The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-05-12
PRESS COMMENT
Active Service Bureau For
Florida Ex-Service Mon.

| luton to the problem of caring for
disabled soldiers in the state and ex-
tending assistance to others in en-
| barrassing predicaments. To say the
least of it, the plan would bring more
aid to individuals in need of
aid than the bonus plan, and would
be less expensive, for there would be
! little room for waste.
! Practically every soldier advocate Of
the bonus idea emphasizes the fact
| that he doesn't want money for him.
self-a- pittance for his services, as
| it were-but that 1T is needed by some
of his former comrades-men who
have been unsuccessful In securing
their cid positions or others, or who
are physically unfit for strenuous la
Dor as a result of having participated
in the war, although not technically
disabled. The majority of the men adj
vancing this reason are absolutely
| sincere and are to be commended for
their admirable attitude.
Major Ahern's suggestion is based
on practice already in effect in
Tennessee, and which has proved to
be of great value in seeking out needy
and administering to the sufferers
For the operation of this bureau $780,
900 was appropriated and the direc-
| tors investigate all reports and make
fitting recommendations and follow
them up.
As it is in Florida, 1t is necessary
for the American Legion and other ex-
service men to fight for justice for the
disabled and the needy, and this or
ganization and the other groups are
nj fino Toll xy
the successful carrying on Of this
work. Too. there is no power back of
these efforts, which now depend upon
public opinion, one Of the most diff
cult forces in the world to arouse.
The Metropolis thinks that Major
Ahern's suggestion could be broad
! ened. Why not place this bureau in
charge of competent ex-service men
and pay salaries which will make it
possible for them to devote all of their
time to this work? These men could
work in harmony with the American
Legion posts throughout the state and
thereby secure the maximum results.
An ex-service man desiring help
would only have to make application
to this bureau. At the present time
many ex-service men entitled to COM
pensations are not asking for them be-
cause of the red tape program which
| must be followed. The bureau could
| attend to these troublesome details.
In its arguments against the state
bonus The Metropolis has repea tedly
brought out the fact that in this plan
| there would be great deal of lost
motion: that men who have no parti-
cular use for the bonus would receive
| it along with those who actually would
benefit by it. The sentimental oppo-
sition cannot be raised when needy
cases are discussed. The disabled
and the unfortunate are entitled to the
cream of everything; nothing Is too
| good for them and they should not be
made to suffer at the hands Of politi-
clans, as they are now doing, and a
| bureau created along the lines brought
out by Major Ahern would be long
step toward removing injustices of this.
Notwithstanding Metropolis.
RemovaIIof the Capitol.
The Times-Union says: Every few
years Tallahassee is given a big scare
by threats Of capitol removal, but here
tofore it has ended with the scare"
Now, it seems likely to end in the
people being called on to say whether
| or no, and where. No one has any
thing to say against Tallahassee in the
matter of capital removal Honestly.
If we could pick Tallahassee up and
set it down bodily and complete, lovely
people and delightful hills. in some
central Florida spot Of additional
beauty we would not consider any
other place for the capital of this
state.
But the city where the capital
stands, lies far too far from the peo-
pie; and is far too remote from the
center of things that will be in Florida
The times has come to speak of such
things as capital removal and the
people are speaking. When It has been
shown that out Of fifty-four news
papers of the state all but seven are
fatty out and working for capital re-
moval the idea gets beyond a mere
scare" for any of those who oppose a
change
The centrally located cities like Or
lando and Ocala are the proper places
to have in mind when thinking or
talking capital removal. The bigger
cities out on the rim of the state like |
Pensacola, Tampa, Jacksonville, Miami
and Key West, are too far removed
from the convenience of the people as
a whole and for that reason they will !
again be seriously considered as ap-
plicants for the honor of having the !
seat of government.
The Tifes- Union, which keeps an ear |
close to the ground and which has
some of its ablest men In Tallahassee
where they can see the effects of |
things on the people, must be i'm
pressed indeed with the seriousness Of |
the people when it indicates that the /
seriousness of the people when it indi-
Gates that the proposition is not like
to end with, scare this time.-Tam- /