Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-09-30
LEGION NEUTRAL
ON LABOR MATTERS
After Heated Discussion Con.
ventior Endorses D'Olier's
Statement-Poppy Adopted as
Lepion's Memorial Flower

cleveland. Ohio, Sept. 2s.-The second
annual convention Of the American
Legion. in session here, to-day under
went A barraec Of resolutions and com
mittee reports and when adjournment
was taken this evening, after nine
hour session. there we're several COM
mittees to be heard. reports Of which
will be brought up tomorrow morning.
The stand of the legion In regard to
oreanized labor was not mentioned in
the report Of the committee on resolu-
tions However. a minority report was
submitted which recommended that
THE American Legion reiterates It's
well-known position, that II has no
participation in controversies between
capital and labor. The American Lee
eion Is not opposed to organized labor
when it conducts itself. az we believe
1t normally does, in conformity with
law and order"
Heated discussions followed and the
minority report was finally amended SO
that the last sentence was eliminated.
Still the debate continued some mem
hers taking the position that the Amer
lean Legion need not make any state
ment on the subject. as the conduct OF
the organization had been such that
there was no question where II stood.
others contended that neople censured
the legion because they did not know
the exact stand taken on this matter.
However, a substitute for the minority
report was presented by California and
adopted by the convention. stating that
this convention endorse the statement re-
Gently issued by the national comman der.
Franklin D'Olier. and accepts that state
ment as the legion's Interpretation Of Its
position In relation to organized labor"
The attitude of the national commander
has been that Of strict neutrality" In
matters having 70 do with organized
labor.
NOTHING ABOUT POLITICS
The stand of the legion regarding poll
tics was not brought up to-day The
chairman Of the committee on constitu-
tiona amendments reported that they
had No, reached decision on this cues
ton. hut would bring it in tomorrow
Article IL Of the legion constitution then
was read which provides that the re-
port Of the committee on constitutional
amendments must be read "a hours be-
fore action is taken. A parliamentary
battle /. anticipated inasmuch as the
convention is scheduled to close to-mor-
row.
SYMPATHY FOR PRESIDENT
The hrst resolution submitted was A
message TO President WILSON, expressing
sincere sympathy for him in his pres
emit suffering aff1iction and reiterated tc
him our unalterable determination TO sup
port and uphold unswervingly the pr1n'
! ciples and constitution Of our country
! II was unanimously passed by a rising
vote,
POPPY LEGION FLOWER
( BY happy coincidence. just as the
poppv had been recommended and adopted
as the memorial flower of the American
Lagoon. Gen. Marie Fayolle and his part,
entered the convention hail. Five min
: utes Of cheering interrupted the meetini
, and the national commander declared thu
regular order OF business temperate,
suspended. Francis E. Drake, com
nander Of Paris Post. No. !. introduced
General Fayoile. The general said IN
part:
II am acquainted with the high aim
Of your association and with the grea
mission the American Legion has as
sumed II intends to keep piously tn
glorious remembrance Of the dead tt
help through life all those who came on
Of the fights or liberty and to keep in al
hear the sacred love for your own coun
try which is the spring of all civic vir
| tues"
ADMIRAL GRANT SPEAKS
Sir Admiral w D. s. Grant of tn
Royal Navy OF Great Britain then ad
dressed the convention. As ne retired
there came cries Of Wood. Wood, o.
General Leonard Wood who WAS II
the party. When the general appeare'
he was greeted as regular" menbe
and not as an honorary" member Re
ferring TO previous statements Of tn
representatives of the governments o
France and Great Britain. regarding
the good will existing between thos
countries and America. General Woo
said:
"As both Of our DISTINGUISHED visit
tors have said. the peace of the worl'
, and the happiness of mankind yer,
largely depends upon keeping to tina
friendly spirit. Don't let any insidiou
distinctions creep In among US as I
who the war. We won II all together.
II think in this country that yo
, men who have one so finely In tn
war who have shown that YOU hav
got these real spirit OF service, hav
got to take up the civic fight, bull
up the right kind Of public opinion al
, affairs. Not be slackers in peace An
don't forget that the greatest menac
to this country is not the open agita
! tors hut one whose work il as an In
s.dious hut more deadly--the hand
man IN politics. This man uses grea
sums OF money to further any pur
pose he may have and he must b
watched all the time
. During the morning session. rep
, reeentatives Of the Grand army Of III
r Republic. Ladies' Relief Corps of IN
Grand Army OF the Republic All,
Ladies' Auxiliary of the Spanish Wa
, Veterans addressed the convention.