Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-25
LEGION RESENTS
MAYORS ACTION.
Refusal to Convey invitation Of
Soldiers to Cardinal Mercier
lncenses Veterans
SEND LETTER TO OFFICIAL

Former service men identified with
the American Legion resent Mayor
Smiths refusal to transmit their invi-
tation asking Cardinal MERCER to ap-
pear for a few minutes at their rally
in the Academy of Music tomorrow
night.
'No. | will not ask the cardinal to
consider the matter" the Mayor is
quoted as replying TO the invitation.
which was sent through him as head OF
the official welcoming committee.
Frank W. Melvin, chairman of the
committee in charge of the rally. has
taken issue with the Mayors alleged
curt refusal to present the invitation.
"A large percentage Of the member.
ship of the American Legion crossed
the seas and fought to drive the Ger
mans from Belgian soil," declared Mr..
Melvin. "And it is partly due to their
efforts and sacrifices that Cardinal
MERCER was freed from virtual i'm
prisOnment and is able today to be ali
honored guest on American soil. Nat
urally. we feel that he himself should
say whether or not he can find the time
to greet American veterans of the great
war.
Members of the legion also cr,ticizc
Mayor Smith for his failure to include
former service men on the official com
mittCe that will welcome Cardinal Met
cier to Philadelphia tomorrow. They
feel that it would be highly appropriate
for the committee welcoming the
fighting cardinal" to include Ameri-
can fighting men.
Mr.. Melvin sent this letter to Mayor
Smith:
Dear sir--This present week marks
the holding of a series of large and
enthusiastic rallies by the American
Legion. composed of the soldiers.
sailors and marines who made victory
possible in the recent great war. These
meetings will eliminate in great final
rally in the Academy of Music on this
Friday evening. at which Major Gen
eral Waller Will preside.
After having been properly author
lied l preferred through his honor.
Judge Monaghan. to YOU as the official
head of the Philadelphia reception com.
mittee, a request that Cardinal Mercier
be informed of this veterans rally. and
if not incompatible with his plans and
those of your committee. that YOU re-
quest him to visit the Academy of Music
meeting on Friday evening, even
though his stay could not be pro-
longcd for more than five minutes.
Il have just received from your
brother and secretary the information
that you would not ask the cardinal
to consider the matter.
Il have fully in mind the facts of the
cardinals advanced years and the strain
that the days events will naturally de.
mand of his vitality. but | nevertheless
deplore. upon behalf of the veterans of
the world war in Philadelphia. that YOU
have seen fit to return this abrupt re
fusal to our courteous request and have
declined to consider giving his eminencc
the opportunity to make the decision
himself.
"Inasmuch as. first. no official or un e.
official representatives of the American
Legion have been requested to serve on
the Mayors reception committee: sec
Ond. a strong feeling exists among the
service men and women of this city that
had it not been for their sacrifices the
cardinal might still be prisoner in
! Germany and your reception an impos-
sibility and. third. because the veterans
! feel that the cardinal himself would
wish to extend a brief word of encour .
agement and approval to those who
| fought on behalf of Bclgium---for these
reasons | wish to inform YOU that the
| service men and women of Philadelphia
resent your short sighted action and
, hereby voice this dignificd protest
! against decision of which we feel Ger
| tain the cardinal himself would not ap-
! prove.