The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-12-22


Soldier Benus ard Sentiment.
what should be done about the sol
der bonusg The agitation for state
and national bonu SEES for veterans 81
the world war has attained such size
and prominence that tho subject should
be- disposed Of a. soon as possible. The
war Ia over and We do not want tho
war spirit relindied 81 intervals By
PROFESSIONS similar 20 the bonus par
ade m New York this autumn or the
one ia Philadelphia last week. such
/ spectncles merely serve 20 stir up old
sorrows and old hates. II r. doubtful
10 they do anything 20 stimulate 2
finer spirit % patriotism. They GER
tainly are NO aid In getting the neces-
sary work Of the world or the nation
accomplished.
The American public win be doing
its returned soldiers a decided dis
service IL II treats the growing de-
mand for a soldier bonus as q subject
for maudiin sentiment or emotion.
when the boys werc first home from
overseas the idea II a bonus was gep-
orally unpopular with them. Although
impossible. Il would BE- interesting 20
know 20 what extent the recent change
of opinion with many Of them has been
due TO the tactics OF politicians and
office seekers. both in the soldier or
ganizatlon aad San tho political parties.
It IN good salesmanshlp to stimulate
q want and then offcr 60 fuinin H. 1t
is not necessarily commendahle ethics
So far II remains 90 supporters d
ne bonus plan 30 prove their ease,
and Il csnmot be proved BY any emo
tioual appeal The tasks at present
confronting as as a nation are un~
coumtabla. There are legitimate de-
mauda on every biz Of our ability. our
energy and our money. We have yet -
nn our obligations to our wounded
and 70 tho dependenik OF the dead and
wounded. Large groups Of able-bod-
ted ox-serviee men who are now trad-
ing on the public sympathy BY aliy
ing themselves with the wounded FOR
the sake e getting o few dollars
would be- doing their unfortunate
comrades q better service ~ concen-
trating their influence TO have those
obligations fulfilled 60 the letter and
promptly.
such a demonstration as the Phila-
selphia parade ia which 10000 men
and women walked % "a reflection 1n
The spirit 81 our people and especially
cur former soldiers. The one good
point IN that Il was 80 larger. II "
4 cheap way o. forwarding an avow-
eddy just claizn. II Is even more duhi-
Gus as a method OF calling public at
temtion to the fact that a certain body
wants money from the state and the
nation. There seem Hto be no more
reason why a body ~ uniformed men
should parade for the purpose of Sc
curing public money than why any
other body Should Certain labor h0d-
les consider themselves un,ierpaid for
the work they do and yet tt d. safe
10 say that short shrlft w0uld 80
made - any parade they might organ
iEc 10 ask Ter more such iu fac3 was
the fate Of a demonstration organized
By The unemployed IA London.
Despite she number ~ people sgrnpa-
thetic to tho soldiers request for
state and national bonuses. - a hy
no mcaus certain that their demand
a. justtfiable or that the best element
among tho MN favors &C. once shon
81 is sentimental appeal Ed lvor& too
strongly Of pnuptrixnfion. plainly e
ordinary begging IL Is a theory ~ this
nation that ID II the duty ~ ne citl-
xenry o. protect the country ana its
ideals with is lives n necessary. For
men who went q Europe a. q part ~
an array formed on that theory ID de-
mand a monetary reward puts our
much Wanted patriotism on pretty
low standard The idea = grossly ma
teriai. ard as such repu'sivc. Miami
Herald