The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-08-05
G. A. R. SPURNS
PART IN FETE
FOR ROBINSON
Invitation to Join Parade
FIatIy Refused by
Veteran Leader.
M'NUTT GROUP GIVES IN
Democrat Legionnaires to
March, With C. A. Jack
son as Chairman.
BY DANIEL VI. KIDNEY

Rf"h 'Afttt
The parade and ceremonial Sun
day afternoon for Senator Arthur
r. Robinson will have the support
Of McNutt's Democratic legionnaires.
but the requested presence of the
Indiana q. A. r. will be lacking.
Today Colonel David N. Foster.
Fl. Wayne, prominent G.. A. r.
member, in a letter TO Albert l..
Pauley. past department command
er of the Sons of Union Veterans.
refused fatty the invitation 20 ioin
the parade. which will be climaxed
by Robinson's talk at the War men,
orial
Previously. however. Clarence A.
Jackson, past department chief of
the American legion and state in
come tax collector. had accepted the
Craftsmanship for all allied veterans
who will take part in the celebra-
ton.
Can't Whip EN-? Join En-
His entry into the affair was said
10 be based on the old Hoosier DO
litical slogan:
If you can't whip EN-. join EN-"
Pauley sent the invitation to
Colonel Foster. He outlined the
great services that Robinson had
performed in getting pensions for
veterans of all wars and urged at
tendance at the reception as being
nonpolitical and purely matter of
appreciation. He even asked Foster
TO have the G. A. r. head the
parade.
Pauley's answer came in an open
letter from Foster received at
G. A. r. headquarters at the state
house today. II reads:
AS Civil war veteran, a past
department commander of the
Grand Army of the Republic. and
at present chairman of the council
OF administration OF the Indiana
department. / have been asked to
join the Robinson parade.
Writes Open Letter
Il declined most emphatically.
This so-called nonpartisan recep-
lion of the senator does not camou-
flage successfully this opening gun
of Robinson's in his campaign for
reelection to the United States
senate next year.
The occasion is a political one.
aiming TO give strength TO the SEN
ator over any competitors he may
have for that high Office. The rules
ana regulations of the Grand Army
of the Republic emphatically for
bid its participation in partisan
politics. That is reason enough for
my action.
Furthermore. I do not call to
mind any senator of the United
States whose action on bonus and
pension questions during recent
years I condemn more severely than
that of Robinson. 1t has seemed to
me for the last two or three years
that his speeches and votes in the
senate have been in his personal in
terests, rather than in the interests
of his country.
Condemns Robinson Stand
Should the Republican state
convention next year nominate the
senator TO succeed himself. the SEN
atorial campaign will be fought on
the issues of an immediate payment
of the bonus to World war veterans
not due until 1945-and con-
tinuation of the policy of paying
pensions for the next fifty years to
four and a quarter million of men
enlisted in the World war-more
than half of whom never fired gun
at the enemy or even left the coun-
try.
In such a campaign Robinson
will receive most of that element in
the American Legion that now con-
trolls that organization. without re-
gard 10 their politics. To Offset the
votes of that great body of men. the
more thoughtful and conservative
element of the enlisted men in the
World war must join with indie
pendent Republicans IN accom-
plishing his defeat"
Colonel Foster is a lifelong Re
publican.