The sun., 1919-08-08
ROOSEVELT TELLS i
OF LEGION'S WORTH
Lieutenant-COlonel Writes On
"Why / Back the
Legion"
HE'S FOR AMERICA FIRST
Sees It as Bulwark Against
Anarchy in This
Country.


current American Legion Weekly by
Lieut. Col. Theodore Roosevelt. Presi-
dent Rooscvelt's eldest son was one Of
those who took an active part In the
organisation Of the Legion when 1t was
first conceived by a number OF American
officers and soldiers In France, and he
was active in launching the society in
this country. He declined the national
Craftsmanship at the Legion convention
held at st. Louis in May. in spite of
the fact that he was the unanimous
choice Of the delegates for the Office.
In the current Weekly, he says:
The American Legion Is the spon-
taneous growth Of the sentiments of
the service men; its creed represents
the thought of all; 1t is essentially n
civilian organization II is concerned
primarily with the welfare of the United
States and Individual members. Among
the thousands who aided in the early
stages OF Its organization. there was
absolute accord in the following prin-
ciples:
should he Non-Partissn.
First the organization should be
non-partlsan. concerning itself possibly
with policies, but never with partisan
politics. Second. its membership should
be composed of service men and women,
regardless Of whether they served over
seas or were unfortunate enough to
have their duty keep them in this
country. Third. II should be really
civilian and in its councils. General and
private, Admiral and COB would be
treated on the same basis.
Through all Of its actions the doc
trine Of Americanism stands foremost.
By It the impulses of patriotism gener-
ated in the great war will be crystal
Lied and preserved for the future good
Of the nation. Its fields Of useful ac-
tivity are bounded only by the desires
Of It's members.
There has been much talk about the
Bolsheviki, the /. w. w. and the Red
Flag Socialists. Many people have ex-
pressed fears concerning the attitude OF
our army on these menaces. There is
no need for such fear. The strongest
bulwark this country can have against
lawless anarchy is this society COM
having given up himself to the country.
intends to see that this country which
h' loves comes to no harm.
It's Cards on the Table.
TT has been the policy of the Ameri-
can Legion. wherever have come In
contact with 1t, to play the game with
all the cards on the table. The service
man will not tolerate any other form
OF organization. He wishes. at all times,
to be able not only to tell any one what
he Is doing, but equally to be able to
ind out anything that the organization.
through some other branch. may be
doing.
''To any one who knows the American
service man this Is absolutely normal.
He Is square and will not associate him.
self with. an organization unless 1t 10
square. 'oa
THE reason 1 urge all service men
not only to join but to take an active
part in the affairs of this organization
Is that through IL they can express
themselves. In its ranks they find the
men who have done the same trick that
they have done and with whose ideas
they are thoroughly in sympathy. They
can make the organization what they
wish, and 1 have no fear for anything
that the organisation may do 30 long as
they take an active interest In It,
80 far, I have spoken mainly of how
the service man can use the organiza-
ton Cor the benefit OF this country. or
course, this benefits him. but there are
other more practical methods OF help
ing the service men which the organ
ization Is using. or may use II its mem
bers SO desire. At this time, there is
established Unemployment bureau. In
addition, there is the War Risk Insur-
ance Department. for handling questions
of allotments. insurance. &C. In many
OF the communities clubhouses are es-
tabiished which will form the meeting
places where the thought of the COM
munity Is interchanged and its opinions
LeGton's History Clean.
I'm addition to these activities which
have been organized already. 1t lies
within the power of the Legion to in
stitute a system of benefits for old age.
disa bility, &C, and a legal department.
the best legal advice may be
available. There would be men 20 under
take such work as detailed above, not
from the point OF view of the hired en-
ployee serving his employer, but rather
from the point of view of one comrade
helping another comrade
1.-THE history of the actions OF the
American Legion Is az clean as a
hounds tooth. For all the statements
l have made above there Is a guarantee
In the actions OF the caucuses composed
Of men drawn from every State in the
Union, Of every creed and race, of every
walk in life that you find in the country.
In no uncertain terms the ST. Louis
registered itself on the Boil
in the confession of faith
adopted at the Paris Caucus the Same
principles arc set forth.
AS a member OF the American
Legion, feel I am a member OF the