Deming graphic., 1921-09-06

and the socialists and the Headlight
might as well accept II as the one
arganization In any sense speaking for
the greater number uf the veterans
II Is easily understood why the social.
lists should hate the American Legion.
II stands for 100 per cent American
ism; II IL the deadly enemy Of the |.
w. W. and radicals everywhere II
is not prone to forgive the disloyalty
Of either the Debs following or the pro.
Germans By the bones of the Ameri.
can soldiers rotting in France and
Germany the greater number Of ex.
service men swear that II Is the one sin
beyond forgiveness. These sneaking
bushwackers did all that was possible
to Interfere with the draft and to weak
on the government at home while the
veterans were "out ON the limb" call
ing for help. The least that Debs
could have done was 20 have kept his
mouth shut while the war was going
on. II was then no time for argument
or criticism. II was time 10 shoulder
a gun or drive rivets. Doing nothing
meant giving aid and comfort TO the
enemy. So far as the Graphic editor
Is concerned he hopes the hideous bald
pate Of Eugene V. Debs shrivels up In
prison as his soul has shriveled up In
the consummat;on OF the deviltry for
which he was convicted. Urging that the
Germans In the United States caught
In overt acts against the United State,
had been released while Dcbs Is still
held. shows the socialistic trend of
mind The Germans at least were
loyal 10 their country, while Debs was
n traitor to the land that gave him
birth He Is man without a coun-
try.
What the Headlight says may bc
true in part IL is certainly not true
Of the rank and file Of the members
Of the American Legion. Public at
tackS ON the legion are out OF place
Legion members win not appreciate
criticism. II the legion needs a house
cleaning II is up to the veterans to
weld the scrubbing brush. IL is the
veterans one best bet and has stood
for their interests In the face Of sen
timent grown cold and hostile. The
essential thing is that the veterans to
get justice must be united. The salient
fact Is hardly worth mentioning to men
who. above all others, know what or
ganization means Leaders may not
prove true TO their trust, there may be
differences Of opinions az 10 a program
and policy. but essentially the veter-
ans must stay by their organization for
their mutual interests and the propa-
cation Of the ideals for which American
soldiers fought in the war--to stamp
out diSloyalty ana inculcate the lessons
of broad patriotism among the
classes.
So far as silk stockinged officers"
are concerned. that IL IL a clever at
tempt to separate the legion into clas-
ses. classes which the fundamental ten
ants uf the organization have been very
careful not to recognize. II is not
strange that the officers should have
taken a prominent part IN the organiZa.
tiOn Of the American Legion; neither
Is it strange that some Of them should
have fallen victims 10 selfish vanity
through the Establishments OF the
money powers The legion does not
have to depend ON former officers for
leadership nor upon high privates, for
that matter. Sooner or later the true
leaders will appear and they will not
be corrupted by bribes Of place and pow