Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-02-25
WASHINGTON
DAY BY DAY

Carter Glass, of Virginia, in letter
addressed to one of his constituents
under date of February II and made
public today, outlines his views con
cerning the soldiers bonus. The ju-
nior Senator from the Old Dominion
in no unmistakable terms, makes
clear his attitude concerning this
problem now troubling Republican
leaders.
In his letter to his constituent
whose name is withheld, Senator
Glass says:
'Responding to yours Of February
Id, | desire to say that ! have not
changed my attitude on the question
of an indiscriminate cash bonus for
ex-service men and shall be COM
PEELED to vote against the PROPOSE
tion should it be presented to the
Senate.
You are quite mistaken in the
supposition that in voting as | in
tend to vote | vii! violate any cam
paign PROMISES When | was Secre-
tary of the Treasury, some while be-
fore ! became a United States Sena.
tor, went before the Committees of
Congress and distinctly avowed my
opposition to the bonus proposition;
hence | was appointed and subse-
ouently elected to the Senate with a
full understanding of my position by
the people of Virginia. In addition
to this, ! personally wrote and stood
on the Virginia state platform of
my party which explicitly deplored.
"Stimulated efforts to fasten fur
ther oppressive burdens upon the tax
payers of the country by enormous
bond issues or consumption tax lev
les to give an indiscriminate cash
bonus to enlisted men. thousands of
whom themselves repel the idea Of
having their unselfish service ap>
praised in terms of pecuniary re-
ward
"Moreover, ! personally wrote and
stood on the provision of my party's
platform adopted at San Francisco,
which declared that
"The fine patriotism exhibited, the
heroic conduct displayed by American
soldiers, sailors and marines, at
home and abroad, constitute sacred
heritage of posterity, the worth of
which can never be recompensed
from the Treasury"
"Thus, however. perverse my
course may seem. you must admit
that you are distressingly wrong
concerning the circumstances when
you threateningly assert that | will
violate campaign promises when |
refuse, as undoubtedly snail, 20 vote
for the bonus bill.
"You are quite as completely mis-
taken in your suppoSltlon that ] was
sent to the Senate to act as sound
ing board for any class Of citizens
which may assert or imagine that 1t
constitutes majority of the people
of Virginia 1t is my conception that
I was sent here to represent sover-
eign state to the best Of my ability
according to my judgment and con-
science. and not to trim sails to catch
the shifting winds of popular favor.
do not have to stay in the Senate;
but as long as am here ] shall have
regard for my intellectual integrity
and retain my self respect.
81 know perfectly well that in vot
ing as I purpose to vote ! will incur
the incurable dislike of some eX>
service men; but prefer to believe
that there also were soldiers of a diff
fercnt 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 adherng to my convIc>
ti0ns.
at all events, and whatever be-
sides, ! shall not vote for a blI;
which, in my judgment, would be
ruinous to the country, embracing
in its evil effects and numbering
among its victims the eX-service men
along with the rest And you may
be sure that / am cheerfuly willing to
accept the consequences Of doing
what | think is right; likewise you
may be certain that | have no objcc-
tion to the suggestion that my views,
in conjunction with your own, be
published in any paper to which you
may get access. Regretting that ]
cannot see the thing as you do, be-
live me,
Sincerely yours,