The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1920-08-12
Legion and League

There is abundant reason for the
American Legion to pay attention to
the organizing activities of the Non
Partisan League, as per its decision
recently reached in Portland. The
basis for the Legion's proposed cam
paign against the League in the Pa
cifc Northwest is provided by the
a~nti-patriotlc activities of many Lea
que leaders. The Legion is rallying
to the support Of our country in time
of peace even as its members fought
for it in time Of war.
1t is true beyond the possibility Of
successful contradiction that many of
the most active leaders of the League
both national and state leaders
are red reyolutionaries OF the l. W.
". stripe. These reds do not adyer-
tise their colors in seeking League
memberships from farmers, but they
are reds just the same. Their ap-
peal TO farmers is of the patent med
icine patter variety, in which they
dwell upon the symptoms, ills and
grievances Of the farmers and con-
vince them that their nostrom pro-
yides the n and only cure. The
farmers would react against the Lea
que did they know the real character
of'so many League leaders.
The Voter has in its files long lists
of names OF League leaders, with ev-
idence OF their l. W. W. and red rad
zeal affiliations. Scores Of its nation
al officers answer to this description.
In the states OF Washington and
Montana many of the state and To-
cal leaders are men who have grown
up in the l. WV, have become lead
ers of that organization and have
blossomed into League leadership as
far more profitable and as affording
broader scope for lining up sentiment
for the overturn OF existing govern
ment as unfair to all producers"
Some OF these League reds have
been recruited from Oregon, although
SO far we are informed at present,
none OF the League leaders now sup
posed to be working in Oregon are
of that stamp. Officers of the Oregon
l. W. W. and Socialist organizations
were employed by the League at
handsome salaries and commissions
to work in Washington, where their
identity vas not known. They did
effective work there.
The Voter does not know of its
own knowledge that the League has
started its membership work in Ore
gon. Various reports of organiza-
ton activities, none Of which We
have been able to confirm to date,
have reached Portland. Yet the Lea
que officers at st. Paul. the national
headquarters, have advised the Voter
in writing that the League is not
campaigning in Oregon and has nc
intent to campaign in our state this
year or even to try to get members
here. While We would not believe
any officer OF the Non Partisan Lea
que under oath, SO perverted are
their ideas Of truth, yet it is not
certain that the League actually has
entered this state. When and if it
does come in, and start signing up
members, it would be we'll if the
American Legion could ascertain the
names of the organizers, so as to
check up as to their identity and ex-
pose them publicly if their afilia-
lions have been of the red vari-
ETY.. All the farmes of Oregon will
need is such an exposure of the
agents who are after their money, for
Oregon farmers are intensely patriot
ic and will revolt against propaganda
that is inspired by radicals whose
main aim is to destroy u govern
ment.-Oregon Voter.