Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-06-17

| prOtect your homes from ulSOFuerS,
for which you Will not be reSponsi-
ble-we are trying to protect your
homes as well as our own"
AS result OF this very frank state
ment by the post commander the meet
ing OF organized labor approved the
action Of the legion, and there was no
disorder whatever in that community.
This is small thing and yet II
shows just what the American Legion
Is trying TO do. You need have no
fear about the stand OF the American
Legion for law and order. That Is one
point upon which every member of
the American Legion is pledged. and
is one thing ON which We agree unani-
mously the maintenance of law and
order in this country, and in that
way we hope to serve our country.
In addition we are going To serve
our comrades through mutual helpful
ness. We Will see that the dependents
OF those who made the supreme sacri-
fee are taken care Of-that those dis
abled physically are properly cared for.
Unfortunately, although a year had
elapsed since the signing Of the ar
nstice congress had not done what
II should have done for the disabled
men The American Legion called
meeting in Washington last December
and explained what they thought was
fair treatment TO the disabled men.
that they might not be objects OF
charity OF a private character, and
legislation which we considered Mon
day morning was actually passed by
both houses by Saturday afternoon,
because what the American Legion
asked was fair and just and congress
knew it had the support Of the entire
country. And aS a result a man can
now live on the compensation he re
ceives from his government where he
has become physically disabled.
We are now asking congress TO do
something for those of our comrades
handicapped financially because OF
their service ia the army OF navy. We
have been criticized for doing this on
the basis that we were putting price
on our patriotism, due to the fact that
anyone making that statement does
not appreciate the situation.
I understand il is a historical fact
that George Washington. the father
of our country. received a grant Of
several thousand acres of land from
this country. in recognition OF his serv.
ice during the revolution. No one has
ever criticized the father of our coun-
try as having put price OIL his pa
triotsm
Referring 10 recent Illustration;
When this country appreciated what
Admiral Dewey had done. by popular
subscription they presented him with
"A house and no one ever said that
Admiral Dewey had put a price on his
patriotism.
The ex-service men in what they are
asking for beneficial legislation is that
this country shall merely help them
overcome the disadvantages incidental
TO their military and naval service.
We have suggested fOur-f0d option
al plan. covering land settlement
home aid. vocational training and, for
those who are not able 10 avail them
selves of any one of those three. al
adjustment I'm their compensation
based on length Of service. The
American Legion every time II refers
to this legislation has asked congress |
10 make II a. liberal as il consistent |
with the welfare of the country. and |
no one is IN position TO take exception |
tn "A Sfotnruant lfk, that
The American legion knows that |
while we we're in France our strength |
in the face OF the enemy was not the |
strength OF the two million men in |
France. or the strength Of the two |
million men I'm the states. Bat il was |
the strength OF the hundred million /
Americans back Of those -four million
OF Us in service We were he spear
point; the hundred million patriotic
Americans back of Us were The shaft
aud the strength.
The American legion realizes that
IFS future usefulness for COOL In this
country viii depend on the support
and approval we get from the hundred
million other Americans. and we know
We could 10 nothing without YOUR sup
port and Won may rest assured In all
our acts We shall see TO IL that we
keep constantly In mind the one hGn
dred million other Americans who are
Just as patriotic and just as loyal as
we are.