Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-10-17
NEW MEXICo'S PRIDE.


Today Albuquerque and the state
are proud of the hundreds of the
New Mexico organization of the Am
erican Legion. who are assem- oled
here. There is certainly pot Stacker,
a dodger, coward, an anarchist
among them. Called in defense OF
mankind against race gone war
mad. and to make a foe powerless to
invade America, zealously they went
TO the fray. Conquering any human
fear that may have come at times,
they earned the thanks Of the world
as well as of their own people. With
out vain glorification they are now
taking up civilian duties with greater
sense of responsibility and realization
of the possibilities of doing great
work by sticking together in sup
port Of principles and policies to make
America invincible in war. Through
unity they mean to speed the nation
along the lines mapped out by the
founders of the government. which, 50
for the welfare of all people.
OF the ex-service men who are here,
there is not one who could be coerced
or influenced to join a band OF
noisy denouncers of government.
Probably not one would fail to re-
spond to the call of Legion command
ers to join in suppressing ruthless
men who seek alike to overthrow the
government and to paralyze indus
tries to the detriment of workers,
with the idea of establishing the sort
of system that is the curse of Russia
today.
In large part these young men of
New Mexico who went to war are de-
scendants of a pioneer race that
bravely endured the dangers of prim-
tive warfare with Indians, overcame
the hardships of the wilderness and
when civilization was accomplished
welcomed the coming of the American
government to the western homes
they had founded. Loyalty they
fought for the country whenever con-
flict came. In war. side by side with
the natives whose progenitors were
of Latin blood, but generations ago.
became only Americans, are sons of
sires who later came from other Am
erican states.
Held in the bonds of comradeship
when they fought as brothers, orr
mingled in camps with equal pride of
ancestry, the young citizens of New
relations, pledging mass and mutual
adherence to resist evil and advance
community country and Americansm.
The American Legion today in the
making gives promise of being the
greatest steadying factor in prevent
ing radical vagaries from weakening
the morale of the people. Legion in
fluence will serve to stop many trou-
bles before serious stage can come.
And If disorder begins the men of the /
Legion in New Mexico will be found
doing as did those of other states |
when emergencies came. |
In Boston, in Omaha. in Seattle, in
Gary, the American Legion members
by thousands volunteered to enforce
peace when mobs were endangering
lives and property. The service men
saw enough in Europe to make them
stand against mob lawlessness.
Before General Leonard Wood
reached Gary with regular soldiers,
sent by request of the Indiana gov
ernor to prevent disorder, the Gary
Legion commander called members
together and told them the situation
was dangerous for the public. Prompt
" 1900 ex-soldiers volunteered for
service.
1t goes without saying that these
men were not acting with a desire TO
shed blood. They saw enough of
slaughter overseas. 1t was to pre-
vent violence that they again put on
uniforms and lined up for duty.
Thanks to the evidence that there
would be rough handling of any who
deserved it, the disturbance was mod
Grated. General Wood and his troops
had no difficulty. There We're said
to be 1000 members of the Legion
who were strikers. Twenty of them
we're taken into camp, ordered to {
wear no uniform and to behave them
selves. They probably counseled 9TH
m strikers to go easy knowing what
o expect from the trained forces
whose desire for peace was evident. /
! Fy recent rulingsof the Legion. men i
I4iil in the service are eligible TO |
membership and will bring to the