The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-03-27

the soldier without for one moment |
having waited for him to ask it.
We brought the soldiers back to
country which had been robbed by
financial Encouragement of that
prosperity to which it was entitled,
and in which if it had endured they
would have found ample opportunity
for employment. We deliberately
broke down business. We impoverish-
ed the country by financial misman-
agement, and democrats and repub-
licans alike have. been guilty of the
greatest crime in this respect recorded
in human, history.
And then we say to the soldier that
we are too poor, as a nation to aid
you, and you are unpatriotic in ask
ing the country to adjust your pay by
some little financial recognition of
your work and your losses. A bonus
would break down patriotism, some
say; when as matter of fact the
spirit that is abroad in the land
against a bonus is the most damning
power ever put into action in this
country to destroy patriotism.
Why should young man be willing
to sacrifice his home and his happi-
ness and his life itself to fight for a
people or for country where he is
praised while he stands in the great
struggle of life and death, but spurn-
ed and charged with a lack of patriot
ism when he asks that the people who
have been saved by his sacrifice shall
show some recognition of what he has
achieved for them?. Never was there
put forth movement more thorough
ly calculated to destroy patriotism
than the fight against. the soldiers
adjustment of pay and the denuncia-
ton by the press and by the financial
circulars of banking houses, and by
business organizations against the
soldier. If those who are opposed to
an adjustment Of pay for the soldiers
were moved by as much patriotism as
that which filled the breast of the
soldier as he entered the battlefield,
no man in this country would dare to
raiseh is voice against a soldiers
bonus. -...
We are not unmindful of the fact
that taxation is heavy and that bust
ness has been stagnant, that millions
of men have seen their all swept away.
But we know that this country of
matches resources can recreate a
prosperity so vast and all-encircling
in its sweep as to make the amount
to be paid to the soldiers small as
compared to the annual increase in the
nations wealth in the years to come.
It is difficult, however, to have pa
thence with many of the absurd prop
lositions which have been put forth in
Congress for the issuing of deferred
payment certificates, with the re-
Iquirement that the banks shall loan or
them to about one-half of their face
value, thus. dishonoring to the extent
of 5 per cent the nations promise to
pay, and putting it into the power OF
the Federal Reserve system, If such
a plan should be carried out, again to
ldefate the currency and the credit OF
the country and bring an another
drastic defation a few years hence
should the men then in charge desire
Ianother breakdown of prices. =
/ We fully realize, as the Manufac.
turers Record has repeatedly said
that the destruction of business viii
make the income tax return for last
iyear and for the present year far be-
low the requirements of the govern.
ment. But this breakdown of business
land the loss of profits and therefore
| the loss of income, is due to govern.
mental mismanagement of the Fed.
leral Reserve system and as nation
we have only ourselves to blame fol
less of profits and loss of national in.