The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-04-14
Legion Members Resent Kelly's Accusation That
 Their Loyalty Is Bought
Judge Wilkinson, Who Saw Service at Front, Says: "Any Statement by Major Kelly That My Legion Associates Receive British
 Money Is Deliberate Lie

Resentment of suggestion that Sim Feinism might be tolerated here. even through the presence of it's acknowl- edged leader. was expressed with re- newed emphasis by local members of the American Legion yesterday. Members of the city government, as well as the local post of the legion, have both expressed them selves strongly on the undesirability lof DeValerN coming to the city. Yesterday it was stated mass meeting is 10 be held in Capitol Park to take steps to express public con eemnation of this proposed visit. 1t IS said that this mass meeting will be held within the next few days.
 Statements made before the mem lers of organizations made up of ex- service. men by Major Kelly failed, it IS stated, to produce any change in their views heretofore expressed.
 Having failed to get any interest in his speeches before the service men, Major Kelly has charged recently that British money is responsible for the opposition to DeValeras visit. This charge is warmly resented by the ex service men of the city.
 In replying to this charge, Judge Horace C. Wilkinson, author of the resolution adopted by the Birmingham post of the Ameriean Legion and pre- sented before the city commissioners, receiving their approval, yesterday said:
 STATEMENT
 Tn an interview in yesterday aft ernoon,s paper. Major Kelly is quoted as charging that British agents, working in Birmingham, as paid rep resentatives of Great Britain are re- sponsible for the opposition to De- Valera and cunning introduce ton of the Catholic and nti-Cathoiic controversy before the City Commis- sion is responsible for the action of the municipal board in drowning on the Sim Fein leader desire to say that l drew the resolution aimed at the Sinh Feiners, and shortly before the meeting showed it to Messrs. Champion Harris, G. L. Bailes and Frank NJ. Dixon, who were the only gentlemen who saw the resolution prior to its adoption by the legion, or who knew that it would be introduced al the meeting of the legion.
 Any statement by Major Kelly, or anyone else, that I. or any of the gem tlemen associated with me, are in any way connected with the British gov ornment or that we have been prom ised, have received or expect any money from the British government. CT anyone else, or any insinuation or iptimation to that effect, is delibe- ate lie.
 Major Kelly knows. if he knows anything, that no person connected With the American Legion is iny any way connected with the British gov crnment, and to expose the islander so recklessly uttered by the major, I now call upon him to name the person or rersons who are working in Birming- ham as British agents or as paid rep resentatives. I demand that he make this disclosure, or stand before the people of Birmingham as the self-con- fessed author of deliberately false and slanderoqs statements.
 TRAITORS
 "If the religious cement has been injected into the controversy, it has been by Major Kelly and not by the legion. No resolution introduced or speech made before that body has ever referred to or mentioned any church CT the word religion. Our post planted itself flat-footed upon the proposition