Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1919-05-07
OUR BOYS IN CAMP.

Have you wondered what "our
boys in camp are doing these days?
We have, and it is a puzzle to us.
At least it has been, and we have
reached a conclusion--arrived at BY
conversation with several of those
who have been released from the
service, are now private citizens and
are, therefore. "unmuzzled."
The general trend Of conversation
on the part OF these soldier-citiZens
is that the boys are doing nothing
at $50 per month and keep"-that
is, nothing essential to the govern
ment and our welfare, but very es-
sential to the financial welfare of
army officers A specific case that
came to our attention direct was
mat or IL young man who was trying
to get release from the service be-
cause he was needed at home to do
essential work there. He was do
ing nothing In camp, but his own
and his fathers efforts could accom-
plish nothing in the way Of secur-
ing release for the young man. The
rather took the matter up direct in
washington, stating the case as it
was. and making known his belief
his son and other mems sons were
being retained in the service in order
to hold together certain organiza-
tions whose higher officers would
be out Of a job if the men in
their outfits were released from the
service. This young mans release
came quickly, and without any fur
thcr appeal through the local camp
at which he was stationed. He has
Il brother still in the service, and
this young man writes that he does
not know why he is bring kept in
the service, for he is "doing moth
| ing and has been kept diligently at
| this irkS0mc job for months Incl
dcntally, however, interested rrla-
| lives have aSccrtained this much:
The head Of the outfit to which this
young man belongs is a regular army
| man, and he ranks as major and
draws Il majors pay. In the regular
service he ranksd as Il lieutenant
and drew licutcnant's pay. and
when he gets out Of the present
camp service lie will he returned to
regular routine duty with the rank
or lieutenant and a licutcnant'S pay
These young men feel that they
are being held mvoIuntarily in the
service to the dctrimcnt OF the gov
| crnmrnt and to the benefit Of officers
| interested in Increased pay so long as
they can. by any hook or crook. hold
their organizations together in the
camps.
Such conditions should not exist,
and FOR several reasons. The young
men are needed at home ITO help
feed the world. and besides, the
officers who are holding men in ser
vice for their own benefit, if such
there be. arc not true Americans. are
not loyal soldiers OF the country but
enemies Of our country IN time Of
peace, no matter how Jealous and
capable they may have been in the
trying times Of war.
We want our boys to stay in the
camps just rs long as they are need
cd there for the good Of the coun-
try. These boys, every one Of them,
we feel sure. want to stay that long
But neither we nor they want them
in camp in order that their officers
may keep their fingers continually
sticking in the "public pie"
Let every mothers son now in the
camps Of our country, and not essen
tial there for the good of our com
mon country, be released from the
service as quickly as possible. They
can be doing something at home that
will be OF vast Importance to the
various local sections to be affected
by their release. and in a more gen.
eral way to the country at large
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