The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1922-02-10
KILL THE BONUS BILL.

It is undoubtedly true that a great
many men made sacrifices in order to
enter the army. Many went to the
front at the call of the country with
out considering the loss financially.
Some were wounded, MANNED for life
and some killed. Provision has been
made for the relatives of those who
lost their lives in the service of the
country, and provision is being made
for those who suffer from wounds and
disease as a result Of their service.
More and more provisions should be
made for the latter. To them we
would give ungrudgingly.
But the men who entered the ser
vice, who went across, some OF whom
saw actual fighting and some of
whom did not, were not the only per-
sons who made financial sacrifices
during the war. Those who remained
at home-gave of their time and labor
as we'll as of the accumulations of
years in order to further the contest
in which the country was engaged.
Some thought they prospered great
ly, and some %profiteers did we sup
pose, but within the.few years which
have followed the war, most of those
in this section who thought they made
money as a result of the war, now
find themselves bankrupt, or nearly
so. It is a mans job to meet the
present demands of the government,
to pay debts incurred during the easy
days, and to keep the ship headed to-
wards the shore.
Again while many men are in a
desperate struggle to save something
Of the labors of a lifetime, being
themselves we'll advanced in the years
when men gather a competence, or
something for a rainy day, the men
who went to the front are still young
men, and those who are strong and
healthy are but the better OK now for
the service they saw, the experiences
they had, and the outlook on life
which came to them.
These being the facts it is a hard
time to put greater burdens on the
people of this country in the way Of
taxation, and that is what the voting
Of a bonus means. It means another
cent to pay every time you buy a.
postage stamp, a little more to pay
every time you draw a check, or are
forced to make a note, or every time
you make a deed or mortgage to your
property which is being taken to pay
war debts perhaps. 1t means more
and more taxes.
And what does it profit? A good
many men will no doubt make good
use of the money which comes to
them, but for a great many, and that
is especially true in this section
where many negroes were enlisted, it
only means a short period of idleness,
waste, extravaganza and a little
higher crime wave. It may be said
for the whites even that most of the
men are young, unmarried men. They
have not learned to invest, nor to
husband their resources. Many of
them will not be profted by the pay
ment Of the bonus. Perhaps some of
them will be encouraged to become
for a brief period spendthrifts pass
ing their time in idleness. Certainly
that will be true to a large extent
in the larger cities, if it is not true
here at home.
It has always been the policy of
this government to take care of it's
soldiers. The time is coming in the
life of every man who gave of his
services to the country when he may
be called upon to look to the govern
ment for assistance. If that time
comes to a particular soldier, a time
of need, the country will be quick to
respond, we feel sure, and nobody
will ~begrudge to the men who wore
the uniform enough to make them
comfortable. But just now is not the
time to burden the country for the
soldiers who are not in need, who
may find employment, and whose
ob;of roocarn should he. not to get