Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-02-22

Editor: Every Evening Tho most
extensive campaign In the history OF
our country la now being waged
against the passage OF the Soldiers
Compensation, or so-called Bonus Dill, |
In an earnest endeayor to befog this
Just obligation by picturing before
the public eye q Gibralter OF taxes,
which the business men OF our coun-
try claim Will cripple business forever,
while politicians on the other side
arc trying 70 turn public opinion against
the bonus by picturing the soldier and
sailor as n bargainer In patriotism. Be
ling veteran myself, / consider 1t
my duty to comment on same, in an
| endeavor to prove the merits Of this
obligation, and 10 deny the charge that
the veterans are selling their patriot
ism. Such propaganda has a tendency
10 degrade the soldiers and sailors in
the public eye. and It is a great pity
that such opposition has been waged.
In America, the richest and greatest
country in the world, In view of the
fact that England, France, Italy, Can
ada and Australia have ell given liberal
bonuses or compensations to their vet
Grams.
Some newspapers and politicians
claim that nearly every man who was
not In .the army or navy during the
War made almost as many sacrlflces.
and encountered as many hardships
, as the veteran and they are not asking
for a bonus. When It comes to politics,
their howery. dewdrop, honey kissed,
, bubbling brook phrases. shine, we must
concede, but when u comes TO war in
reality. with It's hell and nerve-wreck-
ling agonies, II takes n soldier who
was an eye witnes on No Mans
Land TO describe same.
How many men working in ship
. yard or munition factory, making from
five to twenty dollars a day, went three
, months without bath?
How many men have heard thou.
: sands of cannon roaring all the time
! with the increased noise caused by th'
explosion Of the huge proJectiles, ma
: chine guns, etc?
. How many men have heard the erie
= and moaning of wounded comrade
/ and seen the mangled bodies. legs
. arms. heads, teeth, etc, everywhere
The battle In raging, the whole eartl
: Is trembling; II is raining in torrent
n and you are standing In blood-staine'
:. water up to your waist. cold and shiv
4 ering. "Cooties" are eating you up, an
n the order comes TO advance. You ar
e worn out, nerve wrecked, and dis
n gusted. when you plunge into SIX.
4 of flaming red, curtain OF fire Wit
n only one thought, my all for Arneri
e ca Yes, that is patriotism, and 1 wi
q defy any man to say that ahy soldie
st would try to sell same.
"A The veterans are not asking 70
), sympathy, nor a bonus. as paymer
: for their valor and sacrifices, but onl
=, for a square deal. Several hundre
:. thousands are out of work at III
:, 7, present time. with not a ray OF sur
=. light. Many OF these men, when the
- returned TO civilian life, had increase
l in weight and physique, due TO the
% service, and the only clothes ths
Vi would fit them was a necktie, ar
D. the small sum OF sixty dollars at tn;
time would hardly buy suit.
ar The adjusted compensation is mer'
to ly a means of helping the soldier
ne get on his feet and overcome the
is nancial loss due 10 his service, and ii
at spire him with the feeling that Ane
nd lea is grateful for his sacrifices; al
ne In. so doing, they will feel that Il
be saying which was heard by everyol
ss. during the war days; go 10 it, boy
nothing is too good for you when "
return" has at last come true.
VIII America turn the saviors
their country down. or will they cor
pensate them? The soldiers are figh
ing again, In a different way, but T
. just as honorable a cause.
The profiteers and slackers are a
- vancing against us; they have throN
-" up their smoke screen, a barrage
gas is creeping upon US. Morally
ne are strong. financially We are wes
ke' every odd is against us, but right "
I'm always win.
The soldiers have sown seeds of VI
Tho or and may God allow them to re
the benefits of a square deal.
John l.. Mcdaniel, Jr.,
all Ex-Overseas, Veteran.
Wilmington February 21 1922.