23
THE SUNDAY OREGONIAX, PORTLAND, FEBRUARY 30, 1923
BY HARRT B. CRITCHLOW.
JOHN SMITH was safely en
trenched in a position which
offered great possibilities for
advancement In civil life when the
fatal day, April 6, 1917 came. War
tm declared. John hesitated just
long enough to arrange his private
affairs and then enlisted. He saw
that he had a duty to perform. He
asked no questions regarding salary,
food or sleeping accommodations, but
took the oath and became a soldier
of his country.
Ten days later, John was in the
training camps. In those days the
camps were mere Bhells. Work had
not started In earnest in the building
of barracks. Soon, however, as John
drilled and toiled hour after hour
each day for his one dollar and board ,
he could hear tne pouncing 01 me
carpenter hammers in the hands of
men who were drawing down a dollar
an hour. He could see boys of com
mon school age moving over the
parade ground, carrying water to the
carpenters and mechanics. They
were drawing $5 a day.
The fat contractor rolled up to the
cantonment in a high-powered car
and contemplated his work. He was
contracting on the cost plus ten per
cent plan and was getting rich. The
fact that a J 5 water-boy was on the
payroll netted that contractor BO
cents a day. John knew these things,
but he did not reflect long upon them
for his were patriotic instincts in
those days.
At last the desk stoop in John's
shoulders was gone, his muscles were
hardened and he was a first-class
soldier. He started overseas to serve
his part in the line. As he moved
out from the camps to the ports of
debarkation he was glad. As the
train moved along, citizens with red
dened eyes waved their hands in fare
well. Often from the business man
came the words, "We are all for you,
boy, and when you come back the
world will bo yours. You can have
anything you want God bless you."
It seemed good to John that he
was a soldier.
When at last the boats steamed
out of Hoboken and headed over submarine-infested
seas to France John
and his hundreds of companions be
lieved that they could not possibly
; see the shores of their own land
for at least three years; the Ger
mans were still going strong and the
allies were weakening.
Spring time came and the little
army of Americans in France was
growing. Summer came. . The Ameri
cans took their place in the line
John among them and there was
Chateau Thierry. Men of John's type
and caliber matched their wits and
fighting ability against that of the
Hun and won. Soissons, the Marne
and Cantigny brought other Ameri
can victories.
St. Mihiel, the first single-handed
American effort, proved that Yankee
bone and muscle, combined with
brains, were more than matches for
Hindenburg's best Boche. Then
down through the American lines
went the cry that originally sprang
from the lips of a determined Ameri
can youth, "Heaven, Hell or Hoboken
before Christmas." It had its effect.
War profiteers at home were suf
fering from lack of sugar and the
shipyard boys were complaining be
cause the authorities turned the
lights cut early in the night to con
serve electricity. Hundreds of
Americans assembled in the wooded
tangles of the Argonne. Impelled
with a desire to have the war at an
end, they hurled themselves against
the enemy. Never did an army go
Into action with more recklessness
or abandon. They drove the Ger
mans from their strong defences and
gained ground. Hundreds of the
flower of America laid down their
lives on that shell-torn ground and
are today sleeping in Romagne.
Others were carried from the fields
to be forever examples of the pain
and the hardship of war. Undaunted
by the loss of' their best friends and
the thinnlag of their lines, the Yanks
pushed on. Sedan fell and the Ger
man army was cut in twain. Nothing
remained for the Hlndenburg troops
but defeat. Germany sued for an
armistice and the battle front of Eu
rope for the first time in yearsi was
fre8 from the tremble of the guns.
It was not Woodrow Wilson, con
gress, the American chamber of com
merce, or the profiteers who won the
war, but the American doughboy,
who, without regard for pay, suffer
ing or hardship, staked his ail against
the enemy and played a winning
hand.
Money would not have hired John
Smith to face the Germans at Chateau
Thierry. The wealth of Rockefeller
could not have prompted him to risk
his life against the Germans in the
Meuse-Argonne.
But filled with the patriotic fire
of a true American youth, John faced
the enemy without thinking of death.
