New-York tribune., 1921-02-26
Won Mach Saws
Rhine Meeting
Will Be Held
Deties Legion to Prove Its
Charges That Propaganda
Is Back of Gathering to
Protest Against France
Warns Against Disorder
' eterans' Leader Asserts He
Will Back His Charges:
Mayors Action Awaited

DIR. Otto Won Mach last night issued
challenge to the American Legion
to prove its assertions that propaganda
IS behind the plan for mass meeting
scheduled for Madison Square Garden
next Monday night to protest against
"the horror on the Rhine"-the alleged
quartering OF French black troops in
German territory.
A formal protest against the holding
OF this meeting was sent to Mayor John
;. hylan yesterday by Commander Y
Ferdinand D. Sanford Of the 30sth In
tantry Post Of the American Legion.
following which James Blackwell, stats
American Legion secretary, issued al
appeal TO American Legion and al
other eN-service men TO refrain from
violence and breaking Of the peace in
the event che meeting was permitted
10 be held. Mr.. Blackwcll's appeal was
issued in the absence Of reply from
the Mayor.
Yon Mach Warns Against Interference
DR.. Won Mach at his Office, l26 Eas,
Fifty-njnth Street, insisted that the
meeting would be held rs arranged.
regardless o. protests, and that any
persons attempting 10 stop It would
get what was coming to them"
When asked to explain that state
ment DR., Won Mach said:
~ mean that the police will un-
doubtedly protect loyal and law-abiding
citizens. We hold our first duty to be
70 our own country and our own peo-
pie. and cannot agree with the Legion g
bulletin, which seems to indicate that
q sense of loyalty TO France and Great
Britain should determine the policies
OF American citizens. We challenge
tha Amer can Legion to name propa-
gapdists who are connected with the
plans made Tor this meeting"
Mr.. Blackwell, when seen later with
regard TO this statement, said:
THE American Legion will not
counten2nce any breach Of the peace
but the American Legion wishes to
eel! t. the attention Of the people that
we are still at war with Germany ard
that meeting such as DR.. Won Mach
proposes is the most serious sort OF
disloyalty.
The plan is simply propaganda of
new sort, TO cause disturbance be-
tween America and her allies. The
American Legion will have individuals
planted in the audience to take short
hand reports of every word spoken
there. Records will be turned in to
government and city officials. We will
answer the challenge OF DR.. von Mach
tomorrow, and | promise that the
answer viii be embarrassing to DR.
Won Mach and others connected with
the affair."
William T. Deegan, national vice
commander Of the American Legion, in
speaking of the meeting last night
said that as far as he knew no response
had been received from Mayor Hylan
in regard TO the protest asking that the
meeting be stopped.
Protest to Hylan
The protest to Mayor Hylan, which
was adopted following similar action
taken by the New York County Chap
ter OF the Military Order Of World War
Veterans at their meeting Thursday
night at the Hotel Astor, follows:
"f5onorable John F. Hylan, City Hall
New York:
"Dear Sir: On behalf o. the 3oeth
infantry Post OF the American Legion
wish to respectfully urge that the
proposed meeting TO be held in Madi-
son Square Garden on Monday next TO
protest against the alleged occupation
OF German territory by French Colonial
troops, he not permitted by the city
authorities.
eve feel that the real purpose OF
this meeting is to sow the seeds Of dis
cord between ourselves and the
French, our valiant allies with whom
we fought side BY side in the late war
and is, in the last analysis, iusidious
and harmful German propaganda. We
believe that the sentiment OF the
patriotic people of New York City, who
are loyal TO our allies and the cause
for which we fought. is strongly
against the holding OF such meeting
and that permitting ii to be held would
be travesty on the right of public as
scmblage and a grievous insult to the
soldiers and citizens Of America and
our allies.
we therefore respectfully urge that
permit for this proposed meeting be
withheld. Yours very truly.
"FERDINAND D. SANFORD,