The Cordova daily times., 1921-03-07
WAR VETERANS SPLIT INTO
 TWO FACTIONS
BY COL. WINFIELD JONES

WOIld war are now Spllt into two principal factions. There is first the American Legion, with the largest membership, and next the Private Soldiers and Sailors Legion, which is the second organization in size Headquarters of the Private Soldiers and Sailors Legion are located in Washington, with Marvin Gates Sperry national president, in charge The American Legion headquarters, as is generally known, are located at Indianapolis.
 From the very beginning the vet erans have been split into these two principal camps. The American Legion takes into membership any veteran of the World war who can produce an honorable discharge, off cers as well as enlisted men. The Private Soldiers and Sailors Le- zion is unique in that no former officer can join it's ranks-its total membership is confined to former privates but non-commissioned offic- CTS can join. The American Legion has no particular backing except the influence of their large member ship and the veteran influence gen. orally, which as is well known is now a powerful factor in every state. The Private Soldiers and Sailors Legion has not only the na- taural influence that pertains to any veteran organization but it has the additional advantage of possessing the powerful backing of labor organ izations, particularly the railroad brotherhoods. National President Sperry is a former locomotive engi- neer, still carries a union card, and in France had charge of rolling stock up at the front lines in some of the big American offensives 1 against the Hun. The backing of the railroad brotherhoods for Private | Soldiers and Sailors Legion is per haps due to Sperry's personal in
 
 though a great many union labor men who are veterans belong to this so- ciety.
 Nearly every newspaper reader is .familiar with the history and i'm mense resources, in membership and money, of the American Legion. Few outside the membership of the Pri- vate Soldiers and Sailors know much about that organization. Since its organization by Sperry in Wash ington it has worked quietly, with very limited financial means, it is said, but has been able to build up very powerful organization and is rapidly growing in membership and ! financial resources. This organiza- tion has been particularly active at the capitol in urging beneficial bonus I legislation for the World war vet erans.
 There is considerable regret among large circle of Washington observ- CTS and also among many veterans that the two organizations cannot "get together" and work in harmony. 1 The fact is they are extremely hos | tile to each other, and in nearly every instance have disagreed over national legislation for the veterans This has been shown repeatedly by 1 vii ,3n H.a 1 opposition to each others representa- tives, at congressional hearings on the bonus bill and other soldier leg l islation.
 Just now the Private Soldiers and Sailors Legion is engaged in an ac- tive campaign to prevent the Ameri- can Legion from accepting the s5.- 100000 gift of the Knights of Colum- bus, rendered to the Legion by the Knights for the purpose of erect ing a great national memorial in Washington. National Commander Sperry has bitterly attacked the of fer of the Knights, oO several oc- casions, claiming that the Knights have no right to give five millions to the American Legion for a mem- orial as the money was contributed by the people to aid the soldiers in France during the war and not for any kind of memorial Sperry also claims that the Knights, even if the money is accepted by the American Legion, should have made the great donation not to one organ ization but to all the veteran organ izations.
 It is such difference. rivalries and near hatreds that will prevent the veterans of the World war from combining into one powerful organ ization that would be strong enough to absolutely dominate important pub