The Washington times., 1931-09-21
HOOVER TELLS LEGION BONUS WOULD BE BLOW TO TREASUR
Text of Presidents S
Address to Legion

best efforts for the recovery Oh
our country and so indefinitely
delay the return Of prosperity
and employment.
We can carry our present
expenditures without Jeopardy
to national stability.
We can carry no more with
out grave risks.
The imperative moment has
come when increase in Govern
ment expenditures must be
avoided, whether it be ill-con.
sidered, hasty, or uniformed
legislation of any kind, or
whether it be for new services
meritoriouS in themselves.
Amy alternative will strike
down the earnest efforts OF the
citizenry of our nation to start
us back upon the economic
paths to which we must return
IL we and our children are to
have the destiny which every
one has the right to hope and
the heart to give to them.
Accepts With Thanks
During the past week, your
national commander and the
members of the legion'S employ
ment committee came to me
and offered to the nation the
combined strength Of your mil.
lion men and your 10000 posts
to help in relief over the
winter. I here accept that Of
fer with the thanks Of the ma
ton in the fine spirit in which
it was submitted.
But, there Is today an even
greater service to our country.
That Is the determined OppOSi.
tiOn by you to additional de-
mandS upon the nation until
We have won the war against
world depression.
1 am not speaking alone of
veterans legislation which has
been urged for action at this
convention, but I am speaking
equally of demands for every
other project proposed in the
country which would require
increased Federal expenditure.
Second Only To War
1t is an attitude and an &C.
ton toward the whole field Of
Government expenditures that
is before US.
The first stone in the foun-
dation of stability and recovery,
both at home and in the world,
is the stability of the Govern
ment of the United States.
1t is my purpose to maintain
that stability, and / invite you to
enlist in that fight. The cOun-
try's need of this service Is
second only to war.
1 invite you to study the re-
lation of their governmental
finance to the daily welfare
and security of every man,
woman and child in the history
of Europe during the past six
months alone.
1t Is the duty for us to OBJ
serve these lessons and to be
helpful, but our first duty Is to
the people of the United
States.
Nothing would give a greater
glow of confidence to our cOun.
try today than your enlistment
and the vigorous support you
can bring to this effort to
prevent additional burden on
the Government from any
quarter whatsoever.
Points Out the Way
You would not have the
President of the United States
plead with any citizen or any
group of citizens for any course
of action. I make no plea to
you.
But you would have your
President point out the path
of service in this nation. That
l am doing now.
My mind goes back to the
days of the war where you
and I served in our appointed
tasks.
At the end of those years of
heartSickness over the misery
of it all, when the peace came,
you and I knew that the
wounds Of the world were un-
healed and that there would
be further emergencies still
before our country and the
world when self denial and
courageous service must be
given.
Your organization was born
at that time and dedicated to
that service by the very pre-
amble of its constitution.
Time For Big Service
No man can doubt the char
acter and idealism of men who
have gone into the trenches in
defense of their country. 1
have that faith.
This is an emergency and
these are the times for service
to which we must put full heart
and purpose to help and not
retard the return of the happy
days we know are ahead Of
your country and mine.
With the guidance Of the
Almighty God, with the same
faith, courage and elf-Sacrifice
with which you, backed by the
nation, won victory IA years
ago, SO shall we win victory