The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-03-27
THE AMERICAN SOLDIER
AND THE BONUS
Manufacturers Record)

coward IN the world; and certainly 1t
is showing this characteristic in the
opposition of business men who are
fighting against an adjustment of the
soldiers pay, or the bonus as it may
be called.
This nation drafted into service
more than four million men. 1t took
took them away from their homes and
their business. It paid them a beg
carly sum, while at the same time it
encouraged the widest extravaganza
in the pay of the laborers at home in
building ships, and army camps and
kindred work, that was ever known in
the worlds history.
The soldier was shot if he proved to
| be a coward or recreant to his duty
The faborer in the ship yards and
on camp work and kindred activities
was paid premium for cowardice
and inefficiency. He was too cowardly
to put forth his utmost exertion in
construction work, too cowardly to go
contrary to the regulations of the la
Dor unions which directed him and
which largely ruled the country; and
for this cowardice he was given a pre-
MUM in the way of extra pay for
work overtime, on Sundays or holi-
! days.
On one hand we demanded of the
soldier the highest form of sacrifice
and patriotism. We said to him, "Our
lives and our property and our gov
eminent are all at stake. You, and
you alone, stand between US and de-
struction. We throw upon you the
burden of saving our business, our
homes and loved ones, and risking
your lives that we may live and our
property and our country be saved"
On the other hand, in effect we said
to the 1aborer, ."Gouge the country for
every last dollar you can get out of it
Be as inefficient as possible. Strike
as you did more than 5000 times dur
ing the war, and delay the munitions
and supplies needed for soldiers to
give them success in the struggle
The business man, whether banker
merchant or manufacturer, put forth
his utmost exertion to increase the
volume of his trade and to enlarge his
profits.
Before the marching soldiers, leav.
ing home for the camp or foreign
shores, we stood with uncovered head
bowling almost in reverence to the
spirit of sacrifice, realizing that they
must offer their lives on the battle.
field to save US. Superb, heroic cour.
age of the soldiers, patriotism ram.
pant, as they sought to stem the on.
rush of barbarism and save the WON.
en- and the children of this country
from the horrors, which the womer
and children of France, and Belgium
had endured; that was the spirit
which was abroad in the days which
tried mems souls in the hour OF
world agony, when inhuman barbar.
ism .stalked abroad and threatened
world domination and damnation.
And now the soldier, honored anG
petted chen, placed on a pedestal as
the embodiment of patriotism and OF
willingness to sacrifice his life thai
the rest of US might live in peace
finds that the cowardice of money de-
) mands that he shall not receive any
financial remuneration as an express
ion of a nations gratitude for saliva
ton through his sacrifice. 1t will be
little patriotism, say some of thes'
opponents. 1t is unworthy of the sol
dier's spirit of love for his country
say others. The nation cannot affort
it, is the cry of the money changer
and business men who four years ag'
were eager to bow down and worship
the soldier for his willingness to di
that they and their families nigh
live, now dare to talk about the lacl
of patriotism on the part of the sol
der in asking for some financial rec
ognition of his losses, by being ava.
from home and business for two year
or more.
1 Talk about cowardice of money:
= is as nothing compared to the coward
ice of those who are berating the sol
der, who are denouncing his request
{ for some adjustment of pay, who sa
that the nation cannot afford the in
creased cost, when as matter of fac
2 all that the nation has and all that
may hope to have in the future is du
to the fact that these soldiers saved
from ruin, and from the tread Of tn
accursed army of the barbarians VIII
b overran France and Belgium.
|. 1t is an amazing thing that s
r many otherwise sensible American
t can be swept off their feet by the pre-
e paganda against an adjustment of pa
n to the soldiers. 1t is an incompreher