The Colorado statesman., 1920-04-24

protect yonr homes from disorders,
for which you will not be responsl
ble-we are trying TO protect your
homes as well as our own"
AS result of this very frank state
ment by the post commander the meet
ing of organized labor approved the
action of the legion. and there was no
disorder whatever In that community.
This is small thing and vet II
shows Just what the American Legion
Is trying TO do You need have no
fear about the stand of the American
Legion for law and order. That is one
point upon which every member of
the American Legion Is pledged. and
Is one thing ON which we agree unani-
mously, the maintenance of law and
order In this country. and in that
way we hope to serve our country.
In addition we are going to serve
our comrades through mutual helpful
ness. We will see that the dependents
of those who made the supreme sacri-
flee are taken care of-that those dis
abled physically are properly cared for.
Unfortunately. although a year had
elapsed since the signing of the ar
mistice, congress had not done what
It should have done for the disabled
men. The American Legion called
meeting in Washington last December,
and explained what they thought was
fair treatment to the disabled men,
that they might not be objects of
charity of a private character. ana
legislation which we considered Mon
day morning was actually passed by
both houses by Saturday afternoon.
because what the American Legion
asked was fair and Just, and congress
knew 1t had the support of the entire
country. And as a result man can
now live on the compensation he re-
ceives from his government where he
has become physically disabled.
We are now asking congress to do
something for those of our comrades
handicapped financially because OF
their service in the army or navy. we
have been criticized for doing this on
the basis that we were putting price
on our patriotism, due to the fact thar
anyone making that statement does
not appreciate the situation.
I understand II is a historical fact
that George Washington. the father
of our country, received grant OF
several thousand acres of land from
this country, in recognition of his serv-
ice during the revolution. No one has
ever criticized the father of our coun-
try as having put a price on his pa
triotism.
Referring to a recent illustration;
When this country appreciated what
Admiral Dewey had done. by popular
subscription they presented him with
a house, and no one ever said that
Admiral Dewey had put a price on his
patriotism.
The ex-service men in what they are
asking for beneficial legislation is that
This country shall merely help them
overcome the disadvantages incidental
TO their military and naval service.
We have suggested four-fold option
al plan, covering land settlement
home aid, vocational training, ana. rot
those who are not able to avail them
selves of any one of those three, an
adjustment in their compensation
based on length of service. The
American Legion every time 1t refers
to this legislation has asked congress
TO make It as liberal as is consistent
with the welfare of the country. and
no one is in position to take exception
to statement like that
The American legion knows thai
while we were In France our strength
in the face of the enemy was not the
strength of the two million men ID
France. or the strength of the two
million men In the states. But 1t was
the strength of the hundred million
Americans back of those four million
of us In service. We were the spear
point: the hundred million patriotic
Americans back of us were the shaft
and the strength.
The American legion realizes that
ifs future usefulness for good In this
country will depend on the support
and approval we get from the hundred
million other Americans. and we know
we could do nothing without your sup
mort. and you may rest assured In all
our acts we shall see to 1t that we
keep constantly In mind the one nan
dred million other Americans who are
tust as patriotic and just as loyal as
we are