The Monroe journal., 1919-06-03


pleasure your contributions 10 The
Journal. Your comprehension of va
rious and sundry matters Is very ex-
emplary and proves conelasiyely that
YOU possess a broad vision. good
Judgment and is typical of good
scholar.
Now | do not mean to critieise or
diseredit your conceptions or obser-
yations. but | must be frank TO say
that on various matters YOU are rad
Fically inclined 10 let spirit of jeal-
ousy dwell in the ascendency.
| have just been reading your crit
eism of Secretary Lanes proposition
i tyix1 the reclamation and govern
ment supervision OF dormant farm
lands and upon this question we
take issue. AS remarked in the be-
ginning. | am an honorably dis
charged soldier. "a Dixie volunteer, I"
I if you please. member of the ia
nous seth which penetrated and
blew 10 atoms the famous impregna-
Bile ,Hndenburg line.
In lieu Of this fact | wish TO con
srs,nls.- you upon your eulogy of
tne soldiers. Your remarks. no
doubt, are very gratifying 70 the loved
ones OF those Who gave their sons.
bur YOUR attempt 10 discourage sane
proposition which means so much to
those disabled in service is not COM
mendable, and | must be frank to
tell YOU when YOU undertake this
YOU are then "A decidedly back num-
ber." the kind that will soon pass
into oblivion.
Sir. you speak extensively Of going
over the top with the hoe, Very
good. this is commendable as we'll as
typical OF the determined and aggres-
sive spirit of the old Southernor.
Also ii is necessary. nay. absolutely,
and il said TO his eternal honor he
did his "bit;" but my dear Novus
Homo. did you know that between
the cotton fields of the South and the
Hell OF Flanders" there's great
ccntrast-no eomparison7
Let your mind retract back 10 the
appalling days of 1917 tvizl the win
ter months. Mobilized throughout the
United States in various camps were
thousands of our stalwart sons, who
had championed the noble cause OF
democracy: these men insufficiently
clothed, owing TO the fact our good
government did not have an adequate
supply Of clothing. created by the
emergency call. As you know, many
died from these causes. no doubt. be-
sides braving one of the most severe
winters in our history. many conta-
gious diseases were prevalent and
claimed their part, such as meningi-
tbs. measles etc. while back al home,
no doubt, you were writing in your
cozy corner.
But could you have followed these
men 10 their embarkation ports and
could YOU have seen them, am sure
you would not have such pessimis-
tic view in regard TO their welfare.
You should know how for several
dreary days they braved the elements
across the briny deep, the mighty NO
Mans Land" lurking everywhere
around them. the sea hounds" min
ions of a desperate monarchy ready
without a moments warning TO blow
them to atoms: then for weeks and
weeks of intensive training in Flan-
ders. days of hiking under the very
shadow of the guns: in the front line
trenches, harrassed continually by
enemy planes. huge shells, gas. poi
soned water. and last. but not least
those contemplate vermin, of which
| am sure you are not familiar.
could go on and on enumerating the
seemingly unbearable hardships. But
this is not the point | wished to em-
phasize All this was done by these
valiant sons, while back home the
prices prevailing for comodities and
labor were without a precedent. Any
ordinary lahorer could command a
salary of FIVE or six dollars day at
construction camps while these same
soldiers across the seas were receiv-
ing the small pittance of $500 per
month, and now upon his return,
crowned with honor, emerging from
these hardships battled Scared, thou
sands disabled and incapacitated for
life. and our good government aware
of his services and sacrifices. attempts
to do something in his behalf, men
like YOU without due consideration of
his services attempt 10 discourage the
enactment of legislation in his be-
half.
Your argument relative to over
production (although ! am aware |
am not competent to discuss thisD is
too thin. If yours is true. why are
eggs 40e per dozen, bacon 35c per
pound, and butter 35c per pound, and
still comes the cry from larger cities
of scarcity of food and high cost OF
living. and besides immigration will
soon be on the increase. No, sir; you
can't say it's over production when
prices are without precedent. My OBJ !
servation is it's because we do not
practice diversified farming and sys-
tematic marketing Just let Uncle
Sam continue TO stand by his veter-
ans and no doubt others will begin to
pattern after them after the success
of their efforts becomes visible.
Now, Novus Homo. don't become
offended hut nnep mn IN fhie ctthiaat