Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-02-15
The SOLDIERS BONUS.

sion of the proposed soldiers
bonus up to this time, because it is
subject on which it is so easy to
be misunderstood. However, as the.
agitation for its enactment APP
proaches climax, we believe it prop
er to express our views, fully con-
scious that they will not be in accord
with those of a great many other
people.
We do not look with favor upon
the cash bonus regardless of whether
it will upset conditions or not To
us the idea is repugnant to the spirit
of Americansm as we have been
taught it. To our way of thinking
no man should expect special reward
for doing his plain duty, for that is
expected and demanded of EVERY
man in republic: it is not only one
of the prices but one of the greatest
privileges Of freedom.
We are now discussing only the
men who went to war and came back
whole in mind and body and no 9TH
ers. What shall we say of them?
Why should they be paid bonus,
or adjusted compensation" as they
prefer to term it? Were they SO un-
fortunate? Did they actually lose
anything? Is a single one of them
worse off for his experience, poorer
in knowledge, vigor or ability, than
if he had remained at home? Posi-
bly, some of them are poorer in this
worlds goods-and possibly not.
Those who would have been profiteers
had they remained at home probably
now have less than they might have
had; those who would not have been
profiteers would be no better off
than they are today. For while for
tunes were made by thousands from
the war, it is equally true that there
were millions of others who remain
ed at home who toiled day by day for
big wages that bought little, and who
were able to lay nothing by. For
few of them, when all is said, receiv-
ed for their labors more than
the private soldiers who got his sub
sistence, his clothing, and little cash
on the side. True, they missed the
hardships and the dangers, but they
also missed the travels and expert
ences, and the adventures which few
ex-doughboys now would swap for the
bonus or many times the sum it is
suggested they handed them.
And, again, why should those who
were called into the service, many of
them against their particular desires
be compensated any more than 9th.
ers who for reason of age or other
disability desired to enter the service
but could not, or who, possessed OF
the same patriotism and same loyal
ty to home and country, would have
gone had they been called? For
millions it was a throw of the dice
turn of fate. If patriotism is to
be rewarded, we cannot in fairness
stop with those who went and ex-
clude those who desired to go but
could not.
But as to the wounded, the sick, the
infirm-the derelicts Of war. We
can never, do enough for them. They
went and they. PAID, and it is our
duty as nation to make every rep.
aration to them humanity possible tc
make, for never can complete repara.
tion be made. That, as we see it, is
our governments first duty and
greatest duty-a duty which has been
attempted but which has not yet
been effectively performed.
God knows we mean no injustice
to the ex-service man. We respect
him and revere him and honor the
service he performed. We would
perpetUate those honors, and in addi-
tion would show him every favor pos.
sible to show him to prove our graft.
tude. We would see him given the
preference whenever one of his num-
Der is out of a job and there is q
job to be filled; we would see him
given special privileges apd facili
ties to find a home on undeyelopec
government lands which would be
better put under the pillow than lying
idle; we would see him given every