Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / May 10, 1946, edition 1 / Page 5
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HERTFORD, M. ft, P&TflAY, MAY 10, 1M. Rcdio Address Delivered In the Interest of Herbert C. Bonner's Candidacy for Congressman From the First District By Of Greenville, North Carolina, on Saturday, May 4, 1946, over Station WRRF, Washington, North Carolina -o- "Ladies and gentlemen of the radio audience of the First District: I am delighted that I am afforded the opportunity to speak to the voters of this District. The time was, and not so long ago, that the Counties of the First District, lying across the sound, were referred to as the "Lost Colony." Good roads and magnificent bridges have revolutionized conditions, and today all of us are neighbors. Our interests have become one and the same. That which serves the one helps the other. Today I bring greetings of friendship from the people of the great County of Pitt, and while there is a minority who may not sanc tion what I shall say, it is my confirmed opinion that the great majority of the voters of my County are ready to join hands with you in a united effort to return to Congress Beaufort' County's distinguished citizen and Democrat, who has never faltered in his efforts to promote and advance our common wel fare the Honorable Herbert C. Bonner of Washington. "I do not claim to be a politician. I have no political axe to brind. I have never actively engaged in politics; hence I feel qualified today to speak to you as one citizen to another. As a citizen and voter of the First Congressional District I am seri ously concerned, as you ought to be, that our political offices shall be filled by men truly representative of the people whom they will serve, by men fully informed as to the needs of the people and possessed of the ability and the experience to secure those needs by proper and appropriate legislation. "With such a view in mind, after careful consideration of the qualifications of the two candidates now presenting themselves ' for nomination for Congress by the Democratic Primary, and without any animosity or ill will towards Mr. Humber, the vir tual stranger who wants to be your Representative in Congress, I fully, freely and without qualification endorse Herbert Bonner to continue to represent the people of the First District in Con gress and bespeak for him your active support and vote in the approaching Primary. I cannot subscribe to the fantastic idea of Mr. Humber to establish a world federation, which idea was born in the minds of a certain group, of which Mr. Humber was one, at Mondsee, Austria, at a so-called Institute of World Af fairs, between July ist and August 25th, 1933. "If I were not fully persuaded that Herbert Bonner is a man of integrity, a man with sincere ambition to continue to repre sent, the District as a whole in the future as he has so ably dcit in the past, and in a way that will redound to the benefit of all the people, this message would not be delivered. "My friendship with Herbert Bonner is of long standing. I knew him before he became secretary to that other stalwart Democrat of Beaufort County, a man whom all Democrats ad mire, a figure of . national prominence, the Hon. Lindsay War ren. I know something of the pride, while holding that office, which he manifested in this Distict and of the genuine love and devotion he had for our people, and since Lindsay Warren . retired from Congress and the mantle so worthily worn by him fell upon the shoulders of this young man, I have observed with admiration his constant effort and untiring energy to do something worth-while and really constructive for his constitu ents and for this great Country and when I see with my own eyes and know of the many helpful things he has accomplished. I do not hesitate to tell you that it behooves the Democracy of the First District to bestir itself in his behalf and not be blind ed by the oratorical generalities of his opponent. "What has Herbert Bonner done that deserves your contin ued support? - 1. When the growers of peanuts were bemoaning their fate and starvation prices stared them in the face and they were desperate, it was Herbert Bonner who came to their rescue and by his untiring effort was instrumental in having a price fixed ' that enabled the farmer to see the light of day and market his product at a profit. I cannot conceive that the memory of these t men is so short that they will not manifest their gratitude and appreciation by returning this friend and patriot to Congress. 2. Have the potato growers of the First District so soon for 1 gotten what Herbert Bonner accomplished in their behalf? Can it be true that their memory fails to harken back to just a few f years ago when the price they were receiving was not sufficient -to pay the cost of digging? When they were confronted with "..financial disaster did, Herbert Bonner turn a deaf, ear to their ;' Macedonian cry. to come aqd help them, or did he take off his i coat and go to their rescue? History of this period will confirm my statement that it was Herbert Bonner who unceasingly voic ; ed their cry of desperation until Congress heard of their true . plight, and legislation was enacted through his untiring effort -which made the Government a buyer of the potato crop. A support price Was fixed a new day dawned in the First Dis ; trict the situation was saved and there were tidings of great , joy among those who had become hopeless and desperate. Do :you farmers owe him any gratitude for that effort in your be half? I cannot believe that In times of prosperity you will fail to remember the hand that Jed you, and I am confident that . you too will iaHy to his support and on the25th of May will give him your vote of confidence and loyalty: To believe others wise