Cottonwood chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1917-current, 1920-02-06

American Legion has taken us 10
task for coming to the defense OF
the Non-partisan League and
calling their attention to what
we considered the misdirected
purpose to which the post had
lent itself. Sufficient time has
elapsed to permit of a reasonably
fair consideration of the matter
free from the passion that it at
first created. We would not at
this late date reopen the subject
if we had not been placed in a
false light and were not being
goaded by some people that con-
stl'ue our silence as an acknow-
Judgement or concession of cul
pability. We are not covering
or cringing under the charge of /
pro-Germanism or Bolshevism
and nothing will deter us from
defending the ancient traditions
of our country that of free
speech and peaceful assembly.
The American Legion is a public
institution and every American
will concede its power and in
fluence in shaping the affairs of
our government and as real
force in the spreading of better
Americanism. AS public in
stitution it is also subject to
public criticism.
We take genuine pleasure in
clearing up the misunderstand-
, ing of our criticism and the
motives that prompted us to
make them. They take the posi-
tion that we made a direct at
tack upon the legionaires them
selves and that we are in dis
agreement with them as to the
ideal purposes the legion avows.
Perhaps the tenor of our criti-
cism was too harsh, and as such
set at naught our professions OF
sympathy and friendliness for
the legion itself. If we had been
inspired by Interior OF sinister
motives the affront and ingrati-
tude would be objectionable and
the very heigth of stupidity, for
it was too much to expect adj
verse criticism to go unrebuked
Anyone making such criticism
then. must either be imbued
with a deep sense of obligations
to his convictions of certain
principles that he believes have
been violated or he is an ignora-
mus. We are not concerned as
to what class we are placed in so
long as our statements and mo-
tives are not misintelperted OF
distorted, either through misun-
derstanding or with purpose to
discredit us. We did not critl-
else the legionaires for denounc-
ing the |. w. w. and even the
socialists, but for condemlng
the Non-partisan League and
for placing them in the same
category. The |. w. w. is an
organization of anarchists that
are avowed enemies of any and
all government. They seek only
to destroy and not to construct
They preach and practice syndl'
calism and sabotage and can bt
held down only by the strong
arm of the law, and in this is
needed the hearty cooperation
of every citizen and in which thu
legionaires have been of inestl
mable service to- their country.
The Nonpartisan League how
ever has a right to its existence
as a political party, while social
istic in its tendencies, is, never
theless advocating reforms alon'
purely political lines and is no
advocating overthrow of the go
eminent by force nor preaching
svndicalism and sabotage. 1t
true. its leaders have been IN
dicted for dislovalty but not con
victed, although they have bee
nersecuted by the combine
strength of the two great par,
les. republican and demorcratl
with the big business interest
of North Dakota and Minnesot
thrown in. The same wee
Townley's trial was going on !
Minnesota. the peonle of Mort
Dakota voted a S2O.OOo.Ooo.o
bond issue thus approving Ut
Leagues PROGRAM and Townley
poliries to denounce the MOI
partisan League then, n 5
MEANS danunciation ct ~
~,aioritv of the neonle OF n.
...o,,r, ,,natfpr. IN ln1ntI q