The cheer which greeted this suggestion was so resounding and the opinion of the caucus so positive on this question that Mr. Gordon of Connecticut, a member of the committee that framed the resolution, moved that it should be laid on the table.

The thunderous “Aye” which tabled this resolution might well be recorded in letters of gold.

It showed the utter unselfishness of the American doughboy, gob, and leatherneck.  He had followed Colonel Roosevelt’s advice:  he refused to sandbag the Government out of anything, and this action gives the best possible basis for the procedure to put something into the Government.

In view of the action of certain newspapers, organizations, and individuals in advocating that six months’ pay should be given to the returned service man, I wonder if there are not still a great many of them who are still puzzled over why the Legion refused to endorse this movement.  There must be scores of them, dozens of them who were not present at the St. Louis Caucus, to catch its spirit and who have not carefully considered just what impression such a demand on the part of former soldiers, sailors, and marines would create on the rest of the country.

Why shouldn’t six months’ pay be given to every man who did his bit in the war with Germany?  In the first place, these men who have returned from the war have begotten for themselves the utmost respect and affection from those who could not go.  The civilian forms the majority of our people.  Because of the esteem before-mentioned, he is willing to grant almost anything within reason to the service man who risked so much in defense of the country.  It is to the interest of the service man to make the civilian population feel that he does not want to get something for nothing but that, rather, he would still prefer to give his best to the country in peaceful times in the same spirit that he manifested in war times—­an utter disregard of self.

Had the Legion endorsed this resolution, the general consensus would have been, “There are the soldiers getting together to make demands.  Their organization is nothing more or less than an association formed to get something out of the Treasury.”  Therefore, when the service men, as a unit, came to demand something vitally necessary for the good of the country, it is possible that they might be answered:  “We have paid you in money and have your receipt and that will be all for you.”

This Legion can, must, and will be an inspiration and a guiding spirit because it is composed of men who have been willing to sacrifice self for the good of the country.  For that they have obtained the affection of their world and just so long as they are willing to continue to manifest that spirit will they retain that affection.

CHAPTER XII

THE CLOSING HOURS

The next resolution to be passed was that concerning “Disability Pay.”  That resolution, as passed read.