would destroy my faith in the integrityt&nd wisdom of our people.' v ;. ' 's' . ' 3. Has Herbert Bonner done anything for the tobacco far mer? The facts are undisputed.He was behind every movement t that bettered the price, of tobacco. He secured priority for the tobacco flues to enable the farmer to cure tKfc product, without which the crop could not have been marketed. He secured pri ority for tobacco cloth, so that the grower could protect the tobacco beds, without which protection there would have been no crop. He secured priority for tobacco twine so necessary in preparation for the curing. Whenever the tobacco farmer ex pressed a need and that need was possible to secure, it has been Herbert Bonner who has secured it. Is it possible that such acts on the part of a faithful officer will so soon be forgotten? Is it probable that these farmers will want to replace experience with inexperience? The same true and faithful servant they have needed during the past six years they are going to need during the next two years, when there is so much to be done in behalf of agriculture and so few in power to do it. Can the farmers' interest possibly be better protected by a man who knows no thing about their needs, who is unfamiliar with the details of legislation, who is unknown to the members of Congress, or will their interests be best served by one who enjoys the respect and confidence of that membership, who knows by experience what those needs are, who is familiar with the details of legisla tion and who knows where and how to get those in authority to present the views of his constituents, and to secure the passage of laws beneficial to his District and his people? The question answers itself. The best servant is the trained servant. The safest servant is the tried and proven servant. "I feel that the great majority of the voters of this District, and especially the peanut farmers, the tobacco farmers and the potato farmers, see the situation as I do, and I am convinced that the people of this District are not yet ready to entrust its destiny into the hands of a man whose perspective is steeped in the vision of the Poet Tennyson, who dreamed of a "Parlia ment of man, the Federation of the World," who would create an International Super Government, to which the Sovereign Government of the United States would be subordinate. "Do I misinterpret Mr. Humber's purpose when I read in the resolution which is his brain child, and which seemingly actuates his every thought, "that it is better for the world to be ruled by an International Sovereignty of Reason. Social Justice and Peace than by Diverse National Sovereignties or ganically incapable of preventing their own dissolution by con quest." I honestly believe that I express the views of the sov ereign people of the First District when I declare we sh;ill nev er agree to subordinate the Sovereign Power of the United States to a Super-Government composed of sixty-three or more nations, all of whom are already jealous of our great Country and more or less unfriendly to our interests. And nowhere in all America should any people be more opposed to such an idea than here where the first white child was born here, the very cradle of our democratic institutions. Are we ready to forego the traditions of 350 years and yield our birthright to the Super power of a Super-State? I declare that we are not and that we will so declare ourselves on May 25th when we return to the Congress the man who for five years upheld the wishes and supported the aims of that great American, whose untimely death occurred on April 12, 1945, and who, now inspired by the soul of that great man, will continue to uphold the hands of our President in all that tends to promote the welfare of this Country. "But I have not completed the catalog of the things that Herbert Bonner has done for the people of this District : 4. He has not confined his interest to the farmer, but he has had in mind the interests of the fishermen as well. He has sought to improve their lot, and by his efforts in their behalf, they have received a livable price for the food which they wrest from the waters of our District. They no longer face starvation. They are receiving an adequate return for their labor. The toils, dangers and hazards which they were want to risk in the past, and from which they eked a bare living, are now, by his sterling efforts in their behalf, requited, and they no longer occupy the lowly position which was once their sta tion. Are these people so soon to forget these labors in their behalf? Are they going to be lured from their position of secur ity and safety by the song of a Super-Government Siren? I have in you the same confidence that I have in the farmers, and again it is my honest belief that you will vote to return to Con gress the servant who has so well and faithfully served your in terest, "Such accomplishments as those recited are bound to bring recognition from his colleagues, and so we naturally ask How is Herbert Bonner regarded in Congress? The Committees to which he has been appointed bear testimony to his- recognition and to the esteem in which he is held by his colleagues. These committees are: Merchant Marine Committee, which during the war hand led the vast War Shipping and Coast Guard activities. Ranking member of the Committee on Accounts which has charge of the running expenses of the House. Ranking member of the Committee on Roads, which com mittee deals with Federal Aid to highways among its many oth er functions. Member of the Pension Committee which deals with Spanish-American War veterans. Member of the Fish and Wildlife Committee. Member of the Un-American Activities Committee. Chairman of the Committee on the Election of President, Vice-President and Representatives in Congress. "And on numerous