The Washington herald., 1922-03-02
Justice of Soldier Bonus.

To the Editor, Inc washington herhu'
While passing on a car going up
the Avenue, l saw a man sitting on
the cold stones Ono colder than the
charity of the passerby, in front
of the Treasury Building, where the
richest country in all the world
keeps it's millions of gold.
The man seemed unable to stand,
perhaps a leg was lost in the Ar
gonne, for he wore the uniform oil
Uncle Sans soldier, "Ah! that uni
form" How my heart thrilled when
Il thought how II had been MADE
sacred by the best blood of young
America, who went over the top in
the gray mists of morn, TO stem the
foul and bloody tide, which was
engulfing civilization: that UNIFORM
which has faced the gas. the shot.
the shell. the liquid fire. the cold steel
and every other demoniacal inven-
ton of destruction, which the Hun
could hurl against II; that uniform:
which sending a thrill or nope o,
life, Of victory. to the exhausted
Allies, stood a living wall OF human
steel, protecting the women and chil-
dren Of America from the tate OF
Belgium and France; that UNIFORM
which became a shroud for thousands
OF Americas sons in a foreign land'
who died cheering. shouting, praying
that Liberty and Justice should not
perish from the earth.
The car sped on and the Great
Capitol of our great nation loomed
in sight. where Congress sits in this
the fourth year after the war, and
still debates the soldier bonus. How
the waiting and
how long the hope deferred. and 1
wondered how our good Uncle Sam
could brook such long delay. Then
suddenly there was a great rumbling
which broke into a tumultous noise,
and 10! it was the loud cry of big
interests propagandists, whose
slogans were, "inability to pay with
out disturbing business" paying for
patriotism" buying the soldiers
vote" and the ominous sound soon
spread through the land. Then
wondered how such things could be.
for were we not the richest country
in all the world, and had not England,
Canada, Australia and France al
ready provided for their soldier
bonus? II the war had lasted six
months longer, would 1t not have cost
twice the amount Of the bonus.
eliminating the cost in blood and
heart throbs, and would not America
have been forced to pay?
Did not Dawes save on paper, a
sufficient amount to pay a part OF
the bonus, and would not taxing the
$40, 600, ,000, 900 excess of war prohts
of the banks, make up the balance!
I Let us not forget that this huge
sum was made by the patrioteers, in
comfort and ease. while the Ameri-
can soldier stood in the cold, the
mud and the filth of the front line
trenches, keeping the Hun at bay.
Then there Is idle capital which
could be taxed. This would cause
the wheels of industry to hum
happy hymn of home and comfort
to the jobless man. After that there
are still the luxuries which could
be taxed, and all these proving in
sufficient (Which is impossible) then
tax the necessities and let the poor
man pay, for justice must be done
though the Heavens fall.
However, I am sure that this will
not be necessary. since Congress
always finds a way to do dts will in
be an increase of 50 per cent for its
own salaries or making provisions
for junketing trips and investiga-
tions, or public buildings, or q slight
appropriation of s1.oo0,o00 for a
foreign exposition. i
Paying for patriotism'--"B
the soldiers vote"-these are DOM
inant notes in the hue and cry of
the propaganda politician. and to
this is added the softer note of
women's opposition to the bonus.
Indeed!-how dare they say such
things? Ah-the women they know
who gave UP good Jobs and should