He bid good-bye to France, the
scenes of his greatest experience, and
came back home. He arrived in the
home town, full of expectancy. He
had expected the town band to turn
out to welcome him back, but alas,
h.13 return was scarcely noticed end
he hung up the soiled old uniform and
donned the civilian garb.
John is back in his old job today
and i making good. He is buying a
little home and has a wife and a
email John. He is still the patriotic
lad that he was when he went away
In 1917, but he is converted to the
bonus idea. He feels that America
should follow in the footsteps of Can
ada and Australia and grant adjusted
compensation to her veterans. Busi
ness men of the country tell John
that such men as himself and his
American Legion comrades will ruin
the country if they demand a bonus.
John remembers those promises that
were made in 1917 when he went
away for the front. Wer they made
In earnest or merely to fit the oc
casion? If the passage of an adjusted com
pensation law will break the country
what would have happened if John
and his comrades had not been in
spired with the "Heaven, Hell or Ho
boken" spirit and pushed to a speedy
victory? How much more would it
have cost to continue the war until
the spring of 1919 than it would to
pay the compensation veterans. 95
per cent strong, believe is due them?
John Smith and his comrades have
no desire to make w. financial ruin of
the country they have so nobly fought
to defend. They would as willingly
go back to fight for America today
as they did in 1917. Would the men
who now so strongly advocate the
defeat of any bonus legislation be
willing -to .fight under the same con
ditions and for the same pay that
John and his comrades would serve?
Jerrold Owen, editor of tke
"Pacific Legion" and member
of tne executive committee of
Portland post of the Ameri
can Legion,
not fit subjects for citizenship and
are of the unskilled labor class and
would lower the standards of labor;
would: bring disease and suffering, to
America; would cause antagonisms to
arise in the future; would bring thou
sands of men who are ignorant and
without moral training, and would
increase the existing foreign groups,
many of whom know nothing about
American principles and ideals and
who even refuse to leant the English
language."
The resolution has been sent to the
Oregon delegation in Washington
with a request that the senators and
representatives place themselves on
record for an extension of the immi
gration laws.
A meeting to put new life in Wood
bum post of the American Legion
was held a few nights ago. A dinner
was served and the hall was crowd
ed. It was decided to establish post
headquarters. Tomorrow night an
other meeting will be held and an
effort will be launched to make the
post more active in the future.
A chicken supper held under the
auspices of the auxiliary of Spring
field post of the American Legion was
so popular that a larger building than
the one first chosen had to be ob
tained. More than 300 meals were
served by the women.
Scout Young camp of the Spanish
Americam War Veterans has gone on
recordi as opposed to the lifting of the
Immigration laws now in effect and
keeping out the undesirable foreign
ers. In a resolution calling for the
continuance of strict immigration
laws, which was adopted at the meet
ing Tuesday evening, the camp calls
attention to the fact that there are
1900 ex-service men out of employ
ment in Portland today.
The lifting of the immigration ban,
according to the members of Scout
Young camp, will permit foreigners
to enter this country and flood the
labor market, which is already over
flowing. "The majority of these im
Boxing and wrestling "bouts will
feature the meeting of Astoria post
of the American Legion to be held
tomorrow night.
,
A memorial burial plot dedicated to
those who lost their lives in the world
war is planned by Salem legionnaires.
Will Carver, Dr. W. Carlton Smith
and F. A. Anderson have been ap
pointed to investigate the advisability
of such a move.
Sunset post of the American Legion
of North Bend is now starting plans
for a home. A special committee has
under consideration plans for the erec
tion of a building 100 by 120 . in the
heart of the city.
The veteran who escapes Klamath
Falls post of the American Legion In
its drive for members will be an
"artful dodger." Captains, sergeants,
corporals and privates have been ap
pointed to canvass every block in the
city. The legionnaires will also go
into the country surrounding Klam
ath Falls and urge the veterans, to
become members. Last year the post
hiad a membership of 500.
