The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-02-28
SPARGO HAS FAITH
IN MEN WHO SERVED
Believes They Are Better Equipped
for Duties OF Citizenship Because
OF Experience

The Home Sector, the week for
returned soldiers. conducted by the
former editorial council Of The Stars
and Stripes, Is publishing series OF
articles by leading Americans on How
Can The Ex-Soldier Best His Obliga-
tons as a Citi2eng" Among those
who have contributed to this synp-
osium ne Secretary OF War Baker.
General March. Ex.President Eliot OF
Harvard, Ambassador Jusserand, Sam
uel Gonpers. Secretary Daniels, Sen
ator Capper and John Spargo, of Old
Bennington. Mr. Spargos article az.
pears in the current issue and is as
follows:
Some five million American men
were called upon to serve their eoun-
ry and civil i2ationto give their
lives II need be-during the great
World War. How they responded
is known to all mankind, and Is a
matter for pride on the part OF every
American.
Il saw something CT their heroic
sacrifice at Chateou Thi9Try, Belleau
Wood and scissors. saw the MAIN
cd and shat cred Victims In the crowd
ed hospitals That experience makes
me profoundly reverent whenever |
think Of It.
THAT Millions Of men who proved
their Willingness and readiness TO die
fer the safety, honor and wel-being
OF thaiT country. ard are now returned
to civil life are equally willing and
reaay I've for the safety, honor and
wellbelng CT their country, do not
for q moment Doubt They vii prove
their patriotism ip pence as thorough
~ as IN war
THE citizenship OF every man who
was cal ed to the colors, even though
he never got farther han the training
cGnsp should be enlarged and broad
eued by experience. He should be a
more competent citizen, ifany maa Is
not, tire Is something wrong with
him ct courae, those who crossed
the sea and fought on foreign soil
made contacts and gained impressions
OF peculiar value which would not
o llerwise have been possible for most
OF them. Such mon must have much
better idea of the Navy and It's work
for example. and be much better alb 6
to form intelligent opinions concern
ing naval appropriations, cost OF ships
aud other SINH ar mat ers. They must
! OF necessity have 4 keener apprecia-
tion of the' vastness and completely
Of civilization, and be capable of more
Intelligent judgment OF our interna
tional policy Their experience has
modified their insularity and proyinci-
alism and hereby added to their com
potency as citizens.
THE ga,n 70 america from wise
use of that. know edge and power will
be immense An unwise use of that
know edge and, rower on the other
hand viii be a very great ard grave
peril. II is difficult to conceive of any
thing more dangerous to his nation
than the Organization of the men OF
the A. r. F., or any considerable part
Of them, for political purposes, either
as the auxiliary of a political party or
In support of poll ical candidates or
measures, Any attempt to use the
American Legion or other organiza-
lions OF our exsuldlers for political
purposes should be regarded as a
species Of treason.
We have already had-natura "
enough perhaps--candida es for ocal
offices baslng heir appeals for support
upon the fact that they served In the
A. e. F. Every such candidate ought
to be defeated; iteshould be made EN-
phatlcally Gear that there Is not, and
cannot be- an "exsoldier vote in this
country, but only an American citl
zen vote The Khaki uniform mus
not be made party smbol or politi
cal pawn.
In common with great many
o her citizens who participated in the
great struggle to the utnosb of theil
power and opportunity, have observ
ed with deep regret tendency OF
the part OF our returned so diers Il
set tn mselves above the law, to &C
as rnobs instead OF as oval AMI law
abiding citizens The newspapers II
all parts of country have recorded un
pleasant instances Of his lawlessness
Perfectly lawful and order Y meeting
have been broken UP by gangs of e1
soldiers acting in the name of ''patri
otismr; concerts by such great am
distinguished artist as Kreisler havr
been abandoned (after being duly au
thorized by the Constituted authorit
80. b.. s,.t4 4 =