Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-18
LEGION |SPLEDGED
T0LAW AND ORDER
SUPPORT IN nation
National Commander Heard
at Liberty Hut Rally of
Local Branch.

PfVptIIE constituted was
pledged by National Commander
Franklin DOlier of the American Lee
gion at a rally in Liberty Hut last
night. the meeting being the final
feature of a three day conference of
state and national officers in this city
to speed up government action in be-
half Of former service men.
So late did the conferees remain in
session last night that. with the ex-
ception of the national commander.
they were unable to attend the rally
which was organized by the local de-
partment of the legion. The program
included addresses by Department
Commander f. Lester Jones' Commits
Mitchell and Commander D'Olier. in
addition to musical and dancing num-
bers.
Present American Policy.
an protecting our country from
foes without, we shall endeaVor 10
assist in the adoption of military
policy which will keep us and our
children and our children's children
from foreign aggression, SAID Mr..
D'Olier. "a policy truly American
and truly democratic. based on the
principles of equality of ooIigalon1
universal training which will make
good citizens for our country ana
provide a citizen army ana nav! upon
which the nation can rely.
y
foes within. our stand for law and or
der and our insistence upon the mann
tenance of law and order and the Sale-
guarding of our institutions Will ne
vigorous and uncompromising. AS
good soldiers. when necessary. we
strucl, hard. but always in accordance
with competent military authority. AS
! civilians with an ever keener sense
of our responsibilities of cltizenship'
we shall continue to strike hard when
necessary. but always in accordance
with competent authority which we
realize now is civilian and not mill
tary and originates in the ConStitu-
| ton of the United States as expressed
| through national. state and local gov
| eminent
| Neither national. nor state nor any
local organization has any right nor
! will il presume ever to take the law
| into its own hands or interfere with
proper authority. The American lie ,
| gion will, to man. support ana
strengthen the properly constituted
agencies responsible for the mainte-
nance of law and order.
Raps Vigilance Committees.
I'VE must always clearly bear in
mind that any disposition on the part
of individual members of the Ameri-
can Legion or Of local posts to take
| the law into their own hands. to reg
ulate by force or demonstration or
forceful intent what is contrary to
our Interpretation of 100 per cent
Americanism, or to act as self-con-
stituted vigilance committees in dis
regard of lawful and properly con-
stituted authority. is not only sub
versive of the principles and ideals
of the American Legion. but will
weaken and tend to destroy our infiu-
ence for good in this country.
I'm our efforts to assist in the main
tenance of law and order the Ameri-
can Legion must itself set an example
of lawful and orderly action. The
American Legion has become so
strong that we need fear no force
from without: but let us be sure that
no overzealous or thoughtless or un-
fair act of our own occur to weaken
our influence for good or ALLEVIATE the
support of all true Americans.
Our service to our comrades in
need and their families and the fam
lilies of those who have paid the SUI
preme sacrifice will be constant one
we shall never neglect. The first Of
fetal act of the new administration
of the legion was to arrange for a
meeting here in Washington of all
state commanders to do just one
thing-secure more liberal treatment
and more adequate service, especially
for the disabled men and their fam
lilies. We have just finished up three
days and evenings of hard work. and
we nope tndl tne CoIHiiIttVVS
of Congress are impressed with the
necessity for immediate legislation by
which the debt of honor which this
country owes her protectors who have
given so much will be paid promptly
and ungrudgingly.'
Tribute to Women's Work.
Department Commander Jones paid
high tribute to the work of the
women during the war and said the
! women's auxiliary would soon be
functioning in large way. He ex-
tended a welcome to the members of
the auxiliary present and said they
were regarded as a vital part OF the
organization. Reviewing the work Of
| the legion in this city. he said it had
found employment for 2.1O0 former
"Manyt perplexing problems are al
ready before U.S." he said, problems
so large that they require most Sc
| rious consideration and wise judg-
! ment. 1t will take time to work them
| out. to arrive at the right answer. but
] feel confident that the answers will
! be found.
| Engineer Commissioner Kutz said
| that the Commissioners looked to the
legion members of this city to assist
| Capital in the same way that the
Board Of Trade. the Chamber of Com
merce and the citizens associations
help. which was by organizing and
4
[ The big stage at Liberty Hut was
! decorated with Christmas evergreens,
/ Mrs Anna f. Thompson being in
charge of that feature. A bouquet of
! roses sent from the White House con-
servatories by Mrs. Woodrow Wilson,
added bright touch to the ensemble.
State Commanders' Meeting.
! While the rally at Liberty Hut was
| in progress the state commanders of
the legion were winding up their three
! day task and drawing up specific sug-
| gestionS for action.
! During the afternoon Brig. Gen. Lord,
director of finance for the War De-
! partment: V. w. Lambkin, chief of
| the rehabilitation division Of the Fed
| eral Board for Vocational Education,
and Surgeon Lavinder, representing
the public health service. appeared be-
| fore the legion representatives and
were questioned closely in regard to
| the activities of their departments.
| Specific cases were employed in
rapid succession by the legion dele
! gates in developing complaints of in
| efficiency and in illustration of changes
in administrative practice requested
! by the former service men.
j Commander DOlier assured the gov
| crnment officials at the close of the
inquiry that the legion had no specific
complaint against them. but that such
must not be interpreted to mean the