The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-04-01


protect your homes from disorders.
for which you viii not be response
ble-we ara trying TO protect Jour
homes as well as our own
AS a result OF this very frank state
ment by the post commander the meet
ing OF organized labor approved the
action of the legion. and there was 90
disorder whatever IN that community
This Is q small thing and yet u
shows just what the American LegHR
Is trying TO DO You need have no
fear about the stand OF the American
Legion for law and order That is one
point upon which every meinb9r OF
the American Legion Is pledged and
is one thing On which we agree unani-
mously. the maintenance OF law and
order in this country. and In that
way we hope TO serve our country.
In addition we are going 20 serve
our comrades through mutual helpful
ness We WIN see that the dependents
Of those who made the supreme sacrf-
fee sre taken care of-that those dis
abled physically are properly AIRED fcE
Unfortunately, although a year had
elapsed since the signing OF the ar
mistice, congress had not done what
Il should have done for the disabled
men. The American Legion called
meeting In Washington last December.
and explained what they thought was
fair treatment to the disabled men, ;,
that they might not be objects OF
charity Of a private character. and
legislation which we considered Mon
day morning was actually passed By
both houses by Saturday afternoon.
because What the American Legion
asked was fair and just. and congress
knew 1t had the support of the entire
country. And as a result a man can
now live on the compensation he re-
ceives from his government where be
has become physically disabled.
We are now asking congress to do
something for those Of our comrades
handicapped financially because oil
their service In the army or navy. We
have been criticized for doing this on
the basis thar we were putting a prizes
on our patriotism. due TO the fact that
anyone making that statement does
not appreciate the situation
I understand Il Is a historical tact
that George Washington. the father|
Of our country. received a grant'WfI
several thousand acres Of land FROM
this country. In recognition of his serv-I
Ice during fhe revolution. No one has
ever criticized the father OF our coun-
try AZ having put q price on his pa-
trfotism-
Referring TO O recent illustration
When this country appreciated what
Admiral Dewey had done. by POPULAR
subscription they presented him with
a house, and no one ever said that
Admiral Dewey had put price. on hIa
patriotism.
The ex-service men In what they are
asking for beneficial legislation 10 thai
this country shall merely help. them
overcome the disadvantages Incidental
to their military and naval serviceS
We have suggested a four-fold options
: al plan, covering land settlement
home aid. vocational training. and. IN
those who are NOT able 70 avail Their
selves Of any one OF those three
adjustment In their compensafio<
based on length Of service Z tn
American Legion every time II refer
TO fhis legislation has asked ronRres
| 10 make n ss liberal az Ia consisted
with the welfare OF the country. am
%. one H. IN position 20 take excepted
Co statement ike that.
The American legion knows rhaE
while we were I'm France our sfrrngt
1 In fhe face of the enemy was not IN t.
strength Of the two million men .
France or the strength of -lRf nv
million men In the states RufH VA
the strength OF the hundred mIllI0
Americans hack Of those four milIio<
1 OF n In service. We were the &Sea
poInf: rhe hundred million parriotfE
Americans hack OF rs were the shat
! and the strength
The American legion reafizes tha<
| its future usefulness for good In m
country will depend on the suaR0f
and approval we get from the hundrr
million other Americans. and we knot
we could do nothing without your sur
port. and you may rest assured Ia
our acts we shall see TO IL that y
keep constantly Ia. mind the one hS1
dred million other Americans who q
just as patriotic and just as loyal
we are.