The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1921-08-18

did level of money consideration, but
it has with a harshness which no
grinding monopoly would countenance
. not only postponed settlement for five
or six years. but placed the pay on
the dead level of convict labor-S2
dav and board. Into what a Serbon-
ian bog of compromise and humilia-
ton the soldier is plunged when you
induce him to leave the high plane of
unselfsh service for the field of ad-
justed compensation
"The second reason why I shall
vote to recommit the bill-and l must
hasten along-is because our first
duty is to the disabled soldier As
have said. we have not done for him
what we should have done up to this
thine. and when we shall have finish
ed our task it will be a tremendous
burden which. the government will
have to carry. But we are going to
carry it,: no one proposes anything
else. But until our legislation has
lbeen completed with reference to the
disabled soldier, until that burden
has been met and an adjustment
made such as to satisfy conscience
land humanity and our obligation to
him. we should not undertake to i'm
pose upon the government other bur
dens which will necessarily retard
and hamper us in taking care Of the
disabled soldiers.
! AS / understand, that is in fact
the position of the American Legion.
l have never talked to a member of
the American Legion, 1 have never
had a communication from one of
them. 1 have never seen an interview
from one of them who touched on
the subject who did not declare that
he desired the disabled soldier cared
for and the obligation of the govern
ment to him discharged entirely and
completely before they should be per-
mitted to interpose or embarrass the
government in doing anything for
those who were not disabled.
MY opinion is that while we some
times get frightened here in Wash
ington by reason of kilograms and
propaganda which are sent to us, if
the American senate has the courage
to carry this question back to the
American Legion in their homes and
present to them the question of the
condition of the government and our
first obligation to the disabled, there
will be scarcely a dissenting voice
among them The expression will be
almost unanimously, let the govern
ment discharge its duty to the dis
abled first and we will come later.
something has been said about
postponing the bill for six months
and bringing it back in six months
from now and considering it, 1 would
not wish to be harsh with anyone
who contempates voting to send the
bin to the committee for six months
and bringing it out again. but if any
thing would be characteristic of pure
political expediency in this situation
It would be precisely that thing. What
will be the difference six months from
low so far as the taxpayer, the bust
ness man, the laborer, and other con-
iitions are concerned? What could
)e more discouraging to revival of
business than a mere postponement
IF such obligation. And until bust
less revives there will be unemplOy-
nent and hungry people. We ought
o have the courage, if we are against
ne proposition, to say so and to say
Why. and carry it back to the Legion
t home and receive their judgment.
f it is against us, very well and
God: but there is no use to trine
nth the proposition by sending it
ack to the committee for six months
nd bringing it out when we will be
@ better off at that time. do not
gree with the argument that is pre-
anted for postponement.
81 know, of course, that there will
e vast amount of politics made
18th the matter, not only here but
sewhere; naturally that must fol-
wv; it is a part of the American
ame we can not expect anything
Sc; but / venture to believe that the
Dung man who went to war, who
as willing to sacrifice for his cOun-
y, is just as much interested in the
neral welfare Of his country as are
,u or l, and that when the matter is
eseBted to him and when he under
ands it, his patriotism, his man
,Od. his interest in mankind and in
s fellows about him will guide him
a wise and patriotic conclusion.
e need not be so uneasy as to the
al judgment which he shall render.
eff I may be permitted to say so,
sire to say that sometimes I think
underestimate the intelligence and
triotism of the masses of the Am
can people. I think we sometimes
d too much distress in kilograms
d in letters which may not repre-
1t one-half of 1 per cent of the
)ple in the community from which
~ come. and that we consider too
lie the fact that back there is the
Fat reserve power the reserved pa
Dtism, the manhood upon which
s government rests and upon
ich it must continue to rest or for
~ perish If it lis to be appealed to