Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-02-23
|DR. ". {. HARRIS
URGES SOLDIER BONUS
In Address He Says Govern
ment Owes This to Men Who
Served II.

funds for the things II wants. Mil
lions are spent for various investiga-
.tions and thousand and one other
things that are benefit to no one
Yet, when the soldier asks for what II
due him, he gets a promise" was the
opinion expressed by DR.. William r..
Harris, Mt the sixteenth annual re-
union last night OF the George Wash
inston Last Man Club. held In the
club room at the Hotel du Pont, when
tho speaker made n stirring talk In
favor OF the soldier bonus proposition.
In his address. DIR. Harris said that
the arguments pro and con In refer
ence to the soldier bonus took him
back TO his boyhood days. when he
read in history OF General Washing
ton and his little army as they march
ed through the State OF New Jersey.
crossing the Delaware into Pennsyl-
vafnia.
Continuing. he said: Let's see how
the people treated this little band of
patriots.
''ln New Jersey in almost every
other house there was piece OF red
flannel pinned to the door as an in
dication Tory lived inside. When he
reached Pennsylvania the farmers re-
fused him food: they would not ac-
cept his script in pay as they could
sell TO the British for gold When
he threatened 30 conflscate their grain.
they burned II TO keep II from his
starving army.
What was the attitude OF Congress
during these trying days? George
Washington was not free from his
enemies even In those sacred halls
Some went so far as 10 threaten to
have him dismissed. With all OF this,
the great patriot never faltering or
losing faith In God, his men or
the cause, fought on until victory and
peace were won.
Washington was here today, knowing
a soldiers sacrifices as he did. what
would be his attitude toward the
bonus question?
when he looked at the scales and
saw gold on one side weighed against
patriotism and sacrifice on the other.
I don't believe there are many who
question where he would stand"
DIR. Harris emphasized one phase
OF the question, which he desired 70
make clear. The soldier is not ask
Ing for charity" he said. but has
earned Il. If the man who worked in
shipyard. munltion plant or any
other government work received a
bonus. ard do not question but what
nc was entitled 20 &, how much more
is the soldier who gave up all, think.
Ing not OF personal gain, but only OF
duty and country. having earned his
Surely no one viii question II the on,
received It, the other is entitled TO tho
same consideration.
1--WE are told by some that they
favor It, but the government Is poo
and Il would be dangerous 10 the coun
try at this time. This. however, give
very little comfort 10 the boy wh'
fough-he can neither cat nor pay nj
bills with such promises. The govern
ment can always find funds for th'
things II wants. Millions are spen
for various investigations and thou
sand and one other things that is ,
benefit to no one. Yet, when the sol
der asks for what is due him. he get
a promise"
The situation, according 10 DR.. Har
ris reminded him Of Bill Nye. VIII
had lost a COW, which was killed on
southern railroad. DR.. Harris in dis
cussing this point said:
y - He wrote 10 the officials severa
times about his loss and wouh
. propmtly get an acknowledgment a.
: reading about the sa me. Finally whe'
his patience was exhausted he wrot
them that Yours received and con
tents noted. did not pay for his br,ndl
cow and unless he got some actio
and that quick. he would use othe
methods. 1t Is needless to say tha
he got a different answer.
"Our boys have been patient. Do yo
want them to adopt BIZ Nye's meth
ods7 1 know you do not.
= I'm answer to the tax burden yo
were taxed before the war and yo
Will be taxed after, whether the sol
: diers' bonus ia paid or not. i hav
become reconciled to this feature an
expect nothing different. II the none
10 not used for this purpose some 9th
er way Will be found 10 get rid of !
Look at the successful Disarma
ment Conference which just termina,
ed in Washington. This has. n
) doubt, benefited mankind throughou
the world and will be the means {
!, saving this country untold millions
4 What will become of this money? Wi
: il not hsve a tendency TO lower taxes
e II should. Mr.. Hughes and his assc
ciates deserve high praise for th
able manner in which they conducte
}, these negotiations. but IL was til
American soldier and sailor wh
: taught the world to respect us an
e this is what made the conferenC
y easy. 1 was for the boys during III
i war. I am with them in peace. GiS
them their bonus-gladden the
= hearts, for they have earned it,"
: officers were elected as fellow,
u u President. Casper It. Toppin; vic
(; president, Otto NJ. Spear; secretar
l. J. Writ Willis; treasurer, Erdme
, Hoffman. This organization start,
II with 22 members and has lost s
since its formation. James ID. Strou
. = "a member. died last year. This w
" the first death In five years
& At the meeting last night it w
n also decided that the last survivil
h: member Of the club from anoth
az az similar organization with 22 mel
be bers. which will also meet on Was
ington's birthday. This is the or
=, meeting held by the club during I
Iyear.