The Colorado statesman., 1919-09-13
LIEUT.. COL. ROOSEVELT STRONG
LY DEFENDS AMERICAN
INSTITUTIONS.

When Lieut. Col. Theodore Roose-
welt addressed an audience of 10000
people at the city Auditorium last
Tuesday evening on behalf of the Am
erican Legion, the newly formed AS
Sociation for the men who saw service
in the late Worlds War, "reminiscences
the most interesting and impressive of
his fathers life-work for American
ideals and the preservation of Ameri-
can institutions were beautifully pOr-
trayed in the speakers emphatic dec
laration for sane constructive liber-
aism for the American people. In pre-
senting the cause of the American Le-
gion. the Colonel informed his hearers
that the work of the men who saw ser
vice did not end with the war, and
the Legion was formed with the idea
of putting something into the govern
ment instead of taking out of it. AT
the present time when grave. problems
are confronting the nation" said the
speaker. 1.-THE men who served in war
should be banded together so that they
could express their opinions on broad
national policies which would be to
the best interests of the country"
Colonel Roosevelt boldly defended the
Constitutional America and denounced
fearlessly all opponents who refused
to carry out its provisions in giving
square deal to the American irrespec-
tive of race creed, or class who would
not make sacrifices for his country,
who would not die for its cause. Con-
tinuing the Colonel said, "the Legion
was organized to preserve three pat
riotic impulses caused by the war
1t has declared itself on the subject
of deportation of alien slackers.
man who won't die for his country
tary policy of this country than the
should not be allowed to live off it,"
Who" said the Colonel, 'is more
competent to give opinions on the mill
tary policy of this country than the
American Legion, and there are many
questions of public policy on which
they must take IL stand? The Legion
should use its influence to uphold law.
Rioting is Rioting, and until order is
restored there is no time for discus
sing the rights and wrongs of Il ques-
ton" After taking II firm stand for
peaceful, harmonious, good govern
ment, the Colonel denounced all forms
of lawlessness and mob rule, and said
that the originatOrs of such should be
treated as criminals and nothing less,
whether they are Bolshevists, !. w. w.
or anything else. The fact having been
established that the American Legion
is not political organization, is pure
ly American, and that it has no more
to do with parties, races or creeds now
than when its members formed the
greatest brotherhood of sacrifice and
service in the history of mankind, we
sincerely hope that our men who are
part and parcel of this great nation,
and who shared in this DemocratriZa-
tion but yesterday, will not allow this
opportunity to pass by, but get in the
Colorado quota of 9,43S men out OF
the 4O.S7O the state sent to war. The
drive for membership for the organiza-
tion is 100000, and already there are
over 100000. We live in the same
country. speak the same language,
never have been accredited as slackers,
therefore in the call for members to
ioin of 100 per cent Americanism, let
the American of dark appearance do
his part thereby proving the principles
of right and justice underlying this or
ganization of which there is none
its scope.