El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-09-05
Dealers Doing
Big Business In
War Medals
No Law Prevents Sale of
Decorations to Sham
Veteran Heroes.

Washington. D. C.. Sept 5.-Be a
decorated hero for ST.
This is the insulting proposition
which dealers in socaIled military
{ goods in Washington and elsewhere
are making to the manhood Of Amer
] lea They viii sell you a croix de
I guerre for IS. or the coveted medaille
militaire for SO. and, If you are will
ing to nay a comparatively modest
I price. they will obtain for you almost
any decoration given by this or any
foreign government
Easier than whisky.
While thousands Of men who spent
months or years in service. many OF
them giving their blood or a leg or an
arm in action, are wearing these med
ais as a proof Of courage and patriot
I ism, thousands Of others are wearing
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 that a
brisk business at q good profit Is be-
ing done in war medals Of the United
States and allied governments And
these medals are not sold. as you
might expect, exclusively in third rate
military shop. which is located on the
leading retail street, charges high
prices, and caters to what is commonly /
called the better class Of trade, is !
selling medals every day. And there I
is no secrecy about the business. To /
get a drink Of whisky in this town 4
man must know certain passwords, I
approach back doors and speak in a 1
whisper But he can buy q -decora- /
ticn for bravery" as easily and openly 1
as he can buy pocket knife.
Department Helpless.
The war department Is fully aware 4
that this traffic in military decora- [
tons is being carried on, but officials +
say that they are powerless TO pre-
vent 1t The secretary Of war was re-
Gently apprised that American war
decorations, including both medals
Of honor and distinguished service
crosses, are being manufactured by
private concerns in this country and
sold TO the public. He replied by say
ing that he already knew OF this prac-
tice and deplored It, but that there /
was nothing he could do TO stop II, as
there IS no law at present under
which either the manufacturer or the
wearer Of a medal can be punished
There IS now q bill before congress
which. II passed, will prevent the
wearing Of any official decoration by
any person not entitled to wear it. a
heavy penalty is provided for the vfo-
lation Of this act. But this bill does
not provide for the punishment Of
manufacturers OF such medals And
SO far il is merely a piece Of paper in
a pigeonhole, while the dollar heroes
are multiplying like rabbits-and in
the hearts Of the men who won deco
rations IN service is growing a great
contempt for such undistinguished dis
tinctions.
Are Made in France.
Tbs war decorations are made IN
France, where IL is possible TO buy a
French war cross for six francs, or a
little over 81 in our currency
The attitude Of good many men
who were honestly decorated Is exem-
llified IN that Of a Lieutenant Of the
marines who spent two years on the
.ront and was in the fighting at
3elleau wood He was cited three
lines for bravery and decorated, but
le says that he is ashamed 10 wear his
decorations on the street, because he
ioes not care TO be suspected Of hav-
ng purchased them.
The truth Of the matter is that even
Defore this business IN bogus heroes
vas started, a good many Americans
laving the funny bone well developed
I'D not take their decorations very Sc
'iously.
A Medal for Everyone.
They say. for example. that when
King Albert and queen Elizabeth. OF :
Belgium. visited the American head :
quarters IN France, they handed out :
decorations with generosity that :
vas hard to appreciate, for some OF :
he men thought a medal was
,rOof OF bravery. Queen Elizabeth is
aid TO have bestowed a Belgian war .
ross on a lieutenant for the heroic :,
nd graceful way in which he took the J
POSITION Of officer Of the day during :
J dress parade The orderly at Gen. :
'ershing's headquarters was decorated [ ;
or the snappy and efficient manner :
q which he saluted the royal couple Z
{ Is even said that the cook, or some
ne else in connection with the off
ers' mess. was decorated for making
UGH a successful appeal 10 their
lajesties' palates-
These instances are not cited in dis
aragement OF the holders Of all for
ign decorations, for the vast major e
ty Of such military honors were h
lerited and earned. This Is especial 1
y true Of awards Of American deco f
atoms The awards OF our war 2
ROSES and medals were made only T
fter a careful investigation Of each
Individual case Up to the present c
inc there have been $500 distin- '
-uished service crosses awarded: 1900 \
istinguished servics medals and IS
leoals OF honor Approximately !
5000 foreign decorations have been '
estowed upon Americans. [
Pershing Most Decorated. o
Gen Pershing. OF course. iz the most 4
ecorated man In the American army
nj, If he tried TO wear all his medals r
{ once. he would look almost as
plendid as one OF the medal trays In
military store
His decorations include the British
rand cross Of the order Of the Bath, Z
be Belgian grand Gordon Of the Or 2
sr Of Leopold with croix de guerre. -
rcnch Legion OF Honor (grand u
ross), Greek Order Of the Saint .,
avior Italian grand cross Of the Or =
sr OF ST Maurizio e Lazzaro, Jap =
1ese Order OF the Rising sun, grand =
1rdon Of the Order Of Prince Danilo =
Montenegro, Obhtch medal Of n
- q
s.