least Of these
was pay.
Parallel with this question arises
the fact that soldiers profession is
trade in exactly the same sense that
.arpentry, masonry or mechanics
ire source of livelihood, and to-
maintain an effective, disciplined ar
my, the remuneration must be COM
petitive with the price paid In civiL-ar
life. So in the War OF the Rebellion.
after the supply of volunteer enlist
,nents had teen practically exhaust
I'd, the authorities did not appeal
to the patriotism of the nation, 'ut
20 the pockets, in the shape OF
bounty, and this certainly did meet
The situation for the time being.
The days of going to church with
a rifle over the shoulder have been
forgotten, the menace of the Indian
If The West has passed, there Is uni
.ersal security practically from one
md of the country to the other, and
he soldiers weapon, once so necess-
ary for self-preservation, is used on
iy as a diversion in the few remain
ing game centers, and in the target
galleries.
With this has passed the fellow
feeling for the man who must race
physical Gnnihilation at the call OF
a principle and the order OF his su'
peTior. So tha. the first question
asked by a prospective recruit is the
nomentous question of pay, and MS
Grst mental action is comparison
between the soldier pay and that or
his former occupation. The attrac-
tive recruiting posters do not state
much ABOUT the actual advantages o.
!; soldiers life from a patriotic poiut
ot view; they dwell upon the pay
and the allowances, and somewhat OF
course upon the change of life In
volved.
So the great fallacy that each and
every American is a soldier by In
stinct and race If rife Is but plac-
ed in his hand, is pathetically appar-
ent to-day. This was indeed true 20
Il certain extent when the edge OF
the forest might harbor the savage
Indian, but that has long passed, and
the performances Of our citizen SOL
diery, such as at Bladensburg and
at Queenstown, and later in the earl
ler days of the Civil War, does not
reflect any great amount of credit
on America.
modern army to-day must De
organized upon a business basis If It
must compete for men with the n
dustrial world; the soldier must re-
ceive adequate pay and allowances
10 be contented, disciplined and efil-
cient, so that the present scale OF
pay, existing since 1870, both Tor
officers and enlisted men, is totally
Inadequate to warrant making the
army career for the best men OIL
the nation, and the American Army
should be of the best the country can
furnish. Army and Navy Life