The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-11
'SENA 0RS PLOT HERE
HEARLEC|ON To RESTORE
IS TAINTED kERENSKY
Vet Organization Gets Secret
Funds to Oppose Labor.
Says m. G. Sperry.
By international New. Service.

BY international News SERVICE
Charges that the leaders Of the
American Legion have been 80
virulent and hostile to organized
labor as to justify the inference
that funds secretly furnished its
organization were contributed for
the express purpose of opposing
the welfare of all men who work
for wages" were made today In .
statement to the Senate by Marvin
G. Sperry, national chairman OF
the Private Soldiers and Sailors
Legion.
Wants Charter Repealed.
Sperry demanded an investigation
with a view to repeating the charter
of the American Legion, so that IL may
cease TO cloak the scandalous and dis
graceful conduct of a small coterie of
self. constituted. self.pertuating Off
cials."
Officials OF the American Legion,
Sherry declared, were "overbearing
and insolent in presuming TO give voice
to the opinions of all former service
men," and said that the organization
was formed by group of 'silk-stock.
inged officers"
Says Legion Money Tainted.
The charges Of the Private Soldiers
and Sailors Legion include:
That the organizers and present Of
ficers OF the American Legion organ.
lied 1t with tainted money for the pur-
pose of giving the men who placed
themselves in its control an opportun-
ity of misrepresenting the wishes and
desires of former service men. wher.
ever such wishes and desires clashed
with those of the unknown men who
had furnished the money, and who are
the real power behind the legion.
That the present officers OF tho
American Legion have no authority to
speak for the rank and file Of veterans,
either within or without the legion.
That the present officers OF the
legion are receiving and paying out
to themselves vast sums OF money in
salaries and expenses, ostensibly be-
cause Of the services they are render
ing to former service men, when in
truth their services and activities are
not In the interest Of the veterans, but
OF the hidden group of men who
furnished the secret funds for its
organization.
Says Charter Violated.
THAT Notwithstanding q clear and
unequivocal provision in the law
granting the American Legion it's
charter. to the effect that a financial
statement must be annually filed with
Congress. no such statement has ever
yet been filed.
THAT in carrying out the orders of
the unknown interests who furnished
the funds for its organization, the
present officers of the American
Legion has instigated and initiated
lawlcssness In numerous instances.
That the leaders of the American
Legion have pursued the settled, uni
form policy of interfering with, and
debating to, public schools and col
leges, churches, newspapers, public
meetings, political assemblies, officers
charged with the preservation of the
public peace, and all persons and all
activities which in any way threatened
to endanger the interests OF the secret
financial hackers of the legion, and
that they still pursue this policy under
the cloak of their Federal charter, and
without any authorization from the
body of their members.
Hits Labor Attitude.
"That from the day of its organiza.
ton, the attitude of the officers of the
American Legion toward labor, and
especially toward organizer labor, has
been so virulent and hostile as to Jus.
tify the inference that the secret funds
secretly furnished for its organization
we're contributed for the express pur.
pose of opposing the welfare of all
men who work for wages, under the
specious guise of patriotism"