River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1923-12-20

w Hiie III tle SeAihPo w pew s--N'
one dollar day and while fighting
in the trenches and sleeping in mud,
We paid them the munificent sum Of
one dollar and ten cents day.
The soldier did not complain Tor
would he complain had he received
no pay. He was working and fight
ing for the honor, and in defense Of
his country, and that was all the pay
ne asked or expected.
ut seems but yesterday they ven
tured forth,
Boys from the east, the west, the
south, the north,
They fought besides the British and
the French,
And held their ground in many
bloody trench,
And when the swift word came.
Advance
Over the top they went thru waves
of flame,
Fearless, reckless, irresistible, their
rush was never stayed,
Until the foe fell back defeated and
dismayed.
"Then home again our heroes come,
o, welcome them with bugles and
and with drum"
But alas. the kind of welcome that
awaited them.
We worshiped them as heroes when
they went away, and treated them
like tramps when they came back.
They expected to get back the posi-
tions they occupied before leaving
and which were promised to them,
but on their return they found these
positions filled by stay-at-homes, who
were dressed in purple and fine linen,
sleeping in comfortable beds and re.
ceiving ten times the remuneration
from our Government that the Sold
iers received fighting in the trenches.
They found that during their abb
sences, $4,000 new millicnaires had
been created through excess profits
on war material. That even the
Draft Boards had been raking in
thousands of dollars for III Ir services
while occupying. swivel-chair posi-
si3ns in our county offices.
! am pleased to learn, however,
II at this does not apply to st. Croix
or Pierce Counties.
They also foand the Civil Service
p II ns, which by .Is!,l of law be-
longed to them, filled with polite
al gad-fy's and ward politicians ard
the soldier was told to keep off the
grass"
Under these conditions, how can we
blame the soldiers for wanting some
readjustment of compensation, some
recognition of his sacrifices, or is It
contrary to the dictates of national
honor for him to do SO?
On the other hand, would he not be
more than human if he failed to do
so?
The responsible leaders of our
dominant political parties have adj
vocated the adjusted Compensation
Act" with tongue and pen. II has al
ready passed both houses of Congress
almost unanimously and was only
vetoed by President Harding because
it lacked a certain provision.
If this does not constitute a pro-
mise and a national obligation, what
does-if its reputation does not con-
stitute breech of good faith, what
would?
According to the figures prepared
by the treasury department., 10 pay the
soldiers will cost US 242,00O,OO0 dol
lars for the first three years. an
average of about 80,000,000 dollars
year, a sum less than the amount the
war profteers will receive in reduced
taxes under the Mellon plan. He
to reduce their taxes 3d.
UOO,OOU year lOI OH UNIT W
come. Of course he says the million
aires will allow the benefits to seep
to the consum r, but the con-
sumner remembers how the Sugar
Trust did the seeping last winter,
so he is not apt to fall for that kind
of logic again.
The fight against this measure is
chiefly confined to the proiteers
who can hire the ablest writers in
the land to advocate their cause.
They have the swag and they want
to keep it.
They should pay their just share
of the taxes and if they do so, we
can reduce the taxes or people who
are least able to pay them and we
can also pay the soldiers the wages
we honestly owe him.
think Congress will do the right
thing this winter.