The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-27
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORM ALTON
BUREAU
NREDER1c J. HAzKnN. DirSc4er.
Wa.htngtsa. d @
HoNORS FOR CASH.

which dealers in so-called military
goods in Washington and elsewhere
are making to the manhood of Amer
lea. They will sell you a Croix de
Guerre for five dollars or the coveted
medal militaire for twelve dollars, and
II you are willing to pay n compare
lively modest price. they will obtain
for you almost any decoration given
| by this OF any foreign government
While thousands OF men who spent
| months or years in service, many
| OF them giving their blood, or leg
or an arm in action, are wearing these
medals as a proof OF courage and pa
| triotism. thousands Of others are wear
| ing them who did nothing more heroic
| than plank down a few dollars. What
satisfaction these bogus heroes get
| out of wearing their decorations Is a
question which no one seems able to
answer. But the fact remains a brisk
business at a good profit IL being done
| In war medals OF the United States
| and allied governments. And these
medals are not sold, as you might ex-
, pect, exclusively in third-Fate stores
| and pawn shops. A Washington mill
| itary shop which is located on the
| leading retail street, charges high
prices. and caters to what is common
| ly called the better class of trade, Is
selling medals every day. And there
| Is no secrecy about the business. To
get a drink OF whisky In this town,
a man must know certain pass words,
/ approach hack doors. and speak In q
/ whisper. But he can buy "decora-
! ton for bravery" as easily and openly
as he can buy pocket knife
| The war department is fully aware
| that this traffic in military decora-
| tons is being carried on, but officials
say that they are poweriess to prevent
/ it. The secretary of war was recently
appised that American war decora-
| lions, including both medals of honor
| and distinguished service crosses, are
being manufactured by private con-
| Germs in this country and sold to the
public. He replied by saying that he
already knew of this practice. and de-
| plored 1t, but that there was nothing
he could do to stop it, as there is no
| law at present under which either the
| manufa cturer or the wenrer of
medal can be punished. There is now
a bill before congress, which. II passed,
| will prevent the wearing of any Off
cial decoration by any person not en-
| titled to wear 1t. A heavy penalty is
| provided for the violation of this act.
But this bill does not provide for the
punishment of manufacturers of such
| medals. And so far II Is merely a
piece Of paper in a pigeon hole, while
the dollar heroes are multiplying like
rabbits-and in the hearts of the men
| who won decorations in service Is
growing great contempt for such un-
| distinguished distinctions.
This is about the eolloquy which
passes between the sales clerk and
customer who said he wanted a dec
oration:"
II want to buy Crolx de Guerre."
would you like one with the palms
| or one with the silver stars?"
| Let me see them"
The clerk displays a large tray filled
| with all sorts of crosses and medals
OF the various European countries.
I'VE have sold more croix de guer-
res with the silver star than with the
palms as they look prettier."
Has there been big demand for
| war medals?"
Yes. we have sold several hundred
Croix de Queries alone. There has
been a big demand also for American
distinguished service crosses. We
haven't any in stock, but II you wish
to leave your order we will get you
one. In fact, we can supply you with
any war decoration made"
Further questioning revealed the
fact that the war decorations are made
in France, where IT is possible to buy
a French war cross for six francs or
4 a little over one dollar in our cur
rency.
The attitude of a good many men
who were honestly decorated is exem-
piified in that of a lieutenant OF the
marines. who spent two years on the
front and was in the fighting at Bel
leau Wood. He was cited three times
for bravery and decorated, but he says
that he is ashamed to wear his decor
, ations on the street. because he does
not care to be suspected OF having
purchased them.
/ The truth of the matter Is that even
, before this business in bogus heroes
was started. good many Americans
having the funny bone well developed
did not take their decorations very Sc
riousiy.
o.
King Albert and Queen Elizabeth OF
!. Belgium visited the American head
: quarters in France, they handed out
, decorations with a generosity that was
. hard to appreciate for some Of ths
men who thought medal was a proof
] of bravery. Queen Elizabeth is said
9 to have bestowed a Belgian War Cross
on a lieutenant for the heroic and
graceful way in which he took the pc.
Z sition of officer Of the-day during o
: dress parade. The orderly at Genera
, Pershing's headquarters was decor
ated for the snappy and efficient man.
4 ner in which he saluted the royal cou
pie. 1t is even said that the cook. OIL
\ some one else in connection with the
officers mess. was decorated for max
Ing such a successful appeal to theil
e majesties' palates.
A suspicion was also aroused in thu
breasts of American privates that dec
c orations went to rank rather than Il
8 courage. Whenever a foreign govern
: ment bestowed decorations, it gener
ally asked for a list of American Off
GERS from headquarters, and the dec
: oratfons were generally bestowed upoI
g the same men-the men highest up.
These instances are not cited in dis
: paragement of the holders of all for
O eign decorations, for the vast majorit,
OF such military honors were meritet
: and earned. This is especially tru,
d of awards of American decorations
o The awards OF our war crosses ant
medals were made only after a careful
investigation of each individual case
q Up to the present time there hav,
e been $500 distinguished servic
, crosses awarded: 1900 distinguished
= service medals and rs medals of hon
e or. Approximately $4,000 foreign dec
a orations have been bestowed upoI
~ Americans.
General Pershing, of course, is tn
:, most decorated man in the AmerIcal