Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1923-02-24
Retiring, Pacifst ;.
Tells Of Voting
Zero Hour Struck For
, q Hardy When Vote
>. on War Came

y Washington, Feb. 24.--Aero
hour struck for me-a pacifist-
when the question of war with
Germany, came to- vote" said
Representative Rufus Hardy OF
Texas. :
That grave and solemn occa-
SION in the House fhen Congress
men were called upon to tran
slate the will of the people into
lava law that meant certain
death, manning and disease to
thousands, even many of their
own sons-was described today
for the United Press by the scho-
larly old Texan who voluntarily
retires on March 4.
But the "Sage of Corsicana"
goes back to watch the plough
turn his "black wake" acres in
Navarro County with the knowl-
edge that. despite his conviction
of the unrighteousness of wars,
he did not shirk his responsible
Fity when the test came. He told
how the tattle of conscience was
fought and won before, he stood
I'D to be counted ir the presence
of his fellow members and over
flowing galleries.
Born in 1855, Hardy was just
| old enough to have the horrors,
the tragedy and the tears OF the
Civil War imprinted wildly on
lis childish memory. He grew to
manhood amid the strife of re-
construction in East Texas where
the last stand of the "unrecon-
structed rebels" was made a thor
,ugh pacifist as a result of his
experiences.
"Instead of growing up with
the customary boyish desire OF
be a soldier, l had no use for
martial music and clanking sab
ers," said Hardy. 81 was a paci-
list and still am. voted for war,
out / was in a torment coming
to the decision l knew was right.
my vote would have made no
difference in the result. War was
inevitable before the House acted.
President Wilson had asked for
authority and the Senate had al
ready voted it. But the fact that
il required more than II hours
for the House to come to de-
.ision sho"s that other men
were not taking their responsible
Titles lightly.
"From the beginning of the
war, l had opposed America
going in. Just three months be-
fore, | went home and defended
he President for keeping us out
If war. I defended his course all
through the 1916 campaign.
an the meantime, / began to
.tudy the blood and iron philo-
;ophy of Bernhard and Nietsche
and the 'Gott and me- idea of
the Kaiser.
Germany, with her might
makes right policy carried out
through her murderous U-boats,
threatened to tie up our COM
merce and it was evident she
proposed to make the United
States pay indemnity if she was
successor in her war on Great
Britain and France.
eve had been attacked. 1t had
come to point of self-defense
The supreme hour had struck.
"All these things revolved IL
nv mind as the debate grew hot
and furious. The House was in
tumult of emotion. 1t was nearing
three o'clock in the morning, yet
the galleries were packed.
"When my name was called or
that eventful roll call, constrain.
ed against all feeling, l voted
! for war. | did so knowing il
meant the blood Of thousands Of
our dearest sons and the expendi
ture of untold billions in treasure
which would place a burden Of
debt on our people for a hun
bred years. 1t was the biggest
bravst thing I ever did in pub.
4 lie Lee md I nm rnrn,,d of II y