Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1919-11-21
AMERICAN LEGION
WR|TESPLATF0RM
FOR 1920 VOTING
CONVENTION WHICH HAS BEEN
IN SESSION AT MINNEAPOLIS
ADOPTED POLICIES WHICH
BOTH PARTIES ARE BOUND TO
RECOGNIZE IN DRAWING UP
THEIR PLATFORMS.

MINNEAPOLIS, Mimi, Nov, 21-
The greater part of the platforms
to be adopted by the political parties
in the 1920 presidential campaign has
Just been written at the convention of
the American Legion in this city.
Although the legion has declared
time and again against political inter.
ference of any kind either by the or
gyanizat.on of any of its officials, it is
conceded by leaders at the convention
that the political parties could not pos
slbly overlook the policies of the Am
erican Legion.
According to the Legion's constitu-
ton and it's act of incorporation it
must be purely non-political, but par
ties will try their best to win the un-
official favor of the former soldiers
by the adoption of policies passed up
On at the convention here, 49,
Americanism is Basis.
Those policies are based fundamen-
tally upon the doctrine of 100 per cent.
Americanism.
Sectionalis will be avoided as much
as possible, as the Legion avoided it
in the convention,
Legislation favoring the returned
soldiers in matters of civil employ,
nent, insurance, vocational training
and loans for the purchase of farms
or homes will be included.
Matters of foreign and domestic
policy of the United States passed up
on ON at the Legion convention are
also expected to be brought up at the
1920 political campaign.
Congress now has before its COM
nlittees nearly 1000 bills affecting
the former soldier i'm some way.
All have been held up pending the
action of the American Legion upon
the subjects of these bills.
While the former soldiers have de-
clared their position with regard tt
most of these bills, the buck has beer
passed back to congress on some.
May Throw Bonus Into Politics.
The bonus especially has been the
greatest bone of contention among
the delegates of the former service
men, and it is expected to be so or
the floor of congress.
That it will be taken up by The
political parties at the next conven
tion if the matter has not been passed
upon before them, is the belief of mer
prominent in the Legion.
The failure of the Legion to act pos
itively upon the matter is expectel
to result in similar inaction by con
gress and the matter of bonus fol
the ex-service men may come up II
next years political platform.
So far as the American Legion as Z
body is concerned, it is pledged tc
keep away from the political battles
that will be waged around the poll
ties the Legion has adopted.
The rejection of the minority re-
port of the political restrictions com
mlttee, which allowed more leeway tt
members in matters of politics, pro
hibits the Legion from advocating any
measure on a political platform ever
though that measure may have beer
based on a policy of the American
Legion.
The future military policy of tbs
country, immigration, deportation oi
undesirable aliens and other suct
problems now uppermost in the minds
Of Americans have been taken up an,
program adopted by the legion, bu
when made political issues they viii
be left to the discretion of the indi
vidual members.