A new post has been added to the
list of the American Legion in Ore
gon. With a charter roll of 30 vet
erans, the 110th post in the state has
been organized in Echo. The name of
Don Hoffnagle, an Echo boy who died
during the service, was taken for the
post. Officers have been chosen ai
follows: Commander, Maurice Coe;
vice-commander, John I. Howard; ad
jutant, Ira M. Peterson; finance offi
cer, C H. Rhea; chaplain, Ray T.
Johnson.
J. E. Shearer, commander of Tilla
mook post of the American Legion,
was in Portland Wednesday. He is
the chief executive of the only legion
post in Tillamook county. The post is
adopting the policy of holdin,g meet
ings in Cloverdale, Nehalem and
Wheeler. Friday night a meeting was
held in Cloverdale. The meetings in
these towns are held to create inter
est among the veterans and three new
posts of the legion are expected from
Tillamook county before the next
state convention.
. " .
More than 100 members of the
legion attended the Washington coun
ty council meeting held last Monday
night in Banks. There were delega
tions from Hillsboro, Forest Grove
and Aloha. Several boxing bouts were
staged' and refreshments were served,
Harry Nelson, acting adjutant of the
state department, attended.
"Pay your dues,',' is the plea that
is" going out from Portland post of
the American Legion to the members
who have neglected to send in their
checks and - receive their cards for
1922. '
"An old member who pays his dues
and remains in good standing is al
most as important to us as a new
member," declared Commander Cross
ley yesterday. "We are after all the
new members we can gather into the
post, but we do not want to have to
drop any of our old ones. The average
veteran who is engaged in a business
or profession becomes forgetful and
neglects to pay his dues. We don't like
to refresh his memory, but it is some
times necessary. Pay up and keep in
good standing with your post, is my
advice to all members."
The membership campaign of the
legion is moving along in good fash
ion. Approximately 100 new members
have been added to rolls of the organ
ization since the last meeting. If
Portland post had a score of workers
like Glenn Ticer and J. S. Cooper Jr.
there would be ho question about the
size of the membership. Ticer has
brought in more than a dozen mem
bers this month and Cooper is only
two or three behind him.
"I had to sell myself to the legion,"
declared Cooper Friday. "After 1 had
made a successful job of that, I was
in a position to sell it to others, and
I am out after all the new members
I can get. It's the one organization
with which every veteran: of tht
world war should affiliate. "-
out of his seat and tossing his hat
in the air. Doug McKay, "Bill"
Beverldge and others managed to
quiet Stretcher after a time.
Stretcher was a captain in the
28th division during, the war and is
firm in the belief that it was the
only real outfit that saw service at
the front.
James D. Bibbroff, disabled veteran
and member of the American Legion,
has invented and patented a meat
slicing machine which he is having
manufactured in Portland. He has
been working on the first model for
several years and recently brought il
to the state of perfection which h
hopes will cause it to find a ready
sale. Not long ago he was offered a
substantial sum for his patent rights,
but refused the offer, preferring to
manufacture it himself. Bobbroff was
a sergeant in the 48th Coast Artillery
corps during the war.'
- '
The advance party of the First
Division, on its way to the Rhine
had left the town of Berncastle-Cues
on the Moselle and pushed over the
mountains to the little village of
Castelon. There the troops were bil
lited for the night.
A party of five Yanks walked into
a German beer hall and stood around
consuming mug after mug of a very
poor grade of beer. In walked a
young German, recently discharged
from the army and back in his civilian
clothes. He proudly displayed on his
vest three medals, among them be
ing the iron, cross of the first class.
"I," he said in fairly good English,
"have been a great soldier." He
proudly patted his chest. "I , was
what you call a real soldier. You
Americans can't fighf like we Ger
mans can."
"You are talking a little too much
for your own good," declared one of
the Americans who wore a sergeant's
chevrons. "Bill, close that door and
lock it," he directed to a private in
the party.
"Now, Mr. Boche, just take off your
coat," he continued to the German;
"you have got to fight."
"Oh," replied the German, " I can't
fight you all."