occasions he has been appointed on Spe cial Committees to perform special and particular duties for the Congress. Recently he was sent to Panama to investigate the needs and requirements of the Panama Canal, and earlier he was sent to the South Pacific to investigate conditions at the various Army Posts and report to Congress. "As a member on the Committee on Merchant Marine, he sponsored an amendment to the bill providing for the sale of Merchant Marine vessels, which according to a Washington correspondent will save the Government some 250 to 300 mil lion dollars. "Many more of the things Herbert Bonner has done could he recited, but time forbids. Sufficeth it to say, such a record is worthy of our confidence such faithfulness in a public servant commands our esteem such devotion to duty demands its re wardsuch devotion to duty demands our respect. Is it too much to ask that you accord Herbert Bonner such esteem, such respect, such confidence when you express your choice on May 25th? I am confident that you will. "Something has been said about the war record of Mr. Hum ber about his visits to the war-torn battle fields of Kurope. All I can say about his war record is that it was short. In a re cent issue of the Readers Digest, this statement appeared: "Mr. Humber fought with an Artillery Company in France and thus learned the devastation of war." This statement is incorrect and 1 am sure Mr. Humber would want it corrected. His true rec ord is found in the office of the Adjutant General of the U. S. War Department. I (mote verbatim: "He attended the Student Army Training Corps at Plattsburg Barracks, New York from July 18 to September 15, 191 8. on which date he was honor ably discharged. His status while in attendance at this camp was that of a civilian in training for a commission. He accepted a Commission as 2nd Lt.. Field Artillery, on September 16, 1 9 1 8. and was honorably discharged December 14, 1918, at Camp Zachary Taylor, Kentucky, by reason of the demobili zation of the emergency forces." "That record, as far as it goes, is all right and not for one minute would I belittle it. 1 simply want to keep the record straight. On the other hand, if it becomes necessary in this cam paign to talk of records, I would remind you that Herbert Bon ner was a member of the Armed Forces of the United States in the First World War. and for twelve months fought upon the blood-soaked battle fie'ds of Fr::ncc. attaining by his conduct, his courage and his services the rank of Sergeant. The war re cords of these two rm?n are not cited as a reflection upon either, but merely to keep the record straight. "That Mr. Humber is brilliant, I admit. That he is an elo quent speaker, I do not deny. He is a true gentleman, and I would be the last one to cast any aspersions against him, but I know nothing of his politics. I do know that he has not resided in Pitt County since he became of age. He has spent the major portion of his years in a foreign country, where, according to an article in Readers Digest, he was connected with some oil interest, out of which he made a fortune. May I ask when did uch a connection qualify a stranger to the people of the First District, to represent them in Congress: What, may I ask, has Mr. Humber done, since he arrived at his majority, for the Democratic Party? What are his aims, his purposes and his objects if elected to Congress? What benefit do you, the people of the First District, expect if he is put in office? Shall we ig nore all that Herbert Bonner has done, his long service to the Democratic Party in this District, and return to Congress in his place a man about whom we know nothing except that he was born in Pitt County, spent most 8f his years in France, made .1 fortune out of oil. and now aspires to be the Representative of the most democratic people on earth, a worthy ambition it is true, but an ambition that should be satisfied only when he has fought the battle of the Democratic Party of this District and proven his worth by his service to its interests. "We know Herbert Bonner. We know his record. We know he has been faithful. We know that he has been loyal. We know that he has been devoted to hi people. His legislative record cannot be ignored. His experience as a law-maker will continue to stand him in great stead. His ability will continue to be rec ognized. His voice will continue to be heard in the Councils of the Nations and his people will rejoice that they had the fore sight to continue him as their Representative, that he may con tinue to lend his every effort to the promotion of their welfare. "And so I recommend to the voters of the First District that they send Herbert Bonner back to Congress, fully persuaded that one who has heretofore been so successful in all that he has undertaken for their benefit arid welfare, will continue to truly and wisely represent their interests and faithfully perform the duties of that great office. "As one of his friends, as one who knows that he came up through life the hard way, I make this appeal to the voters of the First District, to the end that each and every County in the District will join, as in one great and inseparable union, and re-elect as our Representative in Congress, a man who will serve our interests, a man who, at all times and upon all occasions, will uphold the traditions of a true democracy, who subscribes fully to the American Way of Life, whose acts,, words and ac complishments will redound to the credit.of us all, who, indeed, deserves your esteem, and throughout his career will continue to merit your confidence. In behalf of the First District I salute Congressman Bonner may he continue to represent us. I
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 10, 1946, edition 1
5
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