Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-18
Both Died for Same Cause

To the Editor Of the Evening Public Ledger:
Sir---In answer to O'Shaughnessy's letter
Of the goth, from Cape May. ! have a few
questions to ask him that wish he would
answer from his point Of view till I get
line on how much he knows. will now
endeavor to tell him why we exclude from
the American. Legion those who did not par
take in the world war. as he seems ignorant
Of the bylaws OF the American Legion. and
only 'isnows the initial lines OF the V. F. w.
bylaws.
The American .Legon, my friend. was
started for the veterans Of the world war,
by the veterans OF the world war and only
those who took part somehow and some
whore In the service Of Uncle Sam are
eligible to become members. Tho V. f. w.
is not a new organization, but the name
is new. Now the q. A. r. organization will
not allow a Spanish-American War veteran
to become a member OF their organization
The Spanish-American War vets would not
allow q. A. Il. man In with them In
return as both organized from different
wars.
Now, here's the point As the member
ship OF the Spanish-American War vets was
decrea sing alarmingly Il was necessary to
do something and they did it-tore up the
old bylaws and made new ones so as to
catch the veterans OF the world war. make
have II, the corner orator who insists that
ne won the war. but we know. food won
the war. why fight about 1t?
Mr.. o. Shaughnessy. you can't make me
believe you are member OF the American
Legion and to prove to you that what l
say IL true / will ask you " the gold and
silver stripe is discussed in your post. Did
you ever know that silver rates higher
than gold in the army. Then Yhy did they
give the s. o. s. man the silver chevron'
yt.itt nlat.
on your own post floor. providing II Is an
American Legion post. All Will have with
me is few comrades who saw more action
in week than you did all your life; a
sx-chevron man. four wound and two serV-
| ice. n wearer OF Croix de Guerre with two
| stars and d. 8. NJ. with certificate and
he. like myself. takes his hat OF to the
boys who made the supreme sacrifice, wheth-
er In France. England or United States.
Perhaps. Mr.. OShaughncssy. you don't
know that the death rate in the army and
navy at home. through sickness and acci-
dents, well balanced the total OF killed III
| action. Do you think that the mothers OF
! these boys could be convinced that they
didn't die for the same cause as the un-
| fortunate that died in France. or could you
| yourself tell these. mothers that the boys
died in France for one cause and the boys
! in America for another?
That's why I insist and will continue to
| insist that any who wore the uniform
where he was sent. I know the army game
| and / am sure the navy Is the same. and
! that is. once you are in. YOU 80 where you
| are sent and you have no choice. \ service
man.s my buddy. no matter where he went.
| and good enough to be In my company. and
! as you say you have select company. J. too
| have. as good as you viii ever have.
Now, about your joke. am sure you
| have used that cheese medal Joke In your
| outfit quite a lot. Perhaps YOU are the
! winner of more cheese and leather medals
| than any one platoon in your division.
will wear my medals. Victory with siS
| battle bars. and d. s. NJ. for your inspection
| II ever have a chance to meet you or
| your post floor. | will also carry my
| paper to show you where and how | won 1t.
| Now, Mr.. o'Shaughnessy. hope you will
wise up to the fact that the American
| Legion members helped to win the war; the
! American Legion members all over th'
country helped the disabled get the In
| creased compensation. The American Le'
| glon in Phllade!p phia has been after COunci
| TO get markers for the soldiers graves and
| these markers are American Legion mark.
| ers. not " F. w. Also. my friend. 1t Is
| the American Legion that stands ready al
| all times to help win another war, and we
| will stick to the slogan: 1T takes ar
| army to run an army"
! 1O3D ENGINEERS.
| Twenty-eighth Division.
Philadelphia. May 8. 1921.