"No one said anything about us
gang fighting you," said the ser
geant. "Just take your choice of
any one of us."
The German reluctantly did as he
was bid and looked over the five to
see which one he would choose to
fight. He chose a little corporal
whose size . lacked much of being
equal to that of the Boche.
The fight started. In the few min
utes that followed the be-medaled
German learned more about fighting
than Hindenburg could have taught
him. He no sooner came in reach of
the Yank's fists than he went down
for the count. He no sooner got up
than he went down again.
It is safe to predict that the Ger
man learned a lesson he has never
forgotten and that he used more
diplomacy In dealing with the other
Americans who passed through Cas
telon. .
Hand-organ grinders who play the
"Star-Spangled Banner" as a means
of collecting money are going to be
required to confine their activities
to their monkey and ordinary music
if the plans for the American Legion
work out. The legionnaires are fa
merins a oiu to pronlDlt the organ
grinders from playing the national
anthem.
The buck private is not the only
man who is suffering .from unemploy
ment just now. In New York city
the American Legion has been called
upon to supply jobs for 12 majors,
live naval commanders, 27 captains
ana iou lieutenants.
In possession of all the reauisites
for a dance except the music, legion
men of Lincoln, Neb., called upon an
ex- gob." He rigged up a radio
phone and hooked up to an orches
tra tooo miles away.
Many of the disabilities of war are
treacherous. They are making them
selves felt when least expected, A
clean-cut young man walked into
hospital in Los Angeles a few days
ago. He wore, an American Legion
button.
"I am 32 years of age, I think," he
said. "I am five feet nine and weigh
130 pounds. My eyes are gray and
i nave Diona nair. i believe I was
a soldier. I am trying to find some
one who can tell me something about
my past.
Los Angeles legion posts are aiding
the man to find himself.
Not all the blood of. patriots was
spilled in the war. Unemployed ex
service men living at the American
Legion barracks are supplying almost
all the blood needed for transfusion
operations at Lakeside hospital in
Cleveland. A quart or so means noth
ing in the life of those doughty per
sons. The hospital has called upon the
barracks a number of times in the
last two months and has never failed
to get volunteers. "One call came
at 8:25 in the morning and 12 minutes
later 25 men reported at the hospital I
for duty," said a legion official in
charge of the barracks "Almost al
the men in the building offered to go,
though they did not know that the
blood would be bought and paid for."
Walter Maslaka, who served two
years overseas, is one of the regular
volunteers. He seems to have an ex
cellent supply in his veins. Recently
his blood was accepted for trans
fusion into the veins of an out-of-town
patient. After the operation he
said he -wasn't particular about being
paid fqr a little act like that, but that
he wouldn't mind if someone would
help him find a job. He is a machin
ist a very red-blooded machinist.
.
A (Yankee soldier was looking
over the sights in a railway freight
yard in Paris -one afternoon In 1919,
about the time the peace conference
was going strong. On the siding
stood two cars filled with Amerlcan-
Up came two French Dusiness men
?.nd they inquired to whom the motor
cycles belonged. - v
"They are mine," said the doughboy,
throwing out his chest and taking on
an air of business. "Do you want to
buy them?"
The Frenchman agreed that they
would like to make the purchase.
"Well, I'll sell you both carloads
for 20,000 francs," said the American,
"but you must pay half of the price
now." .
The Frenchmen, believing that they
had struck a bargain, immediately
paid the 10,000 francs. The dough
boy made his getaway and never was
discovered, despite the fact that the
military police made a brave attempt
to locate him. That afternoon the
Frenchmen were arrested when they
attempted to unload the motorcycles,
which they believed they had pur
chased. The American who made the "sale"
of the machines probably was a
brother of the Yank who sold the old
Frenchman one-half interest in the
Eiffel tower for 60,000 francs and
gave an honorable army discharge as
a bill of sale. . .
I saw two very strangs sights this
morning," declared Charles A. Ross,
at the 91st division luncheon Friday.
The first war a runaway team of
horses and the second, was a girl
wearing cotton stockings."
