The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1920-03-18
GOING INTO POLITICS
BOttineau, N. OAK,
Mar. IS, 1920.

To The Courant:
According to the constitution of the
American Legion from Article 2, Section
2. The American Legion shall be abs o.
lutely non-political, and shall not be
used for the dissemination of partisan
principles nor for promotion motion of The can
flee or preferment. No candidate for
or incumbent Of a salaried elective pub
lie office shall hold any office in the
American Legion or in any department
or post thereof.
am beginning to realize that the
American Legion, which is organized as
an ex-service mems organization, is get
ting to be no more than a political or
ganization of the I: ". A. in the state
of North Dakota, and is far from being
a one hundred per cent organization, let
ting alone trying to produce a one hun
dred percent Americanism.
I am basing these facts on THE
Legionaire," a magazine that lis the Of
ficial publication Of the American Le-
cor'ding to the letter received from A.
l.. Dawson. State Commander Of the
American Legion.
Beach. N. Oak.
March, 8th, 1920.
Bottineau, N. Oak.
My dear Mr.. Vinje:-
l have your letter of the 5th inst,
gionaire is an official publication of the
North, Dakota Department. I will say
that this is the official publication of
the american Legion in this state.
| The executive board of this state
which puts it's stamp of approval on this
publication has nothing to do with the
printed matter therein, save that it is
duly censored before it is published In
make it the official publication, and the
state organization derives revenue
from the subscription list.
think that this covers your letter.
am.
Fraternally yours,
State Commander. North Dakota.
An article from the gilbert aS: S. Fur
ness Post No. 40 Of the American Legion
on Anarchy and Free Love Assailed,"
demanding Of Gov. Lynn J. Frazier, the
recent unpatriotic actions. The above is
nothing but lies as to anarchy and free
love; but is sent out to work up preju-
dice among the Legion members and the
public against the state government.
From the Stars and Stripes, form
er A. F., F, publication, and now publish
ed at Washington, D. G. states that the
state of North Dakota is at the head of
all the states that have done anything
for the returned soldiers. The state gov
ernmeAt at the present time is RESPONSE
BILE for the bonuses North Dakota SOL
dierS are beginning TO receive.
Another article from the Walter j..
Thome Post, claiming that J. I. Cahill,
Non-partisan League senator, in an
address at Leith N. d. on Dec. 20, 1919,
American citizen following the red flag
as any other flag" This has also proved
| to be a flat lie. and it is one the I. v. A.
cirGuatng tSn oyer ddn, the state to poison
Why should the first number of the
Legionaire publish an ad advertising
the Red Flame if it is not a co-worker
in the same line? There is no mention
of the /. v. A. in the Legionaire- for the
simple reason it is, the hands of I. v
Of number 2, the Jan. 18th issue, from
the following paragraph. The sample
looks good, and here's hoping you will
Ieontinue to pour the hot lead in the
many places it Is needed particularly ,rt
A. c.. Townley. until his yellow skin is
nailed UP to dry.
The above paragraph is direct slam n
member and heartily in favor Of the
League program I can't see how can
be a member of another organization.
lThe American Legion), which is work
| ing into an opponent organization
That's just like walking into ones own
barrage.
Thru organization the ballot is the
in orer T" rpht he of e
industrial life. But according to the
constitution of the American Legion we
are not in politics as an organization.
I Joined the Legion on the merits OF
it's constitution. and can see nothing
wrong therein. There are certain forces
within and without that are trying tC
make use Of the American Legion as it's
tool for selfish purposes. AS Legion
members we ought to get after the Ger.
| tain posts and individuals that are try.
| ing to get the Legion estray, if we want
to have real ex-service mems 'organi-
zation.
| There is no reason why we should not
| De organized, we wore the same uni
| form. were in the service for the same
purpose, regardless of religion, ration
ality, occupation ard party principles.
Edward l.. Vinje