The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-05-20
Barometer of Public Opinion


The proposal to pay "a cash bonus To every
soldier and sailor enlisted IN the late war Is beat
ing I'm vain against common sense of the Amer
lean people. A. the subject becomes better
understood the public opposition is found TO be
stone wall, which cannot be Hurmounird or
thrown down.
Gratitude to tho valiant young manhood Of
this nation liz the first feeling Of Americans OF
an ages and both sexes. A. first IT was sup
posed that the bonus proposal Was merely TO De
an expression OF the national gratitude, mani
tested In the practical form Of help to the sol.
dicr and sailor lads, There was no objection
To this. but. on the contrary, lively approval OF
what was supposed to be useful national
h1nks-offerng
Now It IL found that tho cash bonus PROPOSE
tion Is an offeusc 10 hundreds OF Thousands OF
OF former soldiers and sailors who are Indignant
at the organization Of a propaganda to extract
money from the treasury These young men are
placed In the category OF mondicahts and Wiling
bencfiCiarlcs OF taxes imposed upon their Coun-
trymen. when. In fact, they ask no monetary
reward, and are mortified TO find themselves
placed in such light Every newspaper Is re-
cciving protests from former soldiers and sailors
asking that the organized movement for cash
bonus be opposed and exposed. Many Of these
letters ask that the wounded and sick soldiers
and sailors he better cared for. The lads who
went through tho fiery trial without injury are
mindful OF their comrades who are pcnned In
hospitals and asylums often neglected and al
most always inadequately provided for. The
wounded volunteer officers are TO be turned out
without proper pay. although their wounds are
proof In themselves of the extraordinary Valor
Of these young leaders Of columns, companies
and battalons.
One who Is now among the immortals said.
with malice toward none, with charity for
all, with firmncss In the right AS God gives us
TO the right let us strive on 10 finish the
work we are ln to bind up the nations wounds.
to care for him who shall have borne tho battle
and for his widow and orphan, to do all which
may achieve and cherish n lasting peace among
ourselves and with all nations"
All that the United States should do TO square
tho account with those who bore the battle I'm
France should he done, generously and immedi-
ately. Let those who uninjured have land
for farms Let them have credit until they can
establish their farms. Let them have life in.
surance. Lot them have assistance ih finding
suitable employment. But let the assistance be
such AZ will honor both the government and It's
defender. No soldier or sailor should be made
to feel that he is an object OF charity or that
ne is paid as n hlrong and professional mer-
cenary. All the glory, all the honor and all the
spirit OF sacrifice that ennobled Americas young
manhood In the great years lai7-l91S would he
dshonored II the services OF soldiers and sailors
were calculated as so much work to be paid for.
and the hirelings dismissed.
Apart from the revolving suggestion that
American heroism he commercialized is the
consideration Of favortism which would he in
volved II Is not fair that some American citizens
should receive pay from the treasury at the ex
pense OF others for services which any and all
cit2ons are required to perform as a part Of
their citizenship. The defense OF the flag cannot
he made matter OF dollars and cents, even IL IL
should be attempted, but II dollars and cents
are involved at all. there must he fairness and
equal treatment all along the line. Among the
citizens are those who bore the brunt of other
wars, Are they to be taxed TO benefit men Of
There arc other cIti20ns who are coming for
ward, who will bear the brunt of future wars.
Must they be taxed TO benefit the men OF this
war, In addition to giving their own lives here
after? That also would he an outrageous
iniquity,
The youne men whopmado IN the army and
navy that carried tho flag to victory in 1918 are
not asking this unfair treatment OF their fellow
citizens. The movement to commercalzo their
serVices does not come from them. Let congress
inquire into the source OF this movement, Let It
scrutini2e the men who are most active in this
propaganda Let the principals he forced out
into the open. What are thoy getting out Of
the propaganda?
An wounded. injured. sick, insane and other
wise disabled men who bore the battles of
America, are the peculiar wards " this nation.
Nothing Is too good for them. The government
should extend It's strong arm to them, and sus-
tain them and their widows and orphans, with
out counting the cost. The half forgotten men
ana officers now langushing in hospitals and
asylums should he given every evidence OF the
nations gratitude and affection. In that con
nection money may be used lavishly and with
honoT-WashinEto Post