'Doughboys were never lacking
when it came to starting something
original," declared Dr. T. W. Burnett,
major with 96th division head
quarters, and veterans of the 26th
infantry, a few days ago. "I was
standing out in front of the Hotel
Crillion during the peace conference
in Paris.
Dignitaries and high ranking of
ficials were passing in and out of the
American headquarters in the hotel
and I was looking them over. Down
the street came an automobile truck
loaded down with American dough
boys. They backed their vehicle up
in front of the hotel entrance and
there on a big streamer that was
floating from the machine was, 'We
have paid our debt to Lafayette; who
in hell do we owe now?" I never
saw military police gather as quickly.
Each one of the doughboys was ar
rested and taken down to the Hotel
St. Anne. What their punishment was
I never learned."
Dr. Eugene "Buck" Rockey is the
new leader of Portland voiture of the
40 Hommes and 8 Chevaux. fe was
elected chef de gare at the fcnnual
banquet Thursday night in the Ben
son hotel. Other officers chosen for
the ensuing year were as follows:
Arthur A. Murphy, chef de train; Rex
Parelius, commissaire intendant et
correspondent; Wilbur Henderson,
Philip F. Jackson and J. F. Bergesch,
gare prisonnier; E. A. Valentine, gare
de la porta, ' and Barge E. Leonard,
conducteur.
During tha- war the German lan
guage was taboo. The man who
would speak German on the streets
was liable to become a target of
abuse by patriotic people. .
This old spirit has not remained.
The patriotic fires of 1917-18 have
died out and the citisens of the coun
try have reverted to a normal frame
of mind. Germans in the Brooklyn
district have the nerve if you please
to defy the city fathers when the
uao of German names on certain
streets is prevented: They have gone
to the extreme of marking out the
American names that have been
placed on the curbs where German
names once appeared.
A talented opera singer comes to
Portland. He holds a concert in a
leading theater and among the num
bers on his programme are several
German songs. He makes no apology
for singing them, and those same peo
ple who waved the flag, despised the
German born and used "strong-arm"
methods in selling liberty bonds in
1918, cheer when they hear the rendi
tion of German music in the German
language.
Most of the veterans of the world
war are convinced that America is
for Americans, ' and that it is not
necessary for singers, famous or
otherwise, to trample under foot the
teachings of the war days by sing
ing songs in German. The English
language may not be the most mus
ical in the world, but it is the lan
guage 'of this country and should be
sufficient to please the most ardent
follower of the opera.
9
GADSBY
SAYS
'You Might as Well Have Your
Home Furnished in Good Taste"
Hundreds of people have just begun to realize that they can have our real good furniture in
their home at less than the very ordinary would cost them elsewhere. There s hardly a
day goes by that someone does not come to our store and ask to see furniture like we sold to
4 friends of theirs. Everyone who owns some of our furniture is so pleased with it they like
Queen Anne Dining Room Suite
$74.50 Buys This Very
Comfortable Davenport
Z to' tell their friends about it and how little they paid for it. If you have never visited our
4 store, we ask you to do so this week while our February sale continues. YOUR CREDIT
j IS GOOD AT GADSBYS'. f
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A Davenport upholstered in a good quality tapestry. Pleasing pat
tern built with deep Spring loose cushions and supported by a sub
stantial frame. The back is just high enough to be comfortable, and
the large roll arms add' distinction to this splendid piece of furniture.
Terms $7JS0 Cash, Balance $1.00 Week
YOU'LL, BE PROUD TO HAVE A DIJiING ROOM FURNISHED LIKE THIS.
We are showing so many new period pieces in Dining-Room Furniture and
so moderately priced you'll be surprised. This is only one of the many gen
uine American Walnut finished in pretty brown.
Look at the Savings on
Bedroom Suites!
Think of Big Brass Bedsteads
Which Can Be Bought Now
at 20 Off
For, the first time in many a year
we can offer massive big brass beds
at such a low figure. They are a
part of a special purchase we made
at a real sacrifice from one of the
leading manufacturers and you
share in the saving tomorrow. Mas
sive two-inch posts, extra heavy
fillers, your choice of several pat
terns, all In satin ribbon finish.
i
t AN INTERESTING BEDROOM SUITE!
