Putnam patriot., 1924-01-25
SENATOR MCLEAN ON THE BONUS
 Requests Patriot to Print In Full His Speech Bill In SenaeIs For Tax Cut But Says We Are Richest Nation In the World and Can Pay ex-Service Men.

would have met the common lot with out complaint. But 1t appears that our wealth as Nation during and since the war has been greatly in- creased. Therefore the only question involved in this controversy is. Can we justly ask the soldier to risk more than his life in defense of his country 2 In other words, the question is not what the ex-serviee men want us to do. but what we in our great abundance ought to want to do for them. We are the richest Nation on earth today, our wealth exceeds $500, 900 .000. .000. Are We justified in taking the poor debt or's oath to avoid paying S2 day to the men who saved the country from political, industrial, and moral bank ruptcy? If we pay them $2 or S2.25 a day, shall we destroy their patriot ism or their sense of duty to their country. of which country we consti- tute 97 per cent? Can we expect to swell the chorus of the Union" by touching with the chilly fingers of ac- emulation the cords of memory which lead to our battle fields?
 Today We want our taxes reduced {; mat Is 0dNu1dl- it uotS tfut Ndht ait Isaiah to foretell the popularity of a proposal to reduce taxes. But l do not forget that six years ago We want ed the German Army reduced, and we wanted 1t reduced in a hurry. We raised a great army; the cost was great: the issue was in doubt. Some thing might have happened; some ter rible engine of destruction. some chem ical surprise might have visited our Army and left us at the mercy of the enemy. Tribute might have been ex- acted as the price of peace that would have left us poor-poor in spirit and in purse-in which event such thing as adjusted compensation never would have been thought of. But l repeat, under existing conditions. what ex- euse have we for denouncing our brave soldiers as raiders and looters because their friends call our attention to the fact that We reduced their pay while they were reducing the German Army and the stay-at-homes had their wages increased? Why should we treat the soldier with less consideration than we do our peace officers? We do not dock a policeman's pay because his service may cost him his life if he does his duty at all times.
 Common Orders in Next War
 If another war should come-whieh God forbid everybody and everything should be called to the service under the same interpretation of duty. Rich and poor, at home or in the Army. should be under common orders to work or fight as necessity may de- mand. This habit once contracted by the peoples of the earth would soon make an end to war. Everybody then would be able to see that wars do not pay and act accordingly. The fact that we did not do this in the last war does not excuse us from recognizing and paying a just debt if we can af- ford to pay 1t.
 For Those Who Die
 On Armistice Day l went to a neigh boring city, and the experience was most reassuring. Youth was shouting for Joy. and tears were running down the cheeks of the aged. including my own I did not think at the time that they were crocodile tears, and l do not think s0 now short time ago we buried an unknown soldier at Airing ton. < ceremony more impressive in it's solemn expression of a nations un- dying gratitude was never witnessed.