The Washington herald., 1922-09-24
The HeraId's
Open Court
An Unfortunate Error and It's
CONSEQUENCES.

consequences.
To the Editor. ma washinrton Bersn:
In your issue Of September Il. IN.
Rev. James Cavey, congratuiatss
your paper on its stand with re-
spect TO the soldierr bonus
have been taking The Herald daily
since Its hrst publication. and think
that fact together with the add
tional fact that I am an ex-serviee
man, gives me the right 20 take isl
sue with the Rev. Mr.. Cavey az 70
whether or not the stand taken BY
your paper In re the bonus. was
just to ex-serviee men or othervise.
when the President went before
Congrss and asked IL 20 declare a
state of war existed between our
country. and Germany. I was smonr
the FIRST 20 enlist as q private IN
the infantry branch Of the service:
left my wife and family. gave up
my prospects Of getting ahead IN
life. which At that time were very
rosy. and enlisted for the munin-
cent sum of $50 per month, Of
which sum in common with other
enlisted men-after deductions
were made for insurance, ailoo
| ments and liberty bonds TO which
we were forced 20 subscribe ac-
tually received about 80 per month.
Out Of this / was required to pur-
chase my shaving and toilet arti-
cies and pay for my laundry Or
wash my clothes myself. Howevs,.
after about six months, I was COM
naissioned and was DISCHARGED with
. rank that would not have enabled
me 20 share IN the BENEFITS Of the
bonus act II IL had become q Law.
But a. 70 the other enlisted rner
when they were discharged they
received . psitry bonus Of sec,
which At that time would not more
than buy q suit Of clothes He va,
turned out Of the service without
anything 20 tide him over and sup
port himself and family, II h. hsd
one. until he could get employ
ment. Quite . few Of them. itk.
myself. had families, which IN view
OF the high cost Of living prevail
ing during the war. consumed their
life savings In living expense,-
These men undoubtedly represent
ed the highest type OF American
citizenship. when Legislation IA
enacted in Congress TO give these
men q small sum OF money, to even
up IN q small way the uneven nnsn-
cial burden Incurred by them as IN.
result OF their patriotic services. n
Is vetoed by the President Of IN.
United States who, IN o rneasur.
; was supplied with an excuse for
making his decision By 3ust sueh
papers as yours. This veto occurred
in the face Of an overwhelming
demand Of the majority Of both
Houses Of Congress-
The Rev. Mr.. Cavey. or your pa-
per, makes no mention OF the tr.-
mendous gums paid by the rovern-
ment with the sanction OF IN.
President. to the railroads and 20
the war contractors and pront..r,
but then, one must consider that
these are the interests which con.
tribute to campaign fund, and pur-
chase the Advertising space IN
newspapers; or again IL is probable
that only the soldier was expected
70 pay the cost OF patriotism, with
his life and sacrihce, while no on.
ever expected the railroad. ,,6
war prohteers 10 show any patriot
ism which did not return a profit
am curious TO know what the
Kew. Mr. Cavey's war record in ~
he does not possess a war record,
! should be very glad to know n
ne advances his divine calling a. an
excuse for not having one.
I DO not expect you will hsv. III.
sumption 70 publish this. but -
you should. invite criticism and
oefense through this column bp
your other readers.
JOHN O. CARPENTER
Due 70 mechanical error. an in
troductory line to n. R.y N.
Csvey's communication. explairing
II as an open letter 20 Pr,,iS.r,
warren G. Harding. was omit,.,
II is hoped this VIII ..nI,t, rL,
Herald's veto" Of IN. bill so,,
not yet, Buddie-Th. Editor