The Washington herald., 1922-03-08
Opponent of the Bonus.

To the Editor, The Washington Herald:
Referring to the Open Court let
ters to The Herald. the writer vol
taire" gave a very commendable
statement in regard to the soldier
bonus. and the proposition set forth
is one that would prove beneficial
to the country at large. That, how
ever. is not the purpose OF the
bonus in the plans proposed by lis
sponsors; they do not favor any
scheme involving work" Far
from IT. They desire a straight ap-
preparation from the Treasury that
will enable them to hit the bright
places and the high spots. Go to
any welfare or veterans hall and
attempt to secure laborers at 81
per day. and see how they hustle
to get away from you. Work
Where do you get that stun" Five
to ten dollars per day is their ap-
praisement OF their worth, and il
is astonishing what an elevating
influence or effect a short military
service mas had on these former
pick and shovel men. and some not
even well qualified for that before
army discipline put some energy
into their systems. How many OF
the urgent claimants for the bonus
were "volunteers"? How many en-
listed before the threat Of the draft
put a holy fear in their systems
and lead thenf to select their par
ticular branch of service while the
selecting was good? How many OF
the veterans of the civil war loafed
and depended upon charitable and
welfare associations for two years
or more before getting down to
work?
The men of those days were men
the kind that real Americans are
made of, The pioneers Of our Middle
West and Far Western States; the
men who sought opportunity and
made the best of conditions. They
were not OF the class that would
be willing to become parasites on
the balance of humanity. The bonus
scheme carried to its ultimate con-
clusion means that approximately
100, 900, 900 of American citizens
port of 100000, more or less, that
were drafted in the late war. All
honor and credit to the men VINO
went overseas who were disabled
or incapac!tated! They deserve all
that can be done for them. and by
means of disability insurance, re-
habilitation and vocational train
ing acts are being cared for as
rapidly as It Is possible under the
circumstances, in view of the mag
nitude of the work and no prece-
dent for IL. The honor OF these
men should not be dimmed nor
their support curtailed, as will be
the case IL this bonus legislation
Is enacted and applicable to any
and every training-camp patriot,
who was we'll fed. well housed and
well paid. and who was no worse
of after expiration of his service
than the millions of civilians who
were obliged to pay war prices for
everything they needed and work
from twelve to twenty hours q day
to enable them to get sufficient in
come to support a family, and In
many instances found themselves
out of employment when war in
dustrial plants closed down. why
aren't they just as much entitled
to a bonus or to adjusted compen-
sation as the men released from
military service in nowlse incapaci-
tated for performing everyday La,
Dor?
However, IL political expediency
and the need for votes in the fail
elections results in sufficient "senti-
ment" and pressure" to compel pas
sage of bonus legislation, then IL
is suggested that the required
funds be raised by a general sales
tax that will apply to all the people
alike. in order that they may all
share equally in the glorious privi-
lege of maintaining this privileged
army Of the unemployed. Not a
sales tax applying in special cases