The sun., 1919-03-27
Nationwide Organization of
War Veterans Expected to
Check Bolshevism.
TO INFLUENCE POLITICS
Lieutenant-Colonel Says Con-
duct Of War Abroad Cannot
Become an Issue.

part In the determination of the mill
;ary. naval and economic problems of
the country, were discussed informally
last night by Lieut. Theodore
Roosevelt, who returned recently from
France to put into concrete form some
ot the plans already developed by men,
beers OF the American Expeditionary
Force.
In making the announcement Lieut.
Col. Roosevelt, while confirming THE
SUNS story of last Monday that he in
tended to chuck his hat into the politi-
cal arena sooner or later, eaid that he
vas candidate for no particular ONCE
AT this. time, but that his immediate ef-
forts would be devoted to the organiza-
ton OF what is tentatively known as the
American Legion. Lieut. Col. Roosevelt
- one OF group of American officers
abroad who conceived the idea Of a
virile organization Of veterans of the
war to study peace and reconstruction
problems at homo from q non-partisan
viewpoint and with the perspective Of
men who have had physical contact with
the war.
Membership in the organization, how
ever. Is not to be confined to men who
were overseas, but to any person who
has been in the service of the country.
1t Is possible and probable that women
will be included.
Convention In Sc. Louis in May.
According to present plans a general
convention of delegates from every State
is to be called in st. Louis during the
FIRST week in May. The number Of dele
gates and the method of their selection
and other preliminary details are being
worked out now by Lieut.-Col Roose-
welt and some OF his associates. Fur
Their announcement regarding the gen.
eral scope of the movement will be made
within few days.
II believe that such an organization
will be OF immense value" Lieut.. Col
Roosevelt said II believe that its adj
vice will be sought by all political par
ties when II comes to the construction of
a platform involving military, naval or
economic problems. i believe also that
Il will prove TO be a practical and effec-
tive method OF checking the Bolshevism
movement that Is spreading through Eu-
rope and which some people here view
with concern. II will also aid materially
In finding employment for returned SOL
diers"
Tentative plans for the st. Louis con-
vention provide for the attendance OF
delegates from the military and naval
sentatives of local organizations already
formed. to the END that all these may
be welded into one national society that
will concern itsel: with the future OF the
country. Membership will be open to all
ranks OF every branch of the service.
His Political Plans Uniformed.
Lieut-Col Roosevelt said yesterday
that he was not ready to make any an
nouncement OF his own political plans
81 believe" he said, that any state
ment along that line would be prema-
ture. In fact, l have no idea. Some
thing has been said about my being a
candidate for President OF the Board OF
Aldermen. l am not candidate for
that Office
He admitted that he had talked with
a number of persons influential in a po-
ltical way-frierds OF his father upon
whom he could depend for advice He
feels and admits that he is not equipped
in experience for such a place as Presi-
dent OF the Board of Aldermen, and
while some OF his most enthusiastic
friends have urged him to announce his
candidacy, his own inclnations are to-
ward a seat in Congress or the State
Legislature.
"I suppose" he added naively, "since
j am going into public life that will
have to be a candidate for something
sooner or later. but at present and for
some time am going to be pretty busy
with the veterans organization
Roosevelt appraised his political
status thus: II have he said certain
ideas and some ambitions. a war record
OF which need not be ashamed. and I
have-many OF my fathers friends.
Those are my assets. My liabilites--it
! may express II that way-consist
chiefly OF an appalling ignorance OF what
has been going on in this country for the
last two years"
Is Not Ignorant of Politics.
While young Roosevelt's name has
last week in a political way he is not so
ignorant OF political matters as some OF
his closest friends believed. He was one
~ n group OF young Republicans who
brought about the nomination OF Hiram
johnson for Governor OF California in
1910. He speaks Familiarity and init
Irately OF many OF the bigwigs of the
Republican party. and although during
the lifetime OF his father his own politi-
he nevertheless had them. To-day they
are more clearly defined.
Lieut., Sol. Roosevelt is-SS -ticularly
INTERESTED In the problem5 Confronting
the country with respect to organized
labor. He believes that one OF the chief
problems to be solved in the reconstruc-
ton era lies In the formation of a prac-
teal and feasible policy of reconciliation
between capital and labor-a policy that
while being universal in its scope will
be elastic enough to permit OF it's APP
plication TO various classes of industry.
Lieut.. Col. Roosevelt believes that these
and kindred problems will form the Issue
In the next national election.
"I do not believe" he said. that the
League of Nations will be an issue or
prohibition or suffrage. The Issue will
be the solution OF economic problems
There may be sporadic outburts against
prohibition, but when all Is said and
done what opposition there 10 to prohibit
ton lies not toward prohibition itself
but against the way 1t was brought
about"
War Issue In the Cam pa Ign.
win the conduct Of The war. in your
spinion. become an issue?'- Col. Roose-
welt was asked.
Sat home--yes. Abroad--no. The
person who raises the issue OF the con-
duct OF the war abroad or who tries
20 make an issue OF II would be FOOL
The answer 10 written--we did It. Al
HONEYWELL that 10 something else. There
may be questions OF. cost and waste
3 and misplaced ehergy that, might beai
inveztigation." n
The League Of Nations. Lieut.-lei
TfooseveIt beijeyes. will be dead duck