The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-17
VETERANS STAADl|
 FOR UNDERWOOD
Selma Ex-Service Men Declare Him Hope Of Democratic
 Party

Aedeeu wire. J--Elghty-SlX eX-Serv1ce men of Dallas county addressed an open letter today to Senator Oscar w. Un- derwood in which they gave their pledge of unqualified support in his campaign for the democratic nomination for presi- dent of the United States. Although no reference was made to the activities of another candidate, it is known that the letter resuluted from an appeal made by Bibb Graves of Montgomery in the interest of l.. B. Musgrove. In the let ter of Mir. Graves reference was made to Senator Underwood's opposition to the bonus for ex-service men.
 We don't expect our views to coin eide on every question and by the same token we will not allow one issue on which we happen to differ to cause us to forsake your standard for that of a less worthy candidate" said the let ter. We know that your heart beats warm for the American soldier and that you will always be his friend and that you are too big and too honest to blind him with promises that you know cannot be carried out. We honor you for your honesty"
 The letter of the ex-service men fol lows: 5 Sst.e
 Support Pledged c
 ''The undersigned soldiers of the late World war, residing in Dallas county, Alabama, take this occasion to pledge you our unqualified support for the high position of president of the United States and acknowledge the great debt which our country owes you for the invaluable service which you have rendered the nation in its trying periods during the past two decades and par ticularly for the services you rendered our country during the great World war. Due to your long experience, to your foresight and to your uunswerv- ing loyalty to our country we feel deeply indebted to you that America was able to play the decisive part that she did play in the most critical period of the World wars history.
 There are certain supporters of op- posing candidates, who, out of their zeal for their candidate and without thought for the good of the soldiers who an swered their country's call, but with the sole effort of. appealing to their passion for the purpose of having them vote for their candidate, have attempt ed, by circular letters and otherwise, to enlist these soldiers against you and thereby cause them to turn their backs on one who has been their loyal friend.
 Brand Efforts As Unworthy
 We brand such efforts as unworthy of the high ideals held by those who in time of war were ready to lay down their lives for their country and who, in times of peace, refuse to allow them selves to be blinded to the best interest of their country by those who would, through ulterior motives. enlist their support for mere political reasons.
 We don't expect our views to coin eide on every question and, by the same token, we will not allow one issue on which we may happen to differ, cause us to forsake your standard for that of less worthy candidate. We know that your heart beats warm for the American soldier, and that you will al- ways be his friend, and that you are too big and too honest to blind him with promises that you know cannot be carried out. We honor you for your honesty.
 'In the same class of petty politics is the recent attack of the so-called fellowship forum in its political effort to influence the Masonic vote against you All well informed Masons know that you are thirty-third degree Mason in good standing and that you are lin- faltering in your loyalty to Masonry and its noble ideals-ideals which brand as a dastardly blow below, the belt, this misleading and abortive effort of the fellowship forum" to estrange your brother Masons.
 We recognize in you a man to whom, without regard to petty politics or po- itical parties, the country has in- stinctively turned in its most critical period and, as fellow Alabamians, we glory in the fact that throughout the years of your political experience, as a party leader and subjected to every test, there is not one spot to besmirch your character or reputation, personal or political, and, that you have never been weighed in the balance and found wanting. -S :4
 We believe that you are the hope of the democratic party in the next presidential election."f
 Those who signed the letter were: T. D. Craig, G.. c. Blanton, Bruce K. Craig, Victor B. Atkins, E. R. Childers, H. H. Frasier, M. E. Thrash, E., H. Hobbs, c. Smith Robbins, D. HyLloyd, B. E. Siegel, Erie Childers, Edgar F. Russell, J. H. Poulsen, E.. s. Robert son, Milton l.. Wood. A. H. Mitchell, l.. Rowan, s. D. Brice, J. Lilienthal, H. E.
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