Putnam patriot., 1924-01-25

m lHle. Let us see how some or the stay-at- homes suffered last year from the awful burden of taxation now ex- isting. They spent for
 Soft drinks. including
 ice cream and soda S350.000, 900 Cereal beverages l50,0o0 900 Cigars 5o0.000, 900 Cigarettes 1 500, ,000 ,0o0 Tobacco and snuff s00,O00 900 Automobiles and parts 2,655.000. 900 Pianos, organs. etc. 250,000, 900 Sporting goods 25,000. .000 Chewing gum 50.000. .000 Candy 1000. 900 900 Firearms and shells 50.o00, 900 Electric fans. portable s,000,0O0 Cigar and cigarette holders 3,0OO,0O Liveries, etc. S,OOO,OOO Hunting and shooting
 garments 5000, ,000 Fur articles 300 .00o. .000 Yachts 5000 .000 Toilet soaps, etc. 100. .000. .000 Art works fT,0O0. .000 Carpets. rugs, wearing
 apparel. etc. 1.500. 900 900 Jewelry, watches, etc. 50.000, 1000 Perfumery and cosmetics 750.000 ,000 Admissions and dues s00,000, 900 Ice cream 25o. .00o .o00 Cakes. etc. $50. .000 900 Luxurious services 3,000,000. .000 Luxuries in hotels and
 restaurants 75o. .oo0, ,oOO Luxurious food. etc. 5000. 0.000. 900 Other luxuries--joy rid
 ing, pleasure resorts,
 faces, etc. 5000, ,OOO. 900
 Grand total s24, ,2l9, ,000. 900
 These figures are taken from the reports in the Treasury Department.
 Cut Down Luxuries
 If We were willing to spend l per cent less on these luxuries for the es- tablishment of a bonus fund. if we think we could endure the awful suf- ferings that would result from this economy. we would save S242. l90, 900, considerably more than double the an- nual bonus requirements. The fact IS that no nation in all history has lived as luxuriously and extravagantly as the American people are living today. Luxury and laziness are fast becom- ing habit as fixed as that which has silenced the better angels of our na- ture" in our discussion of the bonus question.
 Peace Still to Be Won
 Moreover the taxes which the Gov ernment collects. though hard to bear, are not to be compared with those that are laid by unintelligent selishness, or. as Mir. Franklin puts it--I trust l may be pardoned for quoting him again-'by pride. folly, and indo- ienee." Our soldiers won the war at least six months ahead of the date set by their most optimistic officers, but the longed-for victory of peace IS still to be won.
 The claim that the ex-soldier will be better off if the bonus is defeated is without foundation. If n single man and he has served one year, he would not be benefited if his income is less than SS.000 a year; if a married man. he would not be benefited if his income is less than Sl0.000 a year.
 The claim put forth by the press, especially the Republican press, that the bonus bill will retard our return to prosperity is generally printed on the same page with the announcement that prosperity has already returned. You can take your choice.
 Examine the Bonus Plank II AiAt AniARiN bA AAAf HHAAAAAHAAA HEt- pers will examine the bonus plank in our last national platform, they will find the following promises
 "We hold in imperishable memory the vaior and patriotism of the soi- diers and sailors of America who fought in the Great War for human liberty. and we pledge ourselves to dis charge to the fullest the obligations which a grateful nation justly should fulfill in appreciation of the services rendered by its defenders on sea and on land"
 Did this declaration. this solemn pledge, mean anything? Does the word justice" when found in a Re publican platform, mean injustice, in- difference, and abuse? I think not, and think time will demonstrate the accuracy of this view. To my mind, the nation which pays a debt of honor which it can well afford to pay will find permanent prosperity much soon CT than the nation which sees nothing in it's civilization but machinery and money. nothing at either end of it's rainbow but the fleshpot.