The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-11-15
SOLDIER noNus INEVITABLE.

si'HE world desires TO confess orror in conucc-
ton with It's well-known position on the
soIdlor bonus Not error IN the position 1t has
consistently maintained respecting the principle
involved but error In tho belief Il has 10 FREE
duentiy expressed that the majority Of tho peo-
pie. and thc soldiers themselves. opposed tho
bonus
rho reoont elections ioave no further room
for question. Not only do the soldiers want tho
bonus, but likewise n majority of the people
have been completely won 20 that side OF the
controversy. Therefore bonus legislation IL In
evitable. II would bo perfectly absurd to ex-
pect politicians TO longer stand out against this
,paternallstc demand. Many men who did so
stand out have been forced 10 walk the plank,
and when n majority OF the electors OF tho
stnte or nation oylnco determination to sub
Ordinate all iasuca and questions to the reali1a-
tlon OF a single purpose, that purpose will he
realized
= The World recognizes that n bonus law must
be enacted by the national congress and prob
ably by the state OF Oklahoma The mere fact
that many states havc enacted such legislation
sweeps away the most effective argument
against such legislation; and the mere fact that
the issue has played such havoc with congress
sional aspirations In many states makes II
practically certain that the congress will become
tss plastic In the hands of the ex-soldier lobby
us II wos in the hands OF the labor oDgarchy
when the Adamson act passed; aH II was
In the hands OF the antl-saloon league whom the
.yolstead act was passed.
snUBIIC opinion is a moving force. II is ir-
J resistible. And our system OF government
loans Itself Admirably to organized movements
lof the nature just described, because there Is
never lacking party, or individuals to grasp
such movements ana ride them into power.
Much might be said concerning tho dangers of
this tendency but It would be ungracious to say
n here
81 In principle tho bonus Is indotensble. II has
,always been so and no amount OF success can
change that ASPECT OF the case. There Is a
tbare chance that the precedent established by
.the bonus will leo 20 Innovations whom tho "eNt
war comes that will overbalance the mBchievous
@vffect OF tho precedent established. In such
eclrcuitous way may be able to again touch
the deep patriotic emotions ot the people.
y It Is not At all difficult to discover the point
In the bonus agitation which has enabled 1t to
override all opposition. while the flower OF
9AmerIcAs young manhood was facing the enemy
In Europe, undergoing tremendous hardships
ana yielding all opportunity NJ hoiHo 'V' "a h''N-
inal stipend, both labor and capital back home
ewerc demonstrating their selfishness and their
superiority over government, had It by tho
Y Throat and were debating terms IN dollars
fnnd cents. The fighting manpowor OF the ma
.ticn made sacrifices, either willingly or through
the force OF government while tho laboring
and the capitalistlc manpower at home em-
brsced opportunity to pile up immoral profits
p Hence the demand. when the mon returned.
Afor adjusted compensation. None OF us could
defend the atrocious practices on the part OF
big business and the labor unions. Nobody
wanted TO defend such things. save the de-
spcable individuals who practced them and
proflted by the practice, When boy who
fought in Flanders for $50 month asked
that some sort OF justlce be done him 80 that
he might realize a litte'of the wonderful pros
perty that flowed to the big business man
who accumulated millions, or the laboring man
who, through the pertldy Of his union and
the suplneness Of the government drew $50
IN wages for a single shor, day, what answer
could be made to such demaud2
tJ'HERE was tho convincing argument one