The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-11-21
FUTURE POLICIES OF LEGION
tBy r. w. Galbraitn, Jr, Nat. Conn

American Legion today is the ade-
Quate care of the disabled.
The people of this country have
small conception OF the situation af-
fecting the wounded as it has existed
in the last two years and as it ex-
lists now. When we went to war we
provided munitions, ships, food and
all material equipment but We failed
absolutely to provide a single bed
for the men who were bound to como
back needing beds. That oversight
led TO the deplorable conditions that
prevailed during the two years since
the signing of the Armistice
There was great deal of agita-
ton and hue and cry about the
disabled, after citizens found out
that they were being neglected. Con-
ditions improved rapidly and today the
governmental bureaus are financing
efficiently. But there is still room for
vast Improvement. The big job of
caring for those who suffered physi-
cally by the war lies ahead of us.
The bureau of war risk insurance
and the public health service esti-
mate that the peak of hospitaliza-
ton will not be reached for four cr
five more years. Provision must be
made for these men,
Work of Legion
The work of the legion is to as
sist the government departments to
be ready for this flood tide of sick
and disabled; all Of whom win be
able to trace their disability directly
to their service,
The legion has another work that
Is even more immediate and pressing.
We must care for those men and wo-
men who are now in hospital. recup-
Grating from war injuries or hard
ships There are approximately 10000
OF them. in about 1900 government
and private hospitals. We are organ
izing now so that a legion man or
. a legion committee will visit every
one of these men at least once a
week. Every one OF the 300 posts
of the legion in this country has been
assigned a hospital and its duty will
he TO take care of the men in that
hospital. The hospital routine will be
humanized thereby. The sick and dis
abled will be entertained. amused and
befriended.
This will be a steady campaign
and not spasmodic. 1t is not de-
signed to be spectacular but quiet
and helpful.
Fighting the DislOyal
The American Legion will continue
It's policy Of fighting the disloyal.
There exists today powerful organ
ization whose pledge it is to overturn
the government. Members of this
ciganization has money and fanati-
cal fixety Of purpose. Members OF this
organization know that members of the
legion are their natural enemies
and the legion men recognize them
as enemies and accept the gage OF
battle.
Their purpose II Is 10 battet dov n
the .xistirg social structure while
ours Is 10 uphold and defend the
constitution OF the United States"
We shall aways be inimical 20 them.
..e shall never ask or acc PIT oIar-
ter. They are against America and We
are against them.
The Mounted Police Of the Nation
Our policy will he similar 10 that
of the famous Northwestern Mounted
Police who never cease pursuing q
man who has killed a member OF the
organization. II may take % years,
but they catch him. The legion is the
Northwestern Mounted Police OF the
whole OF this nation. We already have
two million members. We will have
two million moro and we have n
hundred million other loyal Americans
who will support US.
Tho recent bomb outrage in New
York undoubtedly was the work OF
violent radicals. The following mem,
bers Of the legion were killed: John
\. Donahuc. Reginald II. Elstun
Harold l.. Gilley, Williams n. Hutch
ins. william =. Joyce. b. j. Kennedy
Harold II. Linhotf. Franklin +. Gil.
lard. Harold Neville. Montgomery
ormsby. william W. White. TIL,
American Legion will never stop un
III the man or men responsible fol
the death OF these legion men are
found and punished.
Line Must be Sharply Drawn
The time Is come when the linz
must be sharply drawn between loya
and disloyal Americans The legior
has been misunderstood at times be
cause It has been thought by many
men and women. who are just a.
loyal as any other citizen can be-
that We belieyed we were the rightfu
and sole guardians NJ the patriotism
and Americansm of this country
Members OF the legion do not thinl
this. We pay tribute 10 the hundre,
million other Americans who did thei
part over here and without whom w
could no. have gone on. But. becaus
OF our service. our loyalty littl'
closer to our hearts and is. perhaps
little more intense. This being 80
we are determined TO crush thi
thing. II II ever raises It's head in thi
country. that we licked abroad.
4 Practical Union
The legion is looking toward
practical union with organization
NJ veterans OF other countries. II
Great Britain there are five organ
iaatlons OF ex-servioe men but on No
vemher ~ four of these organiza
tons will consolidate. Tho commando
of the largest OF thcsc organization
was a recent visitor in this coun,r,
10 cement relations between the We,
Grams of all the allies.
The legion will cooperate by sendin
committse of three men to confe
with the heads Of tho French. Eng