Albuquerque morning journal., 1919-05-28
AND LEGION HEBUKED.

IT is often said that no one man Is
essential to The success of any gov
ernment or of any enterprise. Hn'
Then serious disarrangemen' OFTEN le-
suits from changes in the personnel
of an organization that is securing
reeults, Ii is unfortunate tlat loiu-
cal cabinet officers at Washington
roshlv upset bureaus. and TlSK ne"
men and new methods because SONG
subordinate has initiative and goes
ahead without using soft soap with
every body who happens to be in
higher place,
Recently the public service and vel
fare of soldiers and their dependents
were ignored by an angry autocrate
ey-congressman who succeeded Sec
retary McAdoo.
With reference to the greatest sin
gle relief organization ever effected in
any army" General Pershing, some
time ago, wrote as follows:
The war-risk section organized by
the late Major willard b. Straight anG
Colonel Henry ID. Linsle. Is the
greatest single war-relicf organization
ever instituted n any army Ihe
painstaking, scrupulous care taken by
members of that section TO keep conf
plote and accurate account OF the SOL
diers' liabilities 10 his dependents, re-
sulting in the quick payment OF such
obligations with its consequent alleNla-
tlon OF distress. is in itself worthy of
"A
tor in sustaining the morale of our
army. the work of assisting to lift the
financial burden off the shoulders OF
countless numbers of soldiers having
dependents, deserves great praise.
Colonel Linslcy was war voIun-
teer. from civil life had a fine record
in Texas banking circles was an ef-
ficient mayor of Dallas. left office for
war service, won promotion in the
field, was selected for the war-rsk
feature in the army abroad. lie made
such n signal success as to cause his
selection for director of the bureau. at
Washington. He resigned the army
position to accept the civil! appoint
ment
That he won the appreciation of
men as well as of the American com
mander in chief abroad was shown at
St Louis. He was elected by the
] 900 representative veterans from
over the seas. chairman of the Ameri-
can legion, without reference to the
fact that he was a democrat. as soon
as Colonel Roosevelt. a republican,
proposed the Texan for the office.
The eX-service men will regret that
Linsley the present head OF the
legion, was forced out of depart
ment established for service men and
their dependents. The legion Will
probably make him Il permanent Of
ficer in the organization work to
which he says he now devotcs all of
his time. without compensation.
It may he that Secretary Glass and
the civilian secretary of var felt that
Director Lnsley, by becoming head
Of the American legion Of veterans.
was encouraging an associ atm lhat
threatened TO have more TO aav about
government affairs than would be
welcomed; and that It was time 10
mako an example, as warning
against activity in army interests by
eX-soldiers and legion members.
The legion had not feared to de-
nounce the policy of Secretary Baker
in releasing, honoring ana plling
drafted men who sneake out of eht-
ing By claiming their conscinnces
would not permit,
Tho outburst of temper o. Secretary
Glass and HIS published ac atsal on
that Linsley was asked to resign be-
cause he was pr@sumptious, followed
soon after the st. Louis election, and
the condemnation by resolution Of
Secretary Bakers treatment OF sairk-
ers and towards.