The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-07-23
tUTY OF EX-SERVICE BOYS
They Should Assist in Maintenance of
Law and Order, Says National
Adjutant.

For the benefit of the comparatively
few isolated communities in which
there is noticeable a tendency to give
credence to misinformatiOn emanating
chiefly from the ranks of alien agita-
tors and other enemies of 100 per cent
Americanism, it is deemed advisable
to refer to an editorial in the Chron-
icle, Cincinnati, O., official organ of
the Ohio Central Labor Council and
Local voice of the American Fedora
ton of Labor"
In its issue of May %, 1920, this
publication quotes the preamble to the
constitution of the American Legion,
and adds:
1.-The above is the preamble to the
constitution Of the American Legion
and to our minds it certainly sets forth
a principle that every true American,
whether he be world war veteran or
not. can consistently subscribe to.
Recently an international officer, re-
turning from q state conference to
Cincinnati gave vent to the expression
that the members of his international
union would not be allowed to join the
American Legion. This to our mind is
baby play. The attitude of the Amer
lean Legion toward organized labor in
the state of Ohio, and locally as well,
has been clearly defined and has been
approved of by the Central Labor
council. 1t is claimed that at least 40
per cent of the boys who went to
France and across the water were
trade unionists. If this is true, then
the proper thing for them to do would
he to join the American Legion, and if
ever the occasion arose when there
would be criticism Of the labor
movement, they could be of service by
explaining our real purposes, thereby
eliminating some of the antagonism to
us which comes from misunderstand-
ing only. There need be no fear by
trade unionists of the American Le-
gion. We believe they are right and
that they are fair, especially their
leaders, and as we said above, we
would recommend to every trade
unionist who is eligible to membership
that he can best protect his interest
and the wage Garner by getting in line,
and place himself where he properly
belongs"
In this connection, the following ex-
cerpts from q recent letter Of Frank
lin D'Olier, the LegiOn's national com
mander, to Thomas Goldingay, state
adjutant of New Jersey, appear ap-
propriate:
"The American Legion has taken a
very positive stand that, as an organi-
zation. it should never take any def
mite part in any dispute between the
employer and the employee, OF between
capital and labor. This policy should
be adhered to strictly by the national
organization, state organizations and
by the posts as well.
.In any such controversy, the inter-
est of the Legion is confined to that of
the maintenance of law and order and
without taking part on either side, in
case the situation should arise where
life and property are endangered, it is
the duty of a member of the American
Legion to perform his full duty as
citizen, according TO his own con-
science and his own understanding.
Because of his military service, the ex-
service man has very keen sense of
his responsibility as citizen, and
am quite confident that he will always
be alive to this responsibility. There
fore, i'm case of contingency as
above outlined. it is his duty to assist
in the maintenance of law and order
by acting as an individual and offering
his services TO the duly constituted
authority for the maintenance of law
and order.
There is nothing to prevent the in
dividual members of the American Lee