The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-12-01
CONGRESSMAN AUSTIN
Soldiers Owe Him a Debt Of Gratitude
That Time Cannot Stale Nor Custom
Wlther in a Thousand Years For
His Amendment 10 Double
Their Pay

In the discussion in the 65th Con
gress on the bill to increase the pay
for Soldiers and Sailors, Congress-
man Edward c. Little ofKansas de
ivered a well deserved tribute to
Congressman Richard W, Austin in
his address, as follows:
Mr. Little Mr.. Speaker, the sol
diers of the Republic that go to car
ny the American flag over the Ger
man trenches owe debt Of graft
tude to the Hon, Richard w. Aus
tin, Of Tennessee, that time cannot
stale nor custom wither in thous
and years, He brought in the amend
ment here that gave them a pay that
no soldiers in the world ever receiv
ed before. His name will shine lum
nous in the dark watches Of the
night over the American camps for
century, while these great lead
ers " with records as yet unmade
and these expert statesmen, with
their pruning knives, who seek to
snatch from the fighting mans fin
gers Dick Austin S magnificent gift
are unwept unhonored and I'M
sung
MIR. Austin saidin his address on
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS CIVIL RIGHTS
MIR. Speaker. the pending meas
uae is additional evidence of the de
terminrtion on the part of Congress
to promote and safeguard the inter
est of our patriotic constituents
whose names will be carried on the
imperishable military and naval roll
of the Republic in the great war to
establish lasting peace, to extend
the blessings of liberty, to uphold in
ternational law, to firmly establish
worldwide humanity ane democra
cy, and to maintain and vindicate
for all time the rights of American
citizens throughout the world
No higher honor could fall to the
lot of Member of this House at
this trying time than by speech and
vote to stand for the honor, glory
and defense of our country, ane to
leave nothing undone in the way of
just and generous legislation for the
brave men who will fight on land
and sea beneath our starry flag.
We are Justly proud of the Amer
lean soldier and sailor We heed
no assurance that he will do his full
duty on the other side. He will be
true to the best traditions of those
whose courage and valor fill the
brightest and most enduring pages
in the history of the Republic. We
are determined that our soldier and
sailor boys shall have the best this
great, rich, prosperous country can
afford, that they shall want for moth
ing which the love, labor, and mon
ey of more than l00.000,00O loyal
and grateful American men, wom-
en-, and children can give.
Every Member of this House vot-
ed to double the pay of the sold
iers and sailors A unanimous vote
was cast for the bill to insure the
lives of our heroes. and to provide
for their dependents, and to make
just provisions for those may be in
juled in battle.
This last measure--the bill we are
now considering--to protect the civ
il rights Of those in the military and
naval service of the United States, |
predict will receive the undivided
support of the membership of this
House.
All hail to the brave men who will
constitute our great Navy and our
new Grand Army of the Republic
/ We are honoring ourselves in pas
sing this just, wise, and patiotic leg
lislation in their interest Applause,