The Sun and the New York herald., 1920-09-26
LEGION IN POLITICS
/ TO COME UP AGAIN
Western Delegates to Cpnyen-
I ton In Cleveland. TO-mOr-
row VIII Urge Change.
ACTION ON BONUS ISSUE
long Programme Planned for
Second Annual Gathering
Membership Now Million.


NEw YORR tIEalLp,
CLEVELAND, SEPT, 25,--shall the Amer
lean Legion enter politIos'
This IL tho most vital question which
1000 delegates 10 the second annual
national convention OF the American
Legion opening here Monday will have
to solve, Already the advance delega-
tions from tho furthest Western states
have shown their determination TO bring
this question to nm early decision Calf
fornla delegates, particularly, are yehe'
ment IN their demands that the legion
foraake its policy followed heretofore OF
aloofnoas IN politics and strive ia bring
about the election Of persons faYorablo
% legislation desired by the eN'hervlee
men,
Eastern states Hre expected TO be
moro moderate IN their attitude, ana "
g. known that tho delegates rom Mpsha'
chuaetts and New York, who will arrive
tomorrow, win oppose tho Endorsement
Of any partlAan candidates The New
York delegates have lntlmated that they
will favor q QUESTIONABLE for all can
didates for Congress asking their atti-
tude toward matters In which the legion
is Interested They will insist how
ever, that after tho replies OF the Gan-
dldates for ONCE have been circulated
among the members OF the legion no
further action bo taken TO influence the
voting,
Party Leaders ON watch
with n paid up membership Of almost
one million and n membership on the
rolls Of the legion OF n million and q
half, many OF whom will ,bo influenced
by action takon at this convention, po-
litlcal leaders OF both parties nre keep
ing an anxious eye on the convention
Representatives from the national com
mltteos OF both the Democratic and the
Republican parties are on the ground
and viii probably be available for COM
mittee hearings II the legion members
desire, II IL admitted that the legion
should II present united front can
easily change tho political complexion
OF Congress,
A clause In the present constitution
Of the American Legion prevents the
election 10 Office In the legion OF any
person holding political Office, THIS
clause was placed there last year at the
convention In Minneapolis after vigorous
opposition by tho Western States. New
York led the fight for lts inclusion In
the constitution In fact, II is no secret
that the actual working OF tho clause
was made by George II, Compton OF
New York city. at that tlmo chairman
OF the legion In Nlw York county. but
since that time there has been change
In sentiment throughout the country and
the elimination OF tho clause may hap
pen this year,
Two prominent New Workers. who re-
signed recently because Of this clause
were Hamilton Fish, Jr, OF Garrison, the
Republican nominee for Congress from
his district, and Robert McC, Marsh Of
New York city, Republican candidate for
Justice Of the Supreme Court Both
we're members Of the New York State
Executive Committee OF the legion. Mr.,
Fish Ia one d. tho ave delegates-at-large
from New York TO this convention.
Largest Delegation From N. Y.
New York will have the largest voting
strength in this convention, although II
last year, being preceded by Massachu-
setts and Pennsylvania This year New
York will have soventy-oight delegates,
and Illinois will be second, with seventy.
Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, California,
Ohio and Iowa will follow. and n com
binatlon among the delegates from these
States will assure the passage OF any
resolution. Massachusetts, is one Of the
NAu Hk,,i,l
up members this year than last,
The bonus" or adjustment compen-
Sation," as the loglonaires prefer TO call
II, will not be tho bone OF contention this
year that II was last. At that time New
York and Pennsylvania by close vote
won the fight against naming any par
ticular amount which the legion asked
Of Congress, This year, however. both
New York and Pennsylvania In their
respective State conventions have
adopted resolutions fndorsing the stand
Of the National Executive Committee OF
the legion In demanding OF Congress
the passage OF the American Legion
fourfold plan of adjusted compensation.
This plan, covered In the main in the
Fordney bill will undoubtedly be ap-
proved by large majority.
the Southern States, particularly Florida
and Arkansas. where there Ia feeling
that the bonus would entail economic
disaster upon the cotton fields were the
negroes given so much money In a lump
sum. The Fordney bill. after a quick
passage by tho House OF Representatives
never reached vote In tho Senate, and
the legion bill will mako at this conven-
ton a strong attempt to revivify It in
tho upper house,
Preference for Veterans.
Other matters which will come up for
discussion outside the bonus and the
attitude OF the legion in politics include
the question Of civil service preference
for veterans of the world war similar to
that enjoyed by veterans OF the civil war,
including municipal, State and Federal
service; the strict censorship OF Ameri-
can text books In public schools to eradi-
cate German propaganda, the pun
ishment of draft evaders, the preven-
tion Of issuance ofNhonorable discharges
to conscientious objectorB and the strict
enforcement Of laws TO limit undesirable
immigration. Grover Cleveland Bergdoll
and the men In the War Department who
allowed his escaps are expected to come
in for caustic criticism. Even Secretary
Of War Baker Is expected TO have a
verbal grilling for his lenlency in COM
mutation OF sentences to military Offend
ers. especially those convicted Of
espionage.
One OF the biggest tasks OF the legion
will consist of recommendations to the
three Federal agencies In charge of the
wounded and disabled In the world war
the War Risk Insurance Bureau, the
Federal Board for Vocational Training
and the United States Public Health
Service. The heads OF all three depart
ments, with their STATS, are expected to
attend the convention and aid in tho
work, The convention will undoubtedly
recommend the inclusion OF all three
branches into one Federal bureau.