Evening star., 1922-02-20
RECTOR OPPOSES
SOLDIERS BONUS
Rev. DR.. Stires Says Ex-
Service Men Deserve Better
Fate Than Bribe.

The soldiers bonus plan by sales tax
or even by bond issue was criticised
by Rev. DR.. Ernest NJ Stires, rector of
st. Thomas Episcopal Church, New
York city. in his sermon at memorial
| exercises commemorating the birth of
George Washington. under the aus
pices Of the Sons of the Revolution
yesterday afternoon at the Church of
the Epiphany.
DIR. Stires told of the drafting of
the world war, how they went to
Europe and fought, and then returned
to this country.
"The men returned, in many cases
to find their former places filed" he
continued. while they were hunting
extravaganza in the life around them.
They had many disappointing, irritat-
ing experiences. With increasing in
sistence they demanded what has
come to be called a bonus They
have listened to speeches by good
demagogues. AS they do not know
who can be believed. they have main
tained their demands. Take them all
in all, they are as just and intelligent
as they are brave. and they are not
excelled in these qualities by any
similar body Of men in the world.
Why do we not tell them the truth;
why net show respect for their heads
and their hearts?
Deserve Better Fate Than Brfbe.
''The men who offered their lives for
us deserve better fate than to be
bribed. cajoled and exploited for
political purposes. The men who al
when food could not reach them and
yet had the courage to go over the
top. driving back a powerful foe, and
ingeniously exercising initiative
which disturbed and broke the
enemy's morale-these men may be
trusted for intelligence and patriot
ism. All thoughtful men know that a
substantial bonus cannot be provided
at present by taxation without peril
to the countrys very moderate pros
perity. They know such taxation Will
increase unemployment and bring
widespread suffering. The resulting
criticism would be shifted by poll
ticians IL possible to the shoulders of
the service men. No one who honors
them wishes to contemplate the loss
of any of the honor which should be
theirs forever.
Similar difficulties beset the pro-
posal to meet the situation with
bond issue. Let us tell these men the
whole truth of the way in which the
payment of a bonus at present will
the slowly returning prosperity; the
new enterprises waiting good
chance to start; the old enterprises
waiting a favorable opportunity to
begin again.
Will Find Loyal Answer.
Let trustworthy people make this
plain to them and you will find them
answering with a generous loyalty.
complete cooperation which will
amaze the moral skeptics. Washing
ton himself would tell us that he
never led finer men than these, and
1 think he would appeal to us to tell
them the truth and trust them. Mean
while, the rest of the people are not
deceived. and they will know how to
deal with leaders who lack patriotism
and sincerity"
The services were carried out along
the lines planned by the late Rev.
Randolph H. McKim, who was for
many years chaplain of the District
chapter.
The services were conducted by
Rev. Canon William Tayloe Enyder.
chaplain of the Sons of the Revolu-
ton, who was assisted by Rev. g. c.
F. Bratenahl. dean of the Washing
ton Cathedral; Rev. Thomas Edward
Green of the American Red Cross and
Rev. DIR. James f. Freeman, rector
of the Church of the Epiphany.