A number of members of the
American Legion were reviewing a
war picture in one of the local thea
ters last Tuesday night. In the
crowd was E. T. Stretcher, vice
commander of Portland post and
deputy United States marshal. The
film moved along until a large body
of American troops was seen march
ing out over the shell-torn fields of
France. '
"Horray! Horray! Horray!" there's
the 28th division, the best outfit in
war!" yelled Stretcher, .jumping
rf ' A mid -xT ' 'k
i
The Ophthalmometer-
most accurate sight-testing instrument.
B
Think How Needlessly You Have Suffered
With Headache All These Years
When your eyes were red, inflamed and irritated and your
head ached so badly, you didn't feel that you cared to do anything
or see anyone, you were needlessly punishing yourself.
Many who for years have suffered intensely from chronic sick
headaches, having used drugs of all kinds without benefit, have
found immediate and permanent relief by wearing my Perfect
Fitting Glasses. The cause of the headache was eyestrain the
glasses remove the cause the cure is lasting. .
Let me help you to be "headacheless"; wear my Vision Saving
Glasses.
Nearly 25 Years' Experience in Portland Since 1911 . .
DR. .WHEAT
OPTOMETRIST
EYESIGHT SPECIALIST
SUITE 207 MORGAN BLDG.
OPEN EVENINGS MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY
!
mi'd
lit
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5 8
3
r 4
What more delightful could you picture than a bedroom furnished in this
way? This suite gives you the very latest-in bedroom furniture four beau
tiful period pieces. Note the daintily paneled bed, the artistically patterned
dressing table, the spacious chiffonier and the extra large dresser. This
suite may also be had in tnahogany or American walnut if preferred. Your
inspection fs invited. Sold on easy terms.
This
Large
Ivory
Dresser
Special Price
This Week
$17.50
This large Ivory Enameled
Dresser, just as pictured, with
plate mirror. They usually
sell at a lot more than I 7 Cfl
Gadsbys' special price. M iW
I ill
2
Eat Breakfast in Comfort These
Chilly Mornings
Touch a match to the Gas Kindler in the kitchen heater, the coal or
wood heater that is built right into Wedgewood Gas Ranges. Keep
right on cooking with gas all winter. Breakfast in a hurry in a warm
kitchen or breakfast room. Same kitchen heater will heat a 30-gallon
water tank. This range does the duty of two and costs less. It's
easy to pay the Gadsby way.
NOTICE! We will take your old cook stove or range in exchange
on one of these new Wedgewood Ranges and allow you all it is worth.
Gas Water Heater
Gadsbys Sell Gas Water
Heaters for Less.
Jiffy Gas Heater,
All Installed,
Price
$19.50
i Baby Carriages, Strollers
Folding Go-Carts
and
JtST ARRIVED VERY LATEST DESIGNS
all
the. new color finishes,
Gadsbys' display before buying.
fl.00 a vreek.
light and easy-to-carry
Priced from $10 and up.
kinds See
Easy terms.
Simmons Day Beds
' fX
i I
'IfiPf 1 i
These Day Beds are so
popular now. You
should have one. Ask
to see them at Gadsbys'.
Priced from 15 to 45.
RUGS ON SALE
BUY NOW AT GADSBYS'
Gadsbys' Regular Easy
Credit Terms
$ 50 Worth of Furniture $ 5.00 Cash, $1.00 Week
$ 75 Worth of Furniture $ 7.50 Cash, $1.50 Week
$100 Worth of Furniture $10.00 Cash, $2.00 Week
$125 Worth of Furniture $12.50 Cash, $2.25 Week
$150 Worth of Furniture $15.00 Cash, $2.50 Week
.GADSBYS CHARGE NO Ictkrkw
! WM. GADSBY 6?
CORNER SECOND AND MORRISON STREETS
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migrants," says the resolution, "are the
t