Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1921-01-26
THE Ex.SOLDIER
AND BACK PAY
Former Ex-Service Man Writes Let
ter to Public Opinion on the
Bonus Question for Soldiers
GIVES CLEAR VIEW
OF THE SITUATION
oEy the Soldier Has Back Pay
"a. ing and the Bonus is a Debt
We Owe Him
Dec yah, Iowa, Jan. %. 1921.

D.. Tah, Iowa, Jan. %, 1921.
Editor Pu Opinion:
Dear Sir. am sending you a
little writeup which | wish you would
put in this weeks Pubuic Opinion.
The Ex-SoIdier and His Back Pay.
Chicago newspapers the other day
discovered almost hundred former
members of the United States Army
in the Cook county poor farm, where
they had been sent by the govern
ment, because during their term of
service they mad contracted tuber-
culosis or some other ailment which
made it necessary for the govern
ment to provide for them. The sol
diers were receiving the same treat
ment as the paupers sent to the farm
by the county, they had no more, no
less, unless that a few of them had
little incomes of their own which en-
abled them to get some things which
their fellows could not afford. Most
of, them, however, had insufficient
clothing, ragged shoes, and lacked
everything that would help to make
more endurable the short span of
life which the dread disease has left
them. The government had contract
ed for their care at two dollars and
a half (S2.50) per day-and hasn't
paid that!
What is true in Cook county is true
elswhere. Men who left their homes
and their jobs at good pay to fight
for the United States--not because
they wanted to, but because the gov
ernment made them, are now driven
to shift for themselves, as best they
may. The labor which was bringing
them a good price was condemned
and they were forced to labor at a
fourth to fifth of what they could
have earned at home. The theory
of condemnation is that full price
shall be paid for anything that pub
lie reasons make it necessary to
take. Certainly man whose labor is
and who, i'm addition, is
to risk his life, should be
paid full value for his services. 1t
has not been square deal to the ex-
soldier to deprive him of what he
earned. The so-called bonus is rot a
bonus at ALL A bonus is something
that is given a man over and above
his wages, because of work extra
we'll done. 1t is gift pure and
simple. What the ex-soldier needs
and should have is fair pay for what
he did. 1t is a debt which we owe
him. In other words he has back pay
coming and he is not getting it.
The veteran of the civil war,
whether he fought for the north or
south-"still is a hero 1t is right
that he should be. Yes, honor still is
paid the man who fought against
Spain. But the man who took part in
the greatest war of all is getting the
chilly shoulder and the swift kick.
He isn't receiving any attention
whatever.
Said a returned soldier the other
day: 81 am going to vote for the
fellow who is going to see that get
what is coming to me, and TO H
with the rich man who will have to
pay the taxes and the German vote.
1t would be hard to disagree with
him. Let the fellows who stayed at
home, made big money and let some
one else do the fighting, dig up now.
Nobody is going to waste any SYM
pathy on him while the ex-tighter is
in need and can't get his back pay.
nv cEDIyJrL MAN