THE DISREGARD OF SELF
I feel almost as if the next matter under discussion should have not
only a special chapter devoted to it but be printed in large type and
in distinctive ink, for I do not believe that anything so thoroughly
gave evidence of the utter disregard of self in the Legion as did the
flat refusal of the delegates to tolerate what has been called in some
quarters, the "Pay Grab."
The minutes read:
SECRETARY WOOD (Reading): "ADDITIONAL PAY FOR ENLISTED MEN."
"WHEREAS, the financial sacrifice of the enlisted persons in the
military and naval service of the United States in the world war was
altogether in excess of that of any other class of our citizenship,
and
"WHEREAS, the great majority of these persons left lucrative
employment upon joining the colors, and
"WHEREAS, this direct financial sacrifice was made at a time when
men, many of them aliens who thrived in safety at home, were enjoying
the advantages of an exceptionally high war wage, and
"WHEREAS, the service which involved this sacrifice was a Federal
service in defense of our national honor and national security,
therefore be it
"RESOLVED: That the delegates to this caucus of those who served with
the colors in the world war urge upon the members of the 66th Congress
the justice and propriety of appropriating a sufficient sum from the
National Treasury to pay every person who served in the enlisted
personnel in the military or naval service for a period of at least
six months between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, six months
additional pay at the rate of $30.00 a month, and to those persons who
served less than six months' in the military or naval service between
April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, the sum of $15.00 per month for
each month so served. This bonus to be in addition to any pay or bonus
previously granted or authorized and to be paid upon and subject to
the honorable discharge of any such person."
MR. KNOX: "Mr. Chairman, I move the adoption of the resolution as
read."
The motion was seconded.
MR. MCGRATH (New Jersey): "I served in the navy, and I simply want to
call attention to the fact that this resolution says that the money
shall be paid upon the honorable discharge of the soldiers and
sailors, but in the navy we are only released from active duty and I
will not be discharged for three years, neither will any of the other
three hundred thousand naval reserves. I therefore move that the
resolution be amended to say that so far as the navy is concerned that
the money shall be paid upon their release from active duty or their
honorable discharge."
The committee accepted the amendment.
THE CHAIRMAN: "Before I put this motion I want to make this suggestion
to you, that this is a pretty serious matter that you are considering.
It is for this caucus, of course, in its wisdom to determine that
which it wants to do, but up to this time, it has assumed continuously
a most splendidly high and patriotic and unselfish attitude toward
this whole question. It has dealt immediately and fairly and
positively with regard to employment problems, but I suggest to you
that we ought to consider very carefully whether we want to go on
record as a caucus, as provided in this resolution, and I would prefer
not to put the question until you have considered it further."
The action of the caucus was foreshadowed by the applause which it
gave to Colonel Lindsley's caution. Fully a half dozen men jumped to
their feet and waved their hands wildly demanding recognition.
Colonel Roosevelt arose from his seat with the New York delegation,
and Chairman Lindsley recognized him.
"Gentlemen, I want to draw your attention to one feature of this
question," he said. The Colonel spoke very deliberately and very
distinctly, reminding a great many of his auditors of his father
because of the way he snapped his words out. "I heartily agree with
what the chair has said so far. I want you to get this particular
reaction on the matter and I want to relate to you a little incident
that happened coming out on the train from New York. One of the
delegates on the same train with me said that the conductor stopped
and talked to him and among other things said, 'Young Teddy Roosevelt
is up ahead. He's going out to St. Louis to try to get some of the
soldiers together to sandbag something out of the Government!'
_Sandbag something out of the Government!_" The young Colonel's frame
shook with emotion as he repeated that sentence. "Do you men get the
idea of what he thought we were trying to do? We want everything that
is right for us to have, but we are not going to try to sandbag the
Government _out_ of anything; primarily we are going to try to put
something _into_ the Government. In thinking over this resolution
think of that."
[Illustration: Fred Humphrey of New Mexico
A Vice-Chairman.]
[Illustration: Private V.C. Calhoun, of Connecticut and the Marine
Corps.
He is a Vice-Chairman.]
The cheer which greeted this suggestion was so resounding and the
opinion of the caucus so positive on this question that Mr. Gordon of
Connecticut, a member of the committee that framed the resolution,
moved that it should be laid on the table.
The thunderous "Aye" which tabled this resolution might well be
recorded in letters of gold.
It showed the utter unselfishness of the American doughboy, gob, and
leatherneck. He had followed Colonel Roosevelt's advice: he refused to
sandbag the Government out of anything, and this action gives the best
possible basis for the procedure to put something into the Government.
In view of the action of certain newspapers, organizations, and
individuals in advocating that six months' pay should be given to the
returned service man, I wonder if there are not still a great many of
them who are still puzzled over why the Legion refused to endorse this
movement. There must be scores of them, dozens of them who were not
present at the St. Louis Caucus, to catch its spirit and who have not
carefully considered just what impression such a demand on the part of
former soldiers, sailors, and marines would create on the rest of the
country.
Why shouldn't six months' pay be given to every man who did his bit in
the war with Germany? In the first place, these men who have returned
from the war have begotten for themselves the utmost respect and
affection from those who could not go. The civilian forms the majority
of our people. Because of the esteem before-mentioned, he is willing
to grant almost anything _within reason_ to the service man who risked
so much in defense of the country. It is to the interest of the
service man to make the civilian population feel that he does not want
to get something for nothing but that, rather, he would still prefer
to give his best to the country in peaceful times in the same spirit
that he manifested in war times--an utter disregard of self.
Had the Legion endorsed this resolution, the general consensus would
have been, "There are the soldiers getting together to make demands.
Their organization is nothing more or less than an association formed
to get something out of the Treasury." Therefore, when the service
men, as a unit, came to demand something vitally necessary for the
good of the country, it is possible that they might be answered: "We
have paid you in money and have your receipt and that will be all for
you."
This Legion can, must, and will be an inspiration and a guiding spirit
because it is composed of men who have been willing to sacrifice self
for the good of the country. For that they have obtained the
affection of their world and just so long as they are willing to
continue to manifest that spirit will they retain that affection.