Evening star., 1932-11-28
byrd HITS CHARGE
OF STALKING HORSE
Admiral Tells Legion Head
He's for JobIeSs Hordes
in Economy Fight.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
BOSTON, November 2s.-Rear, Ad-
miral Richard E. Byrd last night said
in reply to a statement made in Rich
mond, Va, by Louis A. johnson. ma
tional commander Of the American
Legion, that If he was a stalking
horse" as charged by the Legion COM
mander. then I am stalking for the
suffering hordes of the unemployed of
this country
johnson had spoken of Admiral Byrd
as 'unwittingly and unintentionally'
the stalking horse for the one person
out of 5000 of our population who Is
against the veterans of America"
The admiral, who is chairman of the
National Economy League, said he felt
constrained to thank Comdr. johnson
for his mild statement that, compared
to the statements that a million veter-
ans have been making around the
country, this stalking horse statement
is grand and wonderful compliment"
The admiral said he appreciated the
commanders elevating him from Ger
tain obnoxious animal to the stalking
horse" He also said he respected the
sincerity of Comdr. Johnson's state
ments because I know him to be a real
patriot"
United Action Necessary.
In replying to Johnsons statements
concerning the National Economy
League, Admiral Byrd said:
"The people of this country must
combine, as in war, to cut the cost Of
government. The total cost of govern
ment, town, city. State and Federal, is
over $4,000, 100000 year, whereas all
the earnings of all the people working
at 10000 different tasks is only little
over three times this cost of our gov
eminent. It means that the employed
people of this country, and that in
cludes the masses, of the people, must
work for at least three months every
year to give their earnings. directly or
indirectly, to meet this dangerously
high cost of government.
IF there were some magic way of
getting this fact to those who do not
pay taxes directly, there would soon be
an end to this depression. This is the
meat Of the hard nut of depression we
have got to crack. This high cost Of
government means that all the people
are working for at least three months
every year for the benefit of the Gov
ernment. which was formed to function
for the benefit of the people.
If I am stalking horse, then I am
stalking for the suffering hordes of the
unemployed of this country because
and I want to say this with all the
emphasis of which / am capable-theSe
hungry millions will not find employ
ment again until the dangerous cost of
government lie rpiurpd xriSL fn
plead with the people, as their patriotic
duty, to inform themselves as to the
facts"
The admiral quoted joint letter of
Calvin Coolidge, Alfred e. Smith and
Newton D. Baker and said:
These three great patriots are plead
ing with the people to realize the stu
alton and to take action before bank
ruptcy prevails throughout the Nation
which would add much more suffering
and many more millions to the ranks
of the unemployed. President Hoover
and Franklin D. Roosevelt are in agree
ment with Coolidge, Smith and Baker
on the proposition that the high cost of
government must be cut.
Minorities' Death Grip.
"A hundred minorities have death
grip on the throat Of this country.
When I say death grip I mean just
that. This grip must be broken and I
beg of the people to realize this point,
that they can Immediately begin to
gain victory over the depression and SO
lose the fear which Is causing havoc by
getting into action to cut the dangerous
governmental costs"
Admiral Byrd said that on account
Of the high cost OF government Az
cents will be added to every bag OF
flour, 4 cents to every pound of tea and
cents to every package Of cigarettes" !"
That the price of gasoline and medicine
was increased land SO it is with 10000
different items that the poor man must
pay for and he pays without complaint,
because, in his case, the hand that taxes
is concealed"
This National Economy League" he
said, is the peoples instrument Of
action-their battle ak to cut at the
roots Of the high cost of government,
and urge all patriotic men and women
to Join it. BY force of numbers
we must protect our lawmakers from
these selfish wonderfully organized mi
norities. It is not only the lawmakers
who fear these minoritieS. Business
men fear them because OF boycotts.
These minorities are powerful. They
have the people reduced 10 a condltlon
of almost serUtude. Where is the red
blood of the American citizen? We
must fight our way out of their grip
and back to prosperity. We must vol
unteer to help as in war"
The admiral said he wanted to make
It clear that "the high cost of the civil
life of injured veterans is only one Of
the many abuses that the league Is at
tacking"
He said the league was strong for
proper pay for the war disabled, but
that it was unalterably opposed to pen
sions for injuries received by veterans
in civil life That have nothing to dc
with war"
"The total cost Of the World War
veterans alone" the admiral said will
eventually come to over $50, 600, 900, 900,
four times the cost Of the war itself.
and the country cannot stand this cost
Service for the country III time of war
must be measured in terms of patriot
ism and not dollars and cents"