New-York tribune., 1920-06-07
Constructive Americanism.
Social and Industrial
Justice Part of Buxton
Greed for Legionnaires
Or. Jerome Wagner Chosen
President of Broadway
Post; N. Y. Co. Delegates
Resent Waldo Charges

It was predicted at the time Of the
election Of Henry w. Buxton as chair
man Of the New York County Commit
tee Of the American Legion that he
would prove himself a constructive ad-
ministrative officer.
Apparently Chairman Buxton is de-
the county delegates who honored him
at that time. He has continually given
his time to the organization, spending
night after night with various posts of
the county and participating in their
activities with wholehearted interest.
1t was by this activity that Chairman
Buxton cleaned real knowledge of
what he believed the New York County
Legicnnaires needed more than any
thing else to improve their status in
the national organization and he Of
fered his suggestion at the last county
committee meeting.
He has drafted Constructive plat
form" for the consideration of the va
rious posts which he hopes to have
adopted. Fundamentally, It substitutes
action for words. and, in the chair
mans own words, is:
Our Creed Of Action"
"Our aim is the progress Of America.
True progress builds upon a solid
foundation. Therefore, we choose the
square a. the basis Of our creed Of
action. It's four sides represent our
creed and upon the square we base our
action and our demand for action.
"Constructive Americanism forms
the Arst side Of the square. BY this
we mean dynamic Americanism, not
q static democracy that stands still.
We demand democracy that (1) holds
to the principles Of those who founded
it and (2) changes democratically to
meet new problems and new conditions.
National fitness Cor national safety
forms tho second side of our square.
We hold that individual fitness Of
every citizen TO the greatest degree
possible is necessary (D for his own
benefit, (2) for the benefit Of the ma
tion-to make America great and effici-
ent and effective among the nations of
the world.
Social and industrial justice form
the third side Of our square. We hold
that the purpose of all efforts to this
end shall tend to secure the greatest
social and economic justice for all in
dividuals of the nation irrespective of
race or creed.
"The protection and preservation Of
individual rights and liberties form
the fourth side Of our square. We
hold that active (not passive) protec-
tion be given the individual citizen,
industrially and politically, at home
and abroad. and that the individual
liberties shall not be restricted as long
as individual action does not conflict
with the good of the community or the
nation.
"These are the principles upon
which we stand and we hold them to
be basic and self-evident."
Chairman Buxton further says:
II believe the time has come when
some definite constructive work in line
with the preamble of our Constitution
should be put forward, for if we are
to stand before the public as force
welfare of America, it Is up to the
legion to take decided stand on mat
ters that effect the welfare Of Ameri-
cans as a whole"
Chance for Real Service
The government has gone about
fighting disease on the american
plan" combating it frankly and in the
open, with the hope that such discus
sion will prove more effective than the
veiled methods of the past. In doing
this the authorities have called upon
the members of the American Legion
to lend their aid. One post has
answered the call.
West Fortieth Street, is the group de-
termined to help in tho fight. c.. W
Sheridan, the post secretary, says in {
letter to this column:
"At our meeting we passed reso
luton as being strongly in favor 0.
the work being done, thoroughly cogni
zant of the need for 1t and willing t.
help In any way possible. This pos
is ready to fight worse enemy thar
women and kids and babies than the!
did. We know what the thing is. W.
saw It,"
Broadway Post Elects
Broadway Post has elected the fol.
lowing officers for the ensuing year:
President, DR.. Jerome Wagner; vice.
presidents, Daniel F. Rose, Murray
Thompson and Michael Shuman; treas
urer, Sidney Ripley; secretary, J. s
Topper:
Ing In the Automobile Club Of Americ,
and several important committees were
appointed. A vigorous campaign wa.
outlined to increase the membership o
the post, and each member presen
pledged himself to bring one man t
the next meeting. An interesting tai
was made by Captain Graft on the i'm
portance Of assisting the Americarizs
uIUTT%z,,bs w .s5N rg% g}|B
THE CONSCIENCE or THE GAS STOVE
Dss' ss assss nss 1'%a Things
WITH BUT
One Gas Expense
PUT A CONSCIENCE