Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-01-03

diers. sailors and marines associated
for the following purposes:
ITO uphold and defend the Consti-
tuition of the United States of Amer
lea; to maintain law anu order; to
foster and perpetuate one hundred
per cent. Americanism: to preserve
the memories and incidents OF our as
ISOLATION N the Great War; 10 in
culcate a sense OF individual obliga
ton to the community, state and ma
ton; to combat the autOcracy of both
the classes and the masses: TO make
right the master of might: to pro-
mote peace and good will on earth;
to safeguard and transmit to poster
ity the principles of justice, freedom
and democracy; to consecrate and
sanctify our comradeship by our de-
votion to mutual helpfulness.
The position OF The American Lee
gion in political controversies is nue.
trail and nonpartsan. We are on rec
ord III favor of policies and are not
interested in political differences as
they arise in the different sections of
the country.
In a great national organization 1t
is necessary that the individual menu
bers retain to themselves the greatest
freedom in matters of political affili-
alton, religion, etc, and that they de-
eide upon their own conduct along
these lines strictly in accordance with
their own conscience.
1.-TWO successive conventions of the
American Legion have unqualitiedly
Upheld and reiterated this policy. The
people of the United States have the
right to decide for themselves any po-
litical question which may come be-
fore them. The American Legion does
not believe in the abridgement of
this right in any respect. The Ameri-
can Legion believes in law and order.
1t is steadfastly opposed to the uss
of force or violence in furtherance of
any doctrine, and will oppose such
methods through the lawfully conSti-
tuted authorities wherever they may
appear.
NO one knows more truly than do
you that the aims and attitude of a
great national association may often
be misjudged by the irresponsible
conduct or statements of individual
members of the association or by
small groups of members, and that
ii sometimes unfortunately ocurS that
the newspaper reports of such Incl
dents or stateents are not strictly ac-
r'1~"tn roncrts of the facts and cir
cumstances as they occurred. In
his nature cannot commit
q national organization to policies or
positions in conflict with the policies
and positions taken by such an as
ISOLATION at it's conventions or as set
forth in it's constitution"
Replying a week later, Mr.. Gompers
wrote:
1T is indeed gratifying to know
that you have taktn the same stand
as your predecessor. Mr.. Franklin
D'Oliver, and are just as much in
earnest as was he in conserving the
good name of the American Legion.
| would ask you if there is anything
in the following declaration by the
A. F. of l.. Convention in 1910, to
which the American Legion con OBJ
ject:
Organized TABOR coHIeHuS lot tHe
improvement of the standard of life,
to uproot ignorance and foster educa-
ton, to instill character. to bring
about a recognition of the interde-
pendence of the modern life of man
and his fellow man. It, claims to
establish a normal workday, take the
children from the factory and the
workshop and place them in the
school, the home and playground. In
a word the unions of labor, reorgan-