Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1921-03-31
What Is the American Legion?

w nat is the american Legion!
What is the American Legion?
What is it for? What does ii, do? We
have heard these questions put quite
often lately. and we know no better
way Of answering them, than by
quoting here the preamble Of our
National Constitution.
"For God and country, we asso-
ciate ourselves together for the fol-
lowing purposes:
To uphold and defend the Constitu-
tion of the United States Of America
to MAINTAIN law and order to foster
and perpetuate a one hundred per
cent Americanism; to preserve the
memories and incidents of our
association in the Great War; to in
culcate a sense of individual obliga-
tion to the community. state and
nation, to combat the autocracy of
both the classes and the masses; to
make right the master of might; to
promote peace and good will on earth
to safeguard and transmit to posterity
the principles of justice, freedom
and democracy; to consecrate and
~sanctify u comradship by our de.
votion to mutual helpfulness."
We have also heard many other
answers to these questions
"It consists of a bunch of soldiers
banded together for the purpose of
looting the U. S. treasury" "a
bunch of soldiers who want a good
time" ga new political party"
This bosh needs no answer. We are
not writing this article in defense of
the Legion. The Legion needs no de-
Tense. 1t stands on its W merits.
There is a certain amount of preju-
dice against u post right here in
our little city. Why? We do not
know. But we could cite several in
stances of it cropping out. Is there
anything in u constitution to set
people against us. The phrase; to
foster and perpetuate 100 per cent
Americanism, might hit some people
pretty hard. It undoubtedly does.
And remember this. This same LIE
gion consists of over two million
men, every one of whom have worn
the United States uniform, To these
men. the name America has a new
meaning. They have a pride in their
homeland that they knew before, Anc
ther are working to make America 6
better place to live in. President
Harding, says that these men, the
four million who wore the uniform,
is the greatest hope of America to
day. This is no time to let patriotism
die out. German propaganda is as
active today as it ever was. 10 fos
ter and p~erpetutate 100 per cent
Americanism is our one sacred obi
cations. 1t is a duty we owe to ever!
one of Dur buddies, who we lief
sleeping on the BATTLEFIELD Ids in France
1t is a duty we owe these women
who say very little, but who proud.
wear their star of gold. 1t is q dut!
we owe ourselves as Americans, and
our God as men. Every man who il
not for America 365 days in the
year il against her. There can be nj
halfway measure. We want ever.
man, woman and child in Americ
working for her-always. not only i
prosperity, but in adversely as wei
If they will not do this much, lie
them go back to the place whenc
they came. We have no room 70
them here, One of the greatest mis-
] takes, the U. S. made during tn
war was her treatment of enem
} aliens.
! Much better results would hav
been obtained had she used England
methods iu this matter. True, a fe
0 of the most radical mes were put
prison, or deported, But what abor
the ordinary pro-German, the n WI
t never said much about his views, bl
would have taken the first opportt
: nifty to harm the country. We coul
+ name several, right here in the CON
munlty. and they r now living a
happily and peacefully, as anyone
enjoying the blessings and benefits
. the land to which they would uot gi,
their allegiance. is THIS RIGHT
Should they have the same benefi
Z and privileges as the men who dol
Z everything 10 their power to he
g America in her time of need, We 81
NO.
N
. In Memoriam