The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1920-04-23
an ex-sold:er and the other in politics.

III. ''0i. ctSt>tiOli clS USt" eCll
N.Y. e =; i tlo cclo.:e. of enc Of the
infantry regiments of the 18th
division.
"How long were you ' III this
reginc3t?''
Il oy:.~.,:zed the regiment, trained
i, COX Il overseas, commanded these
me3 during tne entire time overseas
brought tt,em A..ch aI2 was present
When they We; mustered out CT the
service.
you we're f~2li!..a: then, with the
condition Of these zen mentally and
physically len 1hoy came into the
service anG when they were dis
charged?"
Yes
How did their physical and men
tai condition w.lln they were dis
charged compare with that upon en-
tering the service? Was this condi
ton ;nproved or otherwise, and il
so. t. what extent?" =.
':-he:r physical and mental condi
ton vas improved. l should say 3Ot
per ee1t. Owing to this improved
condition they were capable Of earn
ing much more money after they were
discharged. :,
Were these men:improved in othe'
ways?"
"Yes. Three hundred Of this regi
ment could not speak the Englisf
language and had to be taught" j"
The second conversation was be
tween myself and an enlisted maj
who went overseas:
."What do you think Of the pro
posed bonuses?''
"I should like to get the bonuses.
"lf this were given it would re
ouire, according to reports som!
four or:five billions of dollars, wonlt
! it: not? .,>, -, - -
eyes, sir. - al: -
:ANow that the financial structure
is: steainc i almost to the breaking
point, how would this issue of bond
affect the securities market?"
''It would naturally have depres
sing effect. Liberty bonds might sci
on 6 per cent basis and other Sc
curities would 60 down accordingly.
"As you probably know, the Cana
dian government gave large bonuse
to their discharged soldiers. From
observation it was learned that. thl
money was spent in 80 per cent. O
T the cases in "A few weeks. If thes'
; bonuses were given by this .countr'
do you think the result would b.
similar?"
Il do
when you returned did you fin'
YOUR old place in this firm open t.
you?"
eyes sir"
! "At the same salary as before o
reduced?"
sMy salary was raised shortly afte
came back
"What was your condition men
' tally and physically when you re
turned from the service, compare'
with that when you entered the ser
vice?''
Il was both mentally and physical
ly better
eBesides this, you had very in
teresSsng and valuable experience
did you not?"
Eyes SIR"
IF 1T were possible to sell such
thing, would you take $1,000 for thl
experience"
'No sir"
From these conversations, whicl
typify the real conditions, were tn
ex-service men the gamers or tn
losers by their service?
The wounded were the real suffer
ers. These are the ones who hav'
really lost, and the American peopl!
cannot be too generous in their eft
forts to help them.
AS suggested by the writer OF tn
above article, the wounded in. tn.
great war deserve of the country al
that they may receive in the way o:
making their bodies whole, and O:
being taken care of in cases wher'
their earning power has been des
troyed or impaired. But those mel
who went into the army and came ou
whole, while they have performed tn
most praiseworthy service, and hav'
been willing to make all necessar!
sacrifices, have not sustained sucl
losses as warrant the expenditure o:
the great sum Of money necessary t.
pay the proposed bonuses.
We are glad that the men from
this state, or at least those of then
who have spoken in the matter, have
expressed theirself as opposed to the
bonus. They spring from fathers anc
grandfathers who fought for patriot
ism and not for money. They woule
be untrue to them if they came bacl
from this war and showed themselve:
eager to further increase the burdens
of government by demanding thi!
bonus. Something still must be left
to patriotism.