The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-09-21
PRESIDENT ASKS
UNITED HELP OF
AMERICAN LEGION
Tells Veterans They Can Aid
Nation by Opposing Raids
on Treasury
SEES NEED FOR COURAGE
Expresses Opposition to Bonus
Legislation and Unsett|ing
influences

before the national convention Of the
American Legion here today. Presi-
dent Hoover said In part:
MY fellow countrymen Of the
American Legion:
1T Is . pleasure to accept the in
Wtation Of your commander to At
tend your convention. I am led to
do 30 at . time Of most pressing pub
lie duties because I wish to lay frank
~ before you important facts which
I am sure you will wish to have, and
I wish to point to an opportunity Of
service which you can give. not alone
to your members, but to the country
at large.
II need not recount that the world
is passing through q great depression
fraught with grueling daily emery
encies alike to men and to govern
ments. This depression today flows
largely from Europe Through the
fundamental locations Of economic
and political forces caused by the
great war, in which your service
brought bloodslaed to an end and gave
hope Of reconstruction to the world.
World Looks to America
"Our economic strength Is such
that w would have recovered long
since but for these forces from
abroad. Recovery OF the world now
rests and awaits In no small degree
upon our country, the United States
Of America. Some Individuals may
have lost their nerve and faith, but
the real American people are digging
themselves out with industry and
courage. We have the elf-coutain-
ment, the resources, the manhood,
the Intelligence and by united action
we will lead the world In recovery.
1.-THE American Legion, born Of
world emergency. Yields q great in
fluence throughout country be-
cause it speaks for q generation
which has proved its citizenship by
Offering its all to its country.
"You r aware that during the
past year u national expenditures
have exceeded U income. Today the
national govrnment Is faced with an
other large deficit in its budget.
There Is a decrease In the annual
yield Of income taxes alone from g.
400, 900 900 in the years Of prosperity
to only l 1900, 900 900 today.
I'm these circumstances, I am d.
recting. the most drastic economy in
every non-vital branch Of govern
rnent. yet the essential services must
be maintained.
DO Not BE Misled'
whatever the Arguments made,
do not be misled by those who say
that we need only to tax the rich
to secure the funds We need. we
must face the absolute fact that the
rich can be taxed to the point Of
diminishing returns and still tho de-
ficit In ordinary and necessary
expenditures would not be covered
even upon q basis Of the utmost
economy. Make no mistake; In these
circumstances 1t Is those who work
In the fields, at the bench and desk
who woull be forced to carry an
added burden for every added cent
to VI expenditures.
Whatever the deficit may be and
IN whatever manner 1t may ultimate
" Be met, every additional expendi-
ture placed upon our government In
this emergency magnifies itself out
Of all proportion into intolerable pres
sures, whether 1t Is by taxation or by
loans.
such action can easily defeat our
hopes, our plans and our best efforts
for the recovery Of our country and
50 indefinitely delay the return Of
prosperity and employment. We can
carry U present expenditures with
out jeopardy to national stability. We
can carry nc more without grave
risks. .
During the past week your nation
al commander and the members Of the
Legion's employment committee came
to ne and offered to the nation the
combined strength Of your million
men and your ten thousand posts to
help In relief over the winter. I
hereby accept that offer and express
the thanks Of the nation In the fine
| spirit In which 1t vas submitted.
Points Road to Service
But there Is today an even greater
service to U country. That Is the
determined opposition by you to adj
ditional demands upon the nation un-
til we have won this war against
world depression. I am not speaking
alone Of veterans legislation which
has been urged for action at this con-
vention, but I am speaking equally Of
demands for every other project pro-
posed In the country which would re-
quire increased federal expenditure.
1.-THE first stone In the foundations
Of stability and recovery. both at
home and in the world, is the stability
Of the government Of the United
States. It is my purpose to maintain
that stability, and I invite you to en-
list In that fight.
THE country's need Of this service
is second only to war. l invite you to
study the relation Of their govern
mental finance to the daily welfare
and security Of every man. woman and
child In the history OF Europe during
the past six months alone. It Is for
US to observe these lessons and to be
CONTINUED On pe0e seven)