Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-09-23
CAPT. PETTYJOHN
NEW STATE HEAD OF
AMERICAN LEGION
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the title of past State commander. IL
was resolved TO accord past State
commanders the privileges of dele
gates in future conventions.
Wilmington was unanimously Sc
lected as the place for holding the
fourth annual convention.
Miller Tells of Allen Property.
Col. Thomas w. Miller, alien prop
erty custodian and a member of the
National Executive Committee of the
American Legion. in addressing the
meeting dealt with matters affecting
the ex-service mon in the United
States as well as the policy recom-
mended by him as alien property Gus
todian in connection with properties
now held by him and their final dis
position.
This is the first opportunity" he
said, that has presented itself since
the publication of the terms of the
peace treaty for attention TO be called
to certain matters of Importance to
this country in connection with the
| $500, ,000, 10000 worth of alien property
seized by this Government since the
outbreak of the war with Germany,
now being administered under the
Trading with the Enemy Act. This
property is the only tangible asset
in the possession of this government
growing out of the war. 1t lis as
sumed in many quarters, by many
members of Congress as well. that
this property should forthwith be re-
turned to our enemies. l shall ad-
vocate that this property be held by
this government until all claims are
settled or the funds be used as an
offset against these American claims,
II observe that some of our states
men at Washington during the debate
on the peace resolution, questioned
the action of the alien property custo-
dian in the Bergdoll seizure. Let them
not forget that an enemy under the
law is one who resided in Germany
or Austria during the war and who
was not protected by War Trade
Board license. Such was Bergdoll $
status. The fact that he has broken
two laws in this country at two
separate times and under two diff
ferent conditions, does not make him
/ AANIt VI AnNAHs w HtA
Bergdoll fled to Germany he placed
himself within the scope OF the Trad
ing with the Enemy Act and We
would have been derelict in our duty
had we not carried out the law which
is plain in it's meaning and direction
and seize the property Of this fragrant
violator of our laws, who evaded mill.
tary service at the time the country
needed men and who from his tempo.
rary vantage point overseas adds {,
his former crimes by uttering insolen
verbal attacks against this country
and its officials.
Ex-Seryice Men.
"Since President Harding assumed
Office much has been done by the Ad
ministration and the members of tn,
Cabinet in the interest Of ex-serVic,
men and particularly those who wer,
disabled. One of the most outstand
ing features was the appointment b,
the President of a committee heade,
by General Dawes for the purpose o
inquiring into the conditions sur
rounding the compensation. rehabii
tation and disqualification of disable,
men and women.
, THE Presidents recommendation
have already passed Congress and tn
second Sweet bill is now a law. tn
! Veterans Bureau providing for
single governmental agency preside'
over by a director responsible only Z
/ the President. In this manner tn
three agencies dealing with all prob
lens relating to ex-service persons
disabled or otherwise, will be consoli
dated under one head. Two year
, and a half after the Armistice we fin
: the Congress appropriating the frs
sum of money for permanent hcspita
? sites, viz: the sum of Sls,600, 900 ap
: propriated in the act of March
1921. If those hospital building
I should be erected Immediately the
n would be insufficient to properly car
n for all the disabled ex-service mel
h some of whom are located at wha
n are known as unsatisfactory bed
@ located in State and county institu
Q tions. as well as private and contraC
@ hospitals. Public opinion control
q Congress and if public opinion wi
e become aroused it will not be neces
e sary for the disabled saviours of ou
e land to fight the government for whs
e they so richly and justly deserve, b
: sentiment as well as by law"
a