The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1917-10-20
SOLDIERS USED TO
PROMOTE SCHEMES

Amid the horrors of war, not the
least are the various schemes either
to extract money from the soldiers
or from their friends on the excuse OF
using it for their benefit.
In the last few days, there have
been two propositions submitted to
the people of Ocala and the Star:
One is to raise money to help provide
recreation for the soldiers; and rthe
other is to furnish them with equip
ment for athletic sports. !
The first was submitted to the
board of trade as well as the Star. 1t
is by the playground and recreation
association of America" which in,
tends, so it says, to establish places
of amusement for soldiers in camp,
especially camps that are established
near small towns. 1t wants $500 from
Marion county for the benefit of the
Marion county company.
The other was submitted to the
Star, which was appointed special
agent to raise S140 to buy an athletic
outfit for A Company.
Let US resolve right now that we
will not entrust money to any strang-
ers to spend for our soldiers. If we
have any money for them, let US
write and ask them what they want
us to buy for them with it, or send it
to their company chest for them to
spend as they see fit.
It's the Stars opinion that the
playground and recreation association
is either a fake or is taking on itself
a self-appointed task. The men in
the camps did not go there to have
fun, but to train to beat Germany
The government provides them with
facilities for considerable recreation
and pays them good salaries, and its
our opinion that the average soldier
when he has time for recreation
would prefer to hunt up for himself
what suits him rather than be herded
on to some playground provided by a
syndicate. Even if the originators OF
this scheme are moved by disinterest-
ed motives, we can't be sure of the
hundreds of subordinates they must
employ. A part of the money, we un.
lderstand, is to be used in giving the
men auto rides and getting up dances
for them. In each of these would be
nice little chance for graft, and the
odds are that lots of them would be
used. The people of every commu'
nifty where soldiers are camped should
and probably will do what they can tt
make life pleasant for the men, anC
the ladies and gentlemen among then
will consider it a pleasant duty anc
spurn the idea of being paid. If the
camp should be located in a commun'
ity of mercenaries, the men will not
want them given the money of home
folks in return for weighed and meas
ured courtesies.
AS for the plan to use the Star tx
raise money to buy athletic equip
ment for Company A, there is nothing
doing. We don't know that Com
pany A wants any athletic equipment
We suspect Company A is getting al
the athletics it wants right now. A
any rate, if we had $140 for the com
pany, we wouldn't hand it over t.
some stranger to spend for them. W.
would send it to their captain ant
tell him to tell the boys to buy wha
they wanted with it.
Let US give our soldiers all we can
but let US not give it to them thru
any middleman. That is, let US no
employ any middleman except Uncl
Sam.
If you want to give the boys some
thing they can use to good advantage
help the Star to buy them motto
truck. That will be a real help t.
them, and you will know right wher
your money went.