Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-09-26
MONDAY. SEPTEMBER 90. 1921.
THE LEGIoN's GOOD EXAMPLE

THE LEGIoN's GOOD EXAMPLB
The Democratic party in this state
n split into several factions, one or
two OF which continue TO throw the
monkey wrench into the party ma
chinery by performing acts which
members of the other groups cannot
approve. Instead Of being friendly
enemies, and that only while .pri-
mary Is being held. these groups, in
the main. are the most deadly enemies
to each other all the time. No aristo-
erat of Jeferson's party ever hated a
carpet -hsgger worse than some good
Democrats in Delaware hate other
good Democrats today.
The Democrats being unable. OF
their own init.-tive. to get together.
they might follow the example of the
members OF the American Legion, who
held state Convention a few days
ago. The main purpose OF that conven-
tion was TO elect State Commander.
when eiection-time came. two good
men were nominated. The supporters
OF each man were equally determined
Ia win. Both sides worked quickly
and hard but fairly and sauarely.
Then the poll was taken. One man
was elected.
Then what hsppened7 why. all the
DELEGATES present sought to inn
mediately congratulate the new COM
- n,arder. and to promise him their 10y
al support during his regime. A good
man had been chosen. They were all
members OF the Legion together, why
should they not stand shoulder to
shoulder beside him?
O. but there are no factions I'm the
I~gion--so says your hardened Demo-
cratic politician. o. there aren't, eh7
There are more conflicting groups in
the American Legion OF the United
States today than there has ever been
In tho entire history OF the Demo
cratic party Of Delaware. And the
American Legion is only three years
cid at that. But there is this differ
~nce-the groups in the Legion have
.~nse enough 10 be friendly, and they
are honest enough to play the game
squarely. What does one find in tbs
Iegion7 Mercy. II would take &
book 20 catalogue them. Herr
are Just a few: the men wh'
wrre officers. the men wh'
were privates; those who were infan
trymen. those who were caivarymen
and those who were srtillerymen-no
70 speak Of dozen other branches
the regular army men. the nationa
guards. and men who were in tn
draft: men who were NJ. p
and men who were arrested by N
p's. Men of a dozen different divi
sions who are yet debating the ques
tson, which outft had the honor c
breaking the Hindenburg line? Me
who we're in ''the first hundred thou,
and" and men who got overseas jui
when the fighting was over. Men VIII
were IN 'Pershing's own" Marine
and men who were not; mem who wer
i1 neither. being Gobe; men who ser,
ed in the Army of Occupation ar
men who did not. To complicate ma
s~rs. one finds that each group hi
it's sub-divisiohs. For example: II,
West Pointer believes that he is ju
bit better than your training can
cff,cer; and the latter, If he was in OF
Of the flrst series of camps, feels thi
he was just little more efficient tbs
the chaps who came ists- and Il
National Guard officers swear that Il
~ss~rye man could not compete wi
them.
But here is where your Legionnai
shows a bit OF gray matter which yc'
fnctionai politician Coos not posses
he takcs the greatest pride in The pc
which hie outflt played in the war:
VIII argue ali night with broth
1~xionnaarc as 70 which regime
crossed a certain river FIRST, and
will Dispute ali saay ns 80 the reiati
merits of artillery and Infantry; b
vhen IL comes 80 c question of 1
1sgion's wssfars, ne steps beside ]
''buddy'' and together they present
united 'front.' 90 their problems. ii
trse sisat these Les.enaa.fes fie
fairly; fhAt is something which sei