The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1922-03-02
REPRISAL THREAT
DRAWS CLASS'S FIRE
VIRGINIA SENATOR TELLS WAR
VETERAN HE WILL NOT
TRIM SAILS

A special dlSpaCcn lroin "aHiiiS
ton to the New York Herald, Feb
ruary "a says:
Senator Carter Glass of Virginia,
who as secretary of the treasury dur
ing the Wilson administration, de-
clared himself opposed to any bonus
raid on the national finances, empha-
sized his objections to it today in a
most vigorous manner.
In replying to a letter threatening
him with political reprisals, the sena-
tor practically invited the writer ian
ex-service man) to do his worst. The
reply of the Virginia senator, who IS
distinguished for speaking his mind
REGARDLESS of the consequences, is re-
earded as a classic of its kind.
Without wasting any time arguing,
Senator Glass informed his fellow
citizen that he was not afraid OF po-
Itical threats and would follow his
own judgment in performing his sena-
torial duties.
"You are quite mistaken in the
supposition that in voting as intend
to VOTE" says the senator, 81 will
violate any campaign promise.
When l was secretary and treasury
sone while before l became a United
States senator / went before the COM
rni4tees of congress and distinctly
avowed my opposition to the bonus
proposition; hence, I was appointed
and subsequently elected to the SEN
ate, with the full understanding OF
my position by the people Of Vir-
ginia.
"In addition to this l personally
wrote and stood on the Virginia state
platform of my party, which ex-
plcitely deplored stimulated efforts
to fasten further oppressive burdens
upon the taxpayers of the country by
an enormous bond issue or consump-
ton tax levies to give an indiscrim-
mate cash bonus to enlisted men,
thousands of whom themselves re-
peIled the idea of having their un-
selfish service appraised m rerms OF
pe:uniary reward"
Senator Glass also called the at
tention of his correspondent to the
Democratic platform adopted at San
Francisco which declared that "the
fine patriotism exhibited, the heroic
conduct displayed by American SOL
diers, sailors and marines at home
and abroad constitute second herit-
age of posterity, the worth Of which
can never be recompensed from the
treasury"
Regarding his decision to continue
in opposition to the bonus, the SEN
ator says:
"Thus, however, perverse my course
may seem, you must admit that you
are distressingly wrong concerning
the circumstances when you threaten
inQly assert that / will violate cam
paign promises when / refuse, as l
undoubtedly shall, to vote for the
bonus bill.
'You are quite as completely mis-
taken in your supposition that 1 was
sent to the senate to act as sound
ing board for any class of citizens
which may assert, or imagine
that it constitutes a majority of the
people of Virginia. 1t is my concep-
ton that I was sent here to repre-
sent a sovereign state to the best of
my ability, according to my Judgment
ard conscience, and not to trim sails
to catch the shifting winds of popu-
lar favor. I do not have to stay
IL the senate; but as long as l am
here l shall have regard for my in
tellectual integrity and retain my
selfrespect. !
81 know perfectly well that in
voting as I propose to vote I will in
cur the incurable dislike of some ex-
service men, but I prefer to believe
that there also were soldiers Of a
different sort in the ranks of those
splendid men who went across the
seas to fight for American ideals
Of liberty, and these will not think
less of me for adhering to my con-
victions.
"At all events, and whatever beside,
I shall not vote for bill which, in
MY Judgment, would be ruinous to
the country, embracing in its evil
effects and numbering among its vic
TINS the ex-service men along with
the rest. And you may be sure that
/ am cheerfully willing to accept the
consequences of doing what I think
is right; likewise you may be certain
that I have no objection to the sug-
eestion that my views, in conjunction
v,.h your own, be published in any