White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1924-02-01
BY HINTON D. JONEZ
Commander American Legion
of Washington

BY HINTON D. JONEZ
Commander American Legion
of Washington
Nearly ten years ago. a shot was
fired in Europe that echoed around
the world.
To Americans, it meant simply an
other newspaper story. To Europe,
it meant the beginning Of war.
Not until nearly seven years ago
had Conditions in the European war
reached such a state of international
riot that the government Of the Uni
ted States felt it time to take a hand.
Until seven years ago, the war In
Europe, aside from the munitions
business it produced for this coun
try, did not materially affect the Am
erican people. Europe had been pre-
pairing for war for years; the coun
tries involved had been steadily
building up great war machines out
of their citizens and their industries
duu WIFI Wal ~ oiu NV hAAe
the belligerents unprepared.
But peace for many years had been
the lot of this country. The people
had foreseen no war for themselves
The United States had spent its time
and money in building UP a grea,
commercial and industrial system: II
was prepared to capitalize upon the
war demands of Europe, but 1t was
not prepared to fight any military
battles of its own.
Seven years ago, the American
government found it had exhausted
a maximum of patience In attempting
to protect American rights upon thu
high seas by diplomatic phrase.
The point had been reached where
further talk and written notes wer
futile and nothing but military force
could establish the integrity OF thi
nation.
An Overnight Change
To change, almost overnight,
country of 110,O0O.00O people from
country OF long-established peace t,
one Of war is an immense task.
Industrially, the United States wa
ready for war; but in military sense
the road to war was long uphill
pull.
The only thing the United State
could do, once the step OF war wa
decided upon, was to manufacture
soldiers out OF several millions Of It
civilians. This 1t did.
In a little more than year and
half, our government took out o
civil life about 100000 men-youni
men, many OF them established II
trades, businesses and professions
many still students in schools an
colleges; most of them unmarried
but a good many having others de
pendent in whole or in part upol
them for support.
These 100000 men, all aside from
its soldiers and sailors schooled Il
the fundamentals Of war, constitute,
the new army and navy Of the UNI
ted States for the period OF emer
gency. They were to drill and worl
and fight and kill just the same !,
the skilled soldiers and sailors 9
Europe. For this service they wer
to receive standard base pay q
$50 month.
Thirty dollars a month, less allot
ments to dependent relatives, less In
surance premiums and less othe
items deducted in the course O
events, was what was paid thes
100000
High Civilian wages
At home, the average civilian foun
things different. Work was plent
full, with 100000 men away from
their customary Jobs. Common labo
in many cases brought as high [
wage as was previously paid skillet
labor. The skilled laborer, in hun
dreds Of thousands Of cases, made
more money In two days Of industrial
work than was paid the soldier for
month of fighting in the trenches o
France.
So high were the wages paid Il
the war time industrial plants o
the country that all through the civi
fabric Of employment an effort wa
made to push UP wages and salarie
outside Of industry to keep then
more nearly in proportion. This con
sideration did NOT extend to tn
soldier. He was out there some
where either fighting or getting read.
to fight; he was under military con
troll and had to take what was givel
him, so why worry about him?
We'll do the right thing by hin
when he gets back!" That was tn,
talk. The soldier believed in 1t ant
trusted in It, that when he was pu
back in civil life again, something
would be done for him by a grateful
country to help him catch up will
the rest Of the civil population. Al
1onD az ha waa in fhp army or navy