Evening star., 1932-10-29
BISHOP AMPL|F|ES
ATTACK ON LEGION
Edwin D. Mouzon Replies to
Criticism Following Con-
ference Statement.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
RICHMOND. Va, October 28-.
Bishop Edwin D. Mouzon Of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, South, whose
criticism Of the American Legion at the
recent session Of the Virginia Methodist
| Conference drew criticism in turn from
Virginia Legionnaires, today issued the
following statement:
When, during the session Of the
conference held in Richmond. Va, I
made an extemporaneouS address on
prohibition, I knew that my remarks
would be presented in the press in such
way as to call attention. If possible,
away from the real subject of my ad-
dress. namely prohibition. 1t was for
this reason that expressed regret that
did not have a prepared manuscript
MY reference to the American Legion
was merely incidental as illustrative Of
the hurtful influence of self-seeking Or
CARNATIONS on legislation. I had ex-
pressed regret that so few legislators
have courage and independence enough
to vote their convictions as seen at the
present time by so many politicians an
nouncing that If the voters want the
eighteenth amendment repealed they
will vote for what the voters want, and
vote thus. not for the good OF the
country. but only In order to keep their
jobs In Washington. ! was urging that
as churchmen We should not take the
position that we would at no time sup
port a candidate who had not in ad-
vance announced in favor OF prOhibi-
ton. but that We should support men
of intelligence and character and back
ground, and then trust them as repre-
sentatives of the people to stand for the
right and let the people know what the
right is.
Great American Menace.
"As showing how voters. no matter
how unreasoning and unreasonable they
may be, are able to intimidate candi-
dates, who stand with their ears to the
ground, I mentioned the fact that large
numbers Of politicians had announced
that they would vote for the immediate
payment in fun of the soldiers bonus,
even declaring themselves to be in
favor of fiat money. l referred to the
fact that the G. A. r. had robbed the
American people for two generations,
but that they were small Organiza
ton as compared with the American
Legion. which by its conduct. had now
become the great American menace.
My critics must themselves be ignor-
ant Of what has been going on or they
8
am ignorant. Do they not know that
already the United States Government
is spending more than one-fifth of its
national budget in so-called Veteran
relief? Do they not know that the
larger part of the one billion dollars
spent annually is not going to widows
of soldiers or to men disabled in battle,
but to sefish, unpatriotic men who carry
no wounds and most of whom saw no
service overseas? For the widow and
orphans left behind and for the soldier
shattered in nerve or otherwise dis
abled let us do all that liberty loving
American citizens ought to do. AS
worthy and we'll qualified war veteran
has recently pointed out. 1t is a dis
grace that an average Of only $l8.44
month is paid to each dead soldiers
dependant, while a man who served
only a month or two during the war
and afterward gets disabled in
drunken braWl. or by some accident
will receive as much as $40 month for
the rest of his life.
Cites Bonus March.
What loyal and patriotic Americans
are now alarmed about is the organized
and clamorous and intimidating demand
now being made that large sums of
never got any further than a training
camp The most ominous thing that has
happened in my lifetime was the march
of thousands of men to Washington to
demand that the Government start the
printing press and give them money.
MY critics charge me with want OF
gratitude. Gratitudei My gratitude to
the men who suffered in battle is un-
limited. 1 hold them in everlasting
honor. but the gratitude OF American
citizens resents gratituities to able
bodied men who never crossed the
seas I insist that gratitude is one
thing and a gratuity another and
different thing.
1T is because of such things that
many of the finest men who saw over
seas service have withdrawn from the
American Legion or have never seen
fit to become actively affiliated with it.
And it is because of these things that
many of the best men who remain with
the Veterans organization find them
selves in a situation of painful and
almost uncomfortable embarrassment.
Being myself only a private citizen
and seeking the favor of no man nor
any set of men, but only desiring to do
my full duty to my country I am per-
fectly free to speak thus plainly about
these matters. And being a minister of
the gospel interested in all things that
have to do with the economic and moral
welfare of my countrymen, I do publicly
denounce the shameful proposal to give
gratuities to able bodied men by bring
ing back the saloon and laying tax on
beer. This is day that calls for states
manship."
(Signed).
EDWIN D. MOUZON.