The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-04-20
srRvic, Mrx A>p ruI. Bo>rs.

tn" position ~ Tho world with respect 10 mo
proposed bonus for oH.scryicc MIN has dis
pleased several ct.-r,ioo mon. That IL unfor-
tunatc. II ie not pleasant Nevertheless wo 'col
impcllcd TO defend the ground We have occupied
rather than retreat an io,a.
Tho editor has been asked several times to
state tho branch ~ the service he was in-.the
imputaton being, Of course, that unless he waa
iu the trenches ho BE- stopped frOm forming or
cIprc,sing an opinion Candor compcla the ad-
mission that hc was not In the uniform at all
during the late war. but ho dd serve through
tho Spanish American war--a war In which men
were paid 80 month, instead of $50. whom
there were no war bouuscs though, ~. mo- pay
for soldiers families, no war Insurance. no pct
ting or horo,zing either indulgcd IN or asked In
that war men who got across were the lucky
guys" while those condemned to months ~
service In u domestic camp were considered the
Injured ones. And at the close ~ that war tens
of thousands Of the men waived pension rights
Of the future by refusing To- take - hual physical
animation signod the mustcr-out roll and dc
parted for their homes aa much without jobs
as men Of the latc or any other war. That mo-
mont the over.
Yes, they were all of them volunteers
No pen has payod greater tribute TO tho men
who dared, who wore the uniform honorably
than tho pen that opposes with all It's
strength the commercializinR OF patriotism
through the bonus plan pending. None has
Elected greater pride in tho eN-service men, and
none approved more heartily the decision ~ tho
American Legion TO put something into govern
mcnt instead OF trying 10 get something out OF It,
The bonus proposition Is wrong from every
standpoint. And II will but add to tho cmbarrass-
mont OF government, tho load OF the taxpayers
II VIII not even benefit the mon It is designed
to benefit. Tho bonus law. II 1t is seriously
undertaken. will cost tho government 81. .O00. 900
900 before It IL done. This Is almost tantamount
to fighting the war over again. no far as laying
"A financial burden on the country Is concerned
consuming public, already staggering under
an unsound economic condition, will bo com
PEELED to bow It's head stlll lower For every dol
lar spent by government, no matter what tho
pretoxt. finds instant reflection In Increased
prices to tho ultimate consumer. Instead Of gov
ornment costing annually In excess OF S., ,0oo.-
dollars, as at present. It will cost vastly more
than that. And the few dollars each man will
receive es HIS bonus will he consumed in the
general conflagration of oxorbitant taxes and
impossible prices
II la true that a vast injustice was practiced
| at home while the army was abroad. Fortunes
wages. But two wrongs never have and never
will make one right. Tho point Is there must
Ice a stopping place. The war must he ended
sometime. Why not now?
The men who wore the uniform may have
returned to find their Jobs taken by the stay
at -homes. But that true Of tho spanish
American war, as true OF the war OF tho see
tions, IA It is true OF the world war. And It is
also true that there IL not the slightest excuse
for an cx-scrvice man being idle at this time.
Jobs are available everywhere-snd at better
wages than existed when the old Jobs were given
up, Those disqualified by disease wounds
should command the instant and everlasting at
tention Of government Able bodied men should
be too proud to accept such attention.
The world does not concede that the drive
for the bonus has the support Of even a ma
iority Of tho eX-scrvice men. II is to the ever
lasting credit OF the local post that 1t has gone
on record against the proposition twice, We
come In contact with no ex-scrvice men who
are advocating the matter. who, then, are tho
objectors to The Worlds policy OF opposition?
Again we say. we hope to congress give
the measure "A quiet and painless death, Every
decent consideration calls for just that. And
unless we are to go on fighting the war over
and over again. loading the public with bur
dens already woll-nigh unbearabe. and possibly
contributing to the downfall OF the republic,
that will be done. We would be proud indeed
to see the patriotic straight thinking. proud
section OF the legion dominate the organization
and set It right this matter.
The argument that unless these men are paid
this bonus they will join the disloyal radicals
is too silly to be entertained Once again we as
scrt that purchased patriotism is dear at any
price.