The Topeka state journal., 1919-09-08
But Young Colonel Has Nothing
To Say on Politics.
In Topeka for Speech at Big
- Free Fair Tonight.
AMERICANISM IS HIS PLEA
Soldiers of A. E. f. Have Set a
Pace for Patriotism.
Spoke Before Rotary Club at
Noon Luncheon.
who is Wilson ?'

By putting the accent on the word
''is'' Lieut.. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., in
an interview in Topeka today promptly
took all semblance of politics from
the conversation. And the simple
question asked by Roosevelt was all
that could be gotten from him of a
political nature. He maintains stoutly
that he is on a mission to interpret the
American Legion and its fundamental
principles, and that politics has moth
ing to do with the legion. therefore he
has nothing to say about politics.
Colonel Roosevelt was a guest of the
Rotary club at a special luncheon at
the Chamber of Commerce this noon.
This evening at GAS o'clock he will
speak in the Peoples pavilion at the
Kansas Free Fair. An effort is to be
made to have him give a five minutes
talk in front of the grandstand i'm
mediately after his speech at the Peo-
pies pavilion. He leaves Topeka for
Denver at sos o'clock this evening.
just Like His Fnther.
Roosevelt is a real son of his ia
ther. He is "dee-lighted" to meet one
and at many times during a CONVEX
sation he is "dee-lighted'' to say such
and such a thing or something else is
on matters legionary are clean-cut and
concise and he has his fathers trick
of turning nearly everything he says
into an epigram of all-embracing ma
ture. He is intolerant of anything
less than 100 per cent Americanism
and takes much pleasure in relating
stories of the activities of the Legion
in making the taking out of citizen
ship papers, hard for those who "were
not American enough to fight for
America but were American enough to
live and eat from America"
He Is AIl-American.
The entire interview today was an
outline of the policies of the American
Legion. Roosevelt said that the
American Legion is absolutely nom
partisan in ideal and in practice. He
related stories of meetings of leaders
OF the Legion In many parts OF the
United States and told of the many
times he has imagined a man to be
either a Republican or a Democrat
only to find him on the opposite side
OF the party fence.
Colonel Roosevelt declared that the
American Legion is against I. w. w.
ism, Bolshevism. and red card Social
ism in any or all phases. HE pointed
with pride to the many resolutions
passed at various times by local and
state posts of the Legion against these
three evils of present day Amera-
canism.
1t Is 100 Per Cent Pure.
gion is today the greatest exponent of
1008o Americanism in the nation. He
said that the members of the legion
are the men who are fndisputably
1000 Americans. He said that the
legion is the cradle of future pa
triotism.''
Speaking of the accusation made a
short time ago by e local Washing
ton correspondent, Colonel Roosevelt
a u & h e derisively and heartily,
showed his teeth as did his sire before
him and scornfully and half derisively
said. ''the American Legion Is as much
Democratic machine as it is a IRE
publican machine. OF course since
the legion Las no politics it must be of
Democratic origin as charged"
Talk at Rotary Club.
The American Legion stands for 100
per cent Americanism. 1t is based on
true patriotism as its fundamental
principle, and nothing less than Amer
lea. 100 per cent and all the time, is
considered by its membership.
This was the whole tenor of the
talk given at the special luncheon of
the Rotary club at the Chamber of
Commerce this noon by Lieut.. Col.
Theodore Roosevelt. jr. Roosevelt was
introduced this noon by Thomas
self has an enviable record in the war.
Young Lee is the son of the late Judge
Lee of Topeka He went overseas as
an ambulance driver. but felt himself
too little of man in that work and
promptly enlisted as a private in the
army of the United States. Lee served
thru the war in this capacity He is
the head of the local chapter of the
American Legion.