Major General William Crawford Gorgas / [Franklin H. Martin].
- Franklin Henry Martin
- Date:
- [1929]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Major General William Crawford Gorgas / [Franklin H. Martin]. Source: Wellcome Collection.
61/92 page 49
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Major General William Crawford Gorgas / [Franklin H. Martin]. Source: Wellcome Collection.
![the Owen-Dyer bill, asking them to abandon the essential features thereof, was adopted as a ruse of the opposition in an effort to gain its point. At nine o’clock in the morning, after an interview with Senator Owen and a conference with the official advisors of his own department, General Gorgas came to the writer’s office, much depressed. The conference committee was to report early in the afternoon and the two branches of Congress were to take a final vote on the ratification of the bill. They had urged that he should consent to abandon the superior rank and be satisfied to retain the lieutenant colonels and colonels, or otherwise he would lose all. Before deciding the matter, he wanted to obtain my reaction and advice, inasmuch as we had always been in absolute accord on the subject and had consulted each other on all changes of policy. He recited the whole story and, instead of asking my advice as to what his attitude toward a compromise should be, asked me what I would do under the circum¬ stances. I was deeply concerned at the turn of affairs, and appreciative of the sense of responsibility under which the General was laboring. He had been urged to compromise further. What should he do? He had fought so hard and so long for his precious bill, and by holding out he might lose all, whereas by yielding he might spare something. But he had asked me a question: What would I do? Finally I said: “General, I would not yield another inch.” He rose from his chair, rushed over to me, grasped my hand, and said: “1 hoped you would say that. In my own mind I had already decided on that course.” [49]](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b29976881_0061.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
