The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-01-05
A ouEsrION or LEADERSHIP.


It Is not surprising that tho American legion
post a, McAles,er should have taken a very
positive sond against the proposed $4,000. 900
hospital for ox-~rvice men. In tho first place
the proposition does not provide adequate care
for tho cK.Scrvico men now requiring hospital
services, assuming their number equals the fig
ures put forth by the proponents ~ that propo-
siuou.
win tho legion on this Important matter az
with all organization aud oven tho public on
aH public iaucs n la "A question Of leadership
Wa have snid before We repeat, that The most
impressive uttcrance the writer ever heard tho
late colonel Roosevelt make was made during his
tour Of oklahoma in the compnign Of 1919. and
was uttered In his car here In Tulsa.
Discussing the b.,ucs Of that campaign he
said. 1T is not a question Of followers but Of
leadership. There Is positively not the slightest
doubt concerning what tho position OF bur
American voters will be on any issue that Is
presented wisely and soundly by capable lead
org"
when the son of the Roosevelt at the Saint
Louis meeting OF the legion said; "our purpose
il to soc how much We can put into government
not how much we can get out Of H." the legion
better nature. nut when 1t rcpudlotcd that
MOTTO. aa It later come TO do In many localities
ana turned It's energies TO securing bonu, lcgis-
iation at Washington. Joined with the saoiis-
men In seokng to take 100000 from the
treasury OF oklahoma, It In response to
improper and unsafe leadership
A mob is restrained from It's unlawfuI pur-
pose by one who boldly and courageousy op-
H.. I.,,. Il. lao . .i,
of the highest and safest class Another mob
IL driven forward to do ts iiicgitimatc work
10y the frenzy aroused by one who appeals -
itA prejudices and It's baspr nature. That is
unsafe, unwisc leadership.
The legion--thBt minority OF IL active in.tha
state hospital matter aud a'rl IN The bonus mat
cr--is following unsafe, pnwlsc, v not uups-
triotlc leadership. Politicians in most part
who confcs, themselves mob lniders 'ns,tHd Of
leaders Of the mob They have mancuvered. as
Is the way Of politicians, to secure n formal
post endorsement Of their shemc. then point
to the fact that the thlns they get out To ac-
complish liz the demand of the legion member-
chip.
It Is no such thing Tho American legion
in oklahoma has approximately 20 per cent
OF the ex-scrvicc men of ,hc s1te on its rolls.
Less man D per cent OF that ~ per cent is
actively Interested In this nosoita, matter. We
have not the slightest doubt that the ex service
men of the state after the real issues OF the
hospital proposition had been presented, would
vote It down overwhelmingly. Just as we have
no doubt that the sentiment OF orcponderant
majori Y of the ex service men IL opposed To- the
political leadership which captured the legion
and has dominated 1t since its organization.
That is not only our belief. bur 1t IL our
faith in the character OF he men who wore the
uniform In the late war. The legi VI post at
McAles,er. we venture the assertion. In much
more in harmony with the real sentiment of
oklahoma's TX service men than the little cabal
of legion leaders who sat In with the Robert
son Hoffman clique at Oklahoma City a few
weeks ago and carefully and craftily laid their
plans for tho hospital raid.
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