The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-07-13
Fighting Congressman
From South Carolina


F. Byrnes until the latter part of
1921 at the hearings before Special
Joint Committee appointed by con-
gress to revise the pay schedule of
the personnel of all the military ser
vices. However, before the hearings
had been underway many days, it
was evident that Congressman
Byrnes was one of the live mem bers
of the committee and a gentleman
who insisted on getting at the bot
tom of everything pertaining to the
pay of the service. When one gets
at the bottom of any subject at the
capitol, one is bound to protect the
treasury of the United States and, at
the same time, be just to those con-
cerned in the appropriation request
ed. In the opinion of the writer, Mr..
Byrnes is an ideal congressman, as he
guards the treasury without practic-
ing parsimony, is fair and just in
every question before the house OF
representatives and can fight like
the very devil" when either favorlng
or opposing bill.
1t was worth a great deal to be
present in the gallery Of the house
of representatives and listen to Mr..
Byrnes fight for the pay roll that re-
Gently passed congress end which
awarded all hands a satisfactory pay
per month. Shooting home points and
replying to questions puS forth by
those opposing the bill, he was never
at loss for a proper and telling re-
ply. He knew his subJec: from A TO
and knowing the subject counts
heavily in winning a tight in con-
gress. E'ut big red mark to the
credit OF Mr.. Byrnes in your book CT
good deeds, for without his pep and
fighting spirit, it is doubtful if the
pay bill for the military services
would have gotten by the house, es-
pecially the final recommendations
of the conference. Furthermore,
another big red mark can be credited
to Mr.. Byrnes in connection with the
pay bill when shat bill went to con-
ference between the house and SEN
ate. The writer has learned that
two of the five house conferences
were for making a favorable report
on the bill and two were not. That
left Mr.. Byrnes with the deciding
vote and he voted for favorable re-
port. We certainly must hand the
palm of the Fighting Congressman
from South Carolina" whenever he
line up at the pay window and draw
down our semi-monthly stipend.
AS a representative of the enlisted
men of the navy before congressional
committees for the past few years,
the writer naturally learned "Who
Is Who" when it comes down to
knowing the champions of the mill
tary personnel. There are many
champions of the enlisted men, it is
true, but Mr.. Byrnes stands out with
the best of them. To be real cham
pion, one must always be on the JOB
and the gentleman from South Caro-
lima was on the job day and night.
The best part of it is that when ON
the Job, he was socking home points
for those men now in the military ser
vice and those who did their "olt
during the recent war. To sock home
a point, one must have the attention
of the members of the house, else a
speech chuck full of good points will
be lost on those who are to vote "yes"
or mo" on the question before the
house. When Mr.. Byrnes has the
floor of the house, he receives the at
tention of every member present for
the simple reason that the members
know his speech is instructive and to
the point. +
The writer knows nothing about
the congressional district, but will
wager that when Mr.. Byrnes went
after anything for the good of his
district he did not lose out.
The enlisted men in the navy and
the fleet naval reserve are indeed
grateful to Mr.. Byrnes for the Won
derful work he has done for them.
In fact, any officer or man who has
ever served in any military branch
Of this government can bank on Mr..
Byrnes taking an active interest. for
he has truly shown himself friend
of those in uniform.-Chief Yeoman
R. W. White, U. S. N. R. F., in Our
Navy.