New-York tribune., 1921-10-03

IA iAtra-Legion clash which prom
iscs TO develop an interesting Situation
within the veterans organization has
arisen over the proposed constitutional
amendment No. I, providing preference
N the civil service TO eX-service men
and women.
The breach has been brought about
by the action of " illard Straight Post,
through Commander Ernest Angel and
.Adjutant W. ". Norton, in branding
the amendment "only a dishonest at
tempt to obtain something for nothing,
to create, at the expense of the public,
permanent class of military Office
holders who, by advocacy of this amend
mens, confess inability to compete
upon equal terms
This action of the post has been dis
seminatcd by the Committee Against
Veteran Preference. with headquarters
st s West Fortieth Street, +. W. Crone,
secretary. 1t is in direct opposition to
the avowed official attitude OF the
American Legion in the New York de-
partment, which declared itself unani-
mously at the state convention as IA
voring the amendment, and is in defiance
of resolution passed at the same
convention forbidding posts to take in
dividual action on such vital issues. In
Amendment Is Opposed
"Our post considers this proposed
amendment as a wholly unlustitiable
assault upon the established merit
system of the civil service. Military
service is no badge Of special qualifica-
tion for public service in civil life
This amendment would automatically
make obligatory the appointment and
promotion of any veterans passing eX-
aminations over any person, no matter
how much better qualified such other
person might be and often is.
Service in the war is not to be re-
warded by lowering the standards Of
our public service. If military training
has developed the innate qualifications
for other service to state and nation
these new abilities will be recognized
and rewarded under the existing sys
TEN. Such an attempt. IN our opinion
is un-Amcrican and should be vigor-
ously opposed by all members OF the
Legion as absolutely contrary to the
professed principles and ideals of the
Legion
At the time the Straight Posts ac-
ton was published Commander William
F. Deegan, of the state Legion, sent out
his first offtc ial message to the organi-
zation since his election. 1t was de-
voted solely to call to Legionnares
10 support the amendment, and follows
in rart:
"Now that the boys have received
reither state nor a Federal bonus 1t is
as little as the people of this state can
do to grant them the same preference
in civil service which the veterans of
the Civil War enjoyed. These civil
service Jobs. if given to veterans will
greatly alleviate the suffering of the
higher type of service men which is now
out of employment. A great many ar
guments are being discussed as to why
this preferment should not be given,
and here are the answers to some Of
them:
Arguments Are Answered
"The work of the Police and Fire de-
partments of the state following the
declaration of war was not as impor-
tant as the work of the soldier, sailor
or marine
"Such riots as the police quelled we're
not comparable to the riots raised by
he Germans in the Argonne. Belleau
Mood, Chateau Thierry. Cambria and
Scissors. Looking at parades on Fifth
Avenue was not half as difficult as look
out duty on transports and destroyers
in the North Sea-
"Libarty loan and Rod Cross drfvas