The Washington herald., 1922-08-28
SOME OBSERVATIONS ON ScRUBBING
SHIRTS

to the soldier bonus question It was
suggested, however, by incident which
happened during the debate on this issue im the
Senate last week.
Senator Bursum pleading eloquently the
of adjusted compensation" Senator New
had just finished animated attack "gratui-
ties"
The gentleman from New Mexico, in the
course of his speech translated INTO pulpit Eng
lish the sentiment of ribald marching song which
rather popular with troops in both do
mestic and overseas service-although the words
gosh darn" necessarily were substituted for of
the more forceful phrases in the chorus when the
ditty rendered in Young Mems Christian As
sociation huts. Mr.. Bursum, once upon a time
must have heard some soldier singing, "An we do
is sign the payroll"
1t will be remembered that the last verse
started like this, "One-ffty out for laundry" The
Senator had reached the point where he de-
scribing the hardship caused the soldiers when
they were forced to part with the last vestges OF
their monthly pay in order to get clean shirts for
Saturday forenoon inspection.
To continue in the words of that excellent pub
fcation, the Congressional Record:
Mr. Wadsworth. I am not sure that
heard the Senator correctly. Did the Senator
deduct from the pay Of the soldier charge for
laundry?
Mr. Bursum. Yes.
Mr. Wadsworth. Is not the Senator aware
that the soldiers laundry was done by the
government during the war?
Mr.. Bursum. l do not think that is al
together true l have talked with some of the
service men, who advised me that they paid for
their laundry.
Mr.. Wadsworth. 1 have been through the
laundries in the big camps, some of them in
France, and l recolect exceedingly well also
that part of the estimates made by the Quarter
master General were for the operation of the
laundres to do the laundry work of the men,
Mr. Reed of Pennsylvania. That was not
done in our division in Camp Meade before we
went to France We were charged for laundry
at Camp Meade
Mr.. Wadsworth That may have been so
in the beginning, but / recollect very WELL and
my purpose in interruptng at this point the
statement OF the Senator from New Mexico was
to state that the Committee on Military At
fairs in writing the appropriation bill of year
ago. eliminated the item of maintenance and op-
Grafton OF laundries which the Quartermaster
General informed had been operated free of
charge to the soldiers, certainly during major
part OF the war The Senator is aware that
prior to the the soldiers OF the regular
army had to pay their own laundry charges
and it only during the last year that the
laundry charges have again been imposed upon
the soldiers OF the regular army
AT this point young chap with silver star
IN his coat lapel, who seated in the visitors
gallery, started to snicker. The attendant tapped
him on the shoulder and warned him that he
would be put out unless he stopped such unseemly
conduct.
Senator James w. Wadsworth jr, of New York
was chairman OF the Senate Military Affairs Com.
mittee during the with Germany and he knows,
presumably, what he is talking about But at
least S8S per cent of the men who sang about the
two trolicsome grassboppers' as they marched
down red roads while bugles were blowing from
i9l7 10 1919 know why the young chap with the
silver star in his coat lapel was laughing.
Where the laundries? They must have
been in operation, because Senator Wadswortb saws
they were and Senator Wadsworth, of all men.
should know \.
There other questions
Where the candy ration?
Where the cigarette ration7
We must leave the answers to Senator Wads
worth and take his word for it. 1t is not fair to
ask such questions at walter Reed Hospital. It is
not tair to ask such questions of the veterans at
Fort Myer or Washington Barracks 1t is NOT
iar to ask such questions of the rank and file of
the 100000 who once wore olive drab. Thes.
fellows were in position to know the answers
Tor they never came within smelling distance of
free laundries or the candy ratons or thecisarete
rations.
In acknowledgements. against the soldier
bonus are many. 1t is urged that the nation can
not afford to pay it; that patriotism cannot be
bought for price; that experience of service in
inc Great Adventure was its reward and Il
would be eheapened immeasurabiy by a stipend.
But any effort to prove that the soldier lived
N clover during the war Is no argument At an
Because n Is not true. The cause Of anti-bonus ad
voeases . injured BY any such sfforss