The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-24
AMERICAN LEGION
 SAY MENNON|TES
 LACK PATRIOTISM
Mississippi Posts Will Resist Invasion of Canadian Sect on Grounds of American
 ism-May Use Force
By Associated Press
 Miss Decarnher

.JdckSonr MISS, December 3-The Mississippi division of the Amercan Legion today took vigorous action to pre- vent the proposed invasion of Missis- sippi by 4o,ooo Canadian Mennonites who have obtained options on about 100000 acres of cutover pine lands in the south eastern part of this state.
 Advices were received last night from Winnipeg that the Mennonites have re- Inewed their options on the lands in question until next Marcb. and that American railway officials are now in Manitoba arran ging for their transpor- tation.
 A telegram of protest was sent to the state department at Washington, and similar message to United States Senator B. F. Harrison, requesting him to take up the matter immediately and oppose tho coming of the Mennonites on the ground that they are undesirables, and unfit material for the making or Amer ican citizens. The telegram to the state department follows:
 We are advised that 4e,o0o Canadian Mernonites in the province of Manitoba are preparing to migrate to- southeast Mississippi within the next few weeks.
 The Mississippi division of the Amer ican Legion, by unanimous vote at it's last annual reunion, adopted resolutions vigorously opposing this Mennonite in- vason on the ground that they are un- desirables.
 Our investigation shows that the Mennonites, without exception, were con scientious objectors during the World war: that they stayed at home while da haincs hIpd vUhita in ffa trenches of France; that they teach only the German language in their schools, and in many other respects are unfit to live on American soil.
 We therefore request that the state department take such steps as may be necessary to prevent these Mennonites from crossing the American border.
 ''The resolutions adopted by the Missis- sipp division of the American Legion were unanimously ndorsed at the annual reunion of the national organzation.
 f FORCE, IF NECESSARY
 The message to the state department quotes resolutions adopted at the last an nual reunion. and indorsed by the na- tional organization in which the proposed coming of the Mennonites was opposed on the ground that they are undesrables" The message requests the state depart nlent to take such steps as may be nec- essary to prevent these Mennonites from crossing the American border
 We prefer to keep out the Mennonites by peaceful means if we can, but we will resort to other means if we must de- clared State Adjutant Glenn H. Smith today "The eX-service men were in deadly earnest when they declared their opposition to the Mennonites, and if the invasion cannot be prevented at Wash ington we will find way to stop it at the Mississippi line
 Commander Parsons this morning sent telegrams to the state commanders or Lcusana Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee, urging them to take up the matter with their respective delegations in Congress and join in the protest at the state department
 A telegram was also sent to the fegis- lative committee of the American Legion at Washington requesting that their in- sistence be added to Mississippi pro- test.
 Most of the worlds supply or eioer-