The Washington times., 1917-05-11
LETTERS TO TIMES
FROM ITS READERS
Urges Steps to Put Soldiers
on Equality With Civilians.
PAY TROOPS $500 A MONTH
Advocates COn6scatiOn Of All Sala-
ries Above That Amount.

To the Editor OF THE TINES:
A plan to equalize the demands
made respectively upon soldiers and
stay-at-hOmes, the liquor business, and
favored industries, is proposed in q
letter sent today to the President. to
the Cabinet, and to Congress, by T. NJ.
Gilmore, president of the National
Model License League. The letter
follows:
Something should be done at once
to lessen the inequality between those
required to give up all and fight for
the flag and those who stay at home.
probably to increase their wealth and
profits.
when military necessity compels
men to jeopardize life and limb, and
to face disease and manning, we
should not force them also to impov-
erish themselves.
"our enlisted men should be gen
erously paid and their pay should av-
erage not less than the average in
come of well-paid, capable men on a
peace basis. These men should re-
ceive not less than $500 per month,
together with liberal life, health, and
accident insurance and to meet this
expense every income in the country
IN GAGtES Vi s-OO
be confiscated by the Government.
THE suggestion that all incomes
in excess of 5000 per month be con-
fiscated may come as a shock to many
of our selfishiy generous citizens who
are SO unsparing in their efforts to
compel patriotic sacrifices by others
than themselves.
ITO them such a step may seem
radical, but It is conservative in COM
parison with the forced draft that
practically conhscates mems bodies
and their lives, and 1t certainly is
conservative in comparison with the
threat to confscate, by prohibition
enactment, the hundreds OF millions
of dollars lawfully invested in the
liquor business: together with the sole
means Of livelihood now enjoyed by
millions of persons connected directly
and Indirectly with that business.
with the same complacency that
characterized Nero as he fiddled
while Rome was burning, such men
as Rockefeller. tr, Gary Morgan,
Vanderlip and the like. are urging
the Government to confiscate. with
out a dollar OF compensation. the
hundreds OF millions, invested in the
breweries, distilleries, and wineries
OF this country.
Now, / am sure that the brewers.
distillers and winemakers are as loyal
as any citizens of the United States.
II the needs OF the nation demand
the sacrifice of their profits, they
will willingly surrender them; or IL
these needs demand the sacrifice OF
all of their properties, they will stand
IL like men: and II the needs OF the
nation demand their lives, or the lives
wrrflV - the
front and cry Long Live the Re-
public
war. and especially so righteous
a war as that in which the United
States is engaged, should call for
whatever sacrifices may be necessary
to insure victory. 1t seems to me,
however. that every man should be
called upon, as nearly as possible, to
make equal sacrifice. II does not
seem fair TO destroy all that a man
has, and at the same time permit
another to increase enormously his
holdings.
Nor does It seem fair to demand
that one man should surrender his
salary, say, OF $1,000 per anEum on
which his family Is dependent, and
also to surrender his body as a tar
get for shot and she'll OF the enemy.
while another, who has a vast In
come, Is allowed to remain at nome,
and perhaps double his wealth in the
manufacture OF munitions or the ts-
sentials OF life.
"If Mr.. Rockefeller's income is
$40, 900 900 per annum, and the Gov
eminent takes II over. he can live
in comfort on $500 a month or in
luxury by drawing on his principal.
but the man whose all is his salary
of So, 400 per annum, can hardly pro
vide for those dependent upon him
from a soldiers pay OF, say, Sl5 per
month. an amount that is a pathetic
reminder OF the pittance given to re-
tanners in feudal days.
"If anyone objects that II the Gov
eminent conhscate all incomes above
s.. 400 per annum, then it would be
Impossible to dispose OF bonds. !
would reply that IL this were done
there would be small need to issue
bonds.
81 have no doubt, however, that IL
our soldiers were paid $1,000 per an
mum they would be very glad to be
paid in part in Government bonds
drawing 81 per cent interest.
"Confscation without compensation
is being advocated very generally in
this country now by our reform" or
CARNATIONS, but the connscation OF
incomes to which l refer, would not
be without compensation, because II
would enable the Government to deal
iustIv with the soldiers, and 1t would
compel every man, whether willing or
not. TO make a reasonable sacrifice
on behalf OF our beloved country.
Respectfully.
ct. NJ. GILMORE"