The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-06-25
How Does American
Legion Stack-Up?''

WASHINGTON, d. G., June TO-
Glow does the American Legion
stack up?'" is the question asked
and in part answered in the cur
rent issue (Junc ~ of "The Stars
and Stripes formerly the official
/ overseas newspaper of the American
| EXpeditionary Forces, and for the
past year published Independently
in Washington "by, for and Of the
veterans of the world war.
The occasion for the query, and
the subsequent analysis Of the or
ganization is the fact that the Am
erican Legion is at this time holding
its first state conventions, prepara-
tory to its second national conven-
ton to be held at Cleveland, Ohio,
in September. Delegates to the ma
tional convention are being selected
and resolutions and plans drafted for
next years work-the second year OF
the Legions career.
After stating that it believes the
American Legion is a success, in
spite of some serious failures" III
that ut has brought the men of the
great army together in friendly
group; cemented the bonds Of friend
ship, comradeship, fraternity" Stars
and Stripes goes on to say;
"In the contrast between the
wonderful success of the Legion i'll
its local activities and the cOmplica-
tions and failures Of its national
activities is found the secret Of what
course must be followed in time to
come"
The editorial continues:
CAS- a national force, the Legion
has made mistakes until at times
it has appeared to be fairly dizzy
The attempt of certain leaders to
promote class hatred, antagonsm to
aliens, demands for failing this fell
low and deporting that fellow, break
ing this strike and outlawing that
striker, proved a bad mistake. The
apparently successful scheme to keep
national control in the hands of the
group of officers who founded the
Legion in Paris, and who stood for
universal service and Leonard Wood
for president, has not really succeed
ed. 1t has not helped the Legion;
it has not helped universal service;
and its aid to General Wood is dubi-
Gus at this writing. - Printed be-
fore the Republican Convention in
Chicago)
The Stars and Stripes editorial
then proceeds to inquire into the
finances of the American Legion,
saying;
1.-THE Legion's finances have been
a problem. 1t started out by Dor
rowing $257 900 from sources I'M
known to the membership; it sunk
this money in its publishing venture,
and then had it's publication saved
to it by other sources equally un-
known to the membership. In other
words, the Legion is subsidized, and
it's members do not know by whom or
for what purpose it is subsidized.
"The American Legion must be
absolutely on the square with itself.
"In it's national organization it
has not been all of that. It's financ-
ing by secret loans was not on the
square. It's prearranged program,
slipped over at Minneapolis, was not
on the square. Its effort to put over
military training, conducted for
weeks before matters of welfare of
the wounded, adjusted compensation
and other vital matters were taken
up, was not on the square. The poll
ties played by the controlling group
of leaders has not been on the
square Its efforts to condone strike
breaking by members, and still bid
for labor support, have not been on
the square"
The editorial then calls upon the
state conventions to see to it that
the next national convention is not
"bossed or conrolled or hoodwinked"
as in the past.