The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1920-02-13
THE LEAGUE
and THE LEGION

The impression seems to exist in
some quarters that Nonpartisan
league publications are opposed to or
in some way are fighting the Amer
lean Legion. The facts are that the
Nonpartisan league has neither in
dorsed nor condemned any soldiers
organization. The League believes in
the right of soldiers, as we'll as all
other interests, to organize.
1t is true that few local posts of
the Legion in various states have
condemned the Nonpartisan league,
and Legion members, according to
press reports, in some instances have
participated in activities to prevent
League meetings being held. It is
also true that, when the Legion first
organized and before its national con-
vention, at which a resolution aimed
at the Nonpartisan league was voted
down, there was a widespread feeling
that certain interests would attempt
to use the Legion in political fight
on the farmers organization. How
ever, the national Legion convention
almost unanimously killed a resolu-
ton attacking the League, and the
national heads of the organization
have issued statements warning Lee
gion posts and. members to keep out
Of politics and against taking the law
into their own hands or encouraging
mob activity, directly or indirectly.
FOR FAIR DEAL
League publications above every
thing else stand for enforcement Of
the constitutional rights of free
speech and peaceful assemblage, and
will continue to condemn all persons
and organizations, whether Legion
members, local Legion posts or any
body else, which attempt to prevent
the full exercise of constitutional
rights by the League or anybody else.
The national Legion has done much to
prevent unwarranted action against
reformers and reform organizations
by hot-headed or mistaken Legion
posts and members by making the
statement it did regarding law en-
forcement. State bodies and local
posts of the Legion by following the
national body's lead would make the
determination of the Legion not to
mix in politics and to keep free from
lawless activity, all the more plain
and emphaic Silence is often con-
;BlQeI0u rs giving COuSeuts AASIS4OIc
local Legion posts should be quick to
condemn and discipline their few
members who do not have a proper
understanding of the high standard
of their organization, and state Lee
gion bedies would do well to take the
same action regarding local posts
which do the Legion damage by mix
ing in politics.
Nonpartisan league publications are
only too glad to assist the national
and various state bodies of the Legion
in keeping the organization clean and
on the square by pointing out and
helping to eliminate the few misin-
formed and hot-headed Legion mem
bers who will not live up to the high
standard set for the organization. But
League publications will not condemn
local posts or state bodies of the Lee
gion for acts of irresponsible MEM
bers, unless, of course, state bodies
and local posts by direct statements
or silence lend their approval to un-
warranted acts.
There is not the slightest reason
why there should be any fight be-
tween the League and the Legion,
and there is no such fight, SO far as
the League is concerned.