New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1919-10-29
Y VETERANS PRIOR
TO LEGION CLAIM
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PUB
Lie BY w. w. VETERANS
OF MINNEAPOLIS.
AMERICAN LEGION FORMED BY
OFFICERS ONLY, 1T IS
STATED.

The significance of the antagonism
between the World War Veterans and
the American Legion, two organizations
formed by former service men, is not
generally known. The former which
is the older by birth lays claim to be the
logical organization for the common
soldier. Its name and purpose is not as
generally known as those of its sister
Organization for the simple reason that
/ it was not given the publicity that was
accorded the American Legion by the
Daily papers. The following open letter
from the secretary of the World War We
terans will give our readers the desired
information on this subject.
Answers Questions.
Now that Harrison Fuller, chair
man of the Minnesota branch of the
American Legion, has come out with
this statement that the integrity,
loyalty and sincerity of the World
War Veterans is not to be questioned, =
Ealso Mr.. Fuller claims that there is no
quarrel between the two organizations
as long as they stand for the same thing,
the public will ask these questions: Why
lshould there be two returned service
mems organizations standing for the
[sarne thing with only a difference in name.
Why shall they not unite into one big
organization?
To answer these questions and for
the purpose of general information
to the public as well as to some of
/ the afReers and members Of the AmAri-
can Legion, the World War Veterans
organization is issuing this open letter.
It is not an attack on any individual
or organization It is simply explaining
the case of the World War Veterans
and setting forth the reason why this
organization does not affiliate with
the American Legion.
Formed Nine Days After Peace.
First-The National World War Vet
Grams was organized at Paris nine days
after the arrnistice was signed. Why
organize the American Legion as dual
organization four months later?
Second Why did General Perish
/ ing communicate with the war de
partment his wish that the govern
ment assist in the formation of an
4 association" the American Legion. Ac-
cording to the National World War
Veterans of the month of August, the
feeling of the service men was that they
were ordered in by the administration
to associate themselves with a ready
made organization, while other service
mems EXAMINATIONS we're suppressed
by the officers.
/ Legion Formed by Officers.
/ Third Why was the American Legion
started by order from general head
1 quarters, where officers only We're present
and not even one private was present at
the meeting where the formation of the
legion took place? This quotation Of an
American Legion reprint from Col
Iier's Of May 10, 1919, will prove the
previous statement: ''The army in
France had been trained for war. Fol-
lowing the arnistice it was confronted
4 with peace That created new condi-
lions for discussion, of which 20 National
Guard and reserve officers, representing
the S. o. S. 10 infantry divisions and
several other organizations, were called
to Paris by order of general headquarters
on Feb. Is, 1919. They finally decided
that they were representative enough
as a temporary committee for the
gathering together from the whole army
! OF two caucuses, one to be representative
Of the troops in France and the other
of those who serve. in America Lieu
tenant Colonel Roosevelt was elected
temporary chairman and Lieutenant
Colonel Wood temporary secretary
We fail to see one private in the nucleus
of the American Legion. They were
alt officers.
200 Privates in Caucus of 1850.
/ Fourth Why did officers dominate
the st. Louis caucus? From tabula-
ted report about the representation of
the St Louis caucus in the Soldiers,
sailors and Marines Weekly, it IS re-
Ivealed that, out Of 1850 delegates,
only about 200 we're privates, and the
rest were all officers from general down.
Fifth Why was the bonus resolu-
ton turned down? The explanation
offered by the Hennepin county central
committee that the bonus resolution
was merely not acted upon because
Continued on page 2.