Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-10-04
LEGION ASSA|LED IN
MINERS CONVENTION
''Striks Breaking Propensities''
Bring Mild Censure From
Union Workers.

Indianapolis. Ind. Oct. <.--Although
refusing 10 condemn the American
Legion because OF alleged strike break
Ing rrocliviticr OF some OF its men,
hers, the convention OF the United
Mine Workers OF America yesterday
adopted resolution committee report
calling on legion officials ito put their
house In order" The action came after
several delegates had appealed We
hcmcntiy for the convention to 60 or
rwaord In unqualified condemnation of
the legion.
The committee report was among
those made on moro than 100 rcsolu-
tons sent to the convention for con-
alteration by local union throughout
the country.
Aside from the work on resolutions
the convention voted overwhelmingly
not to change the unions present sys-
tenn OF appointing organizers. Sup
portcrs OF an election plan complained
that the appoinuve system permitted
cfficers to build up a political ma
chine but no evidence to support this
charge was found by committee ap-
pointed at the 1919 convention which
held election OF organizers was inn
practicable.
Among the resolutions adopted were
those favoring immediate nationaliZa-
ton OF coal mines and railroads. the
repeal OF the espionage laws, amncrty
for all political prisoners" and self
determination for Ireland.
The convention side-stepped taking
q part on prohibition when the issue
WAS brought up by resolutions favor
Ing light wines and beer. No action
was taken on these resolutions, the
committee advising such a course
with a statement that the prohibition
question lis purely a social question, F"
on which each citizen has his own
views.
Resolutions regarded by delegates
As maniscsting radical tendencies
were rejected outright. The idea of
zone big union" of workers. the af-
nliation OF the mine workers with the
International Council of Trade and
industrial unions to develop working
class solidarity. and the calling of a
convention by American trade unions
to form one organization having as
ns object the abolition of capital and
the establishment Of workers in
dustrial republic In the United States
were lost overwhelmingly without
discussion.
The committe report dealing with
the American Legion cited the Le-
gion's constitution as proof that the
World War veterans organization
-shali he a force OF law and order,
adding that acts Of individual men,
bars had Justly brought condcrnna-
ton on the Legion. and that the
tyranny pracsiced by Legion mem-
pors through force 10 In direct viola
ton" Of the Federal Constttution az
well a. that of the order.
We therefore, call upon tho props
officials of the American Legion" Aaf
the report. ito put their household n
order By adopting some proper An<
affective punXshment of its neFnbsr'
who violate the Constitution an<
weaken The force of the Legion an
tend to bring II into disgracs- Th'
American Legion is organized for
good purysosa. but has been used fo
had practice. and, being an infant or
gnnization, we fecl II unwise at tnh
time To condemn or eulogtze the Amer
can Legion as an orEAnizahon unu
they can have the opportunity to pu
their house In order"
John Wilkinson OF Muskoeee, Okla
presiaent OF the miners union In tina
district, In urging favorable action o'
the report declared that the miner
could not put the Legion out O
business by condcmning II, and b
added.
"if YOU want to see them put tneS
house In order, get in there and he'll
them put II right"
Ills statement came after some oeie
gates, VINO said thsy were ex-servfc
men. had declared that they woui'
not join the Legion because they knew
of It's members acting against strikers
The resolution favoring immediat
naturalization OF the mines asked tha
lexislation be presented in Congress
for the Government acquiring title
the coal lands of the country, and tina
In the operation OF the mines tn
miners have equal Representatives d
eciding working policies.