New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-08-12
AMERICAN LEGION
CALLS ON MEMBERS TO
SUPPORT EXEMPTION
TO POST COMMANDERS,
POST ADJUANTANTS and
ALL LEGIONAIRRE'S.

! ~ POS COM MANDERS,
POST ADJUANTANTS and
ALL LEGIONAIRRE'S.
The vote on the soldiers amend
ment at the coming special election
election will be the first test as to
whether the exservice men of New
Mexico are standing together
For that reason any argument as
to the merits of the particular form
of amendment are out of place The
service men of New Mexico are ad-
mittedly entitled to far more at the
hands of the state But this is all
that we have a chance TO vote on
now If this amendment should be
defeated, the politicians will take it
as a sign that the soldiers have no
strength in the state, and it will be
long time before any real substantial
measure of justice is done
This issue is entirely non-partisan
and every post should devote its eff
forts from now to election day to ex-
plain the situation to the people of
the state
Certain organizations are already
attempting to defeat the amendment
by bringing irrelevant issues and by
distrrting the facts
The facts are as follows:
The 1919 Legislature passed a law
exempting from taxation al property
Of ex-seryice men to the amount of
5000 This law is the only concrete
soldiers legislation so far passed in
New MeNico, Few states have done
less Adjusted Compensation, pass
ed by the people or legislatures OF
SO many states was declared impos-
,ible here because OF the poverty of
our people.
This one token OF Legislative gra-
titude-the tax eXemption-was re-
pealed by the Legislature of 1921, on
the alleged ground of it unconstitu-
tianality. although the law had never
been attacked in the courts To
straighten out this situation the State
Executive Committee OF The Ameri-
can Legion We're unanimous in urg-
ing the Legislature to submit the
proposition to the people in the form
OF a constitutional amendment; After
good deal OF effort this much at
least was accomplished
II New Mexico were in a position
TO do its real duty towards relieving
the financial disabilities OF its ex-ser-
vice men, it would hardly he worth
whi to ight for SO iAad-qu tt a
measure as this. But we are taking
the Legislature at its word. We are
assuming that the state cannot afford
at this time to do more, And we are
insisting that the state must do.
The propaganda against the amend
ment is going on in secret. Make its
opponents come out in the open, Make
them publish the reasons for think
ing New Mexico is the only State in
the Union which can do nothing to
relieve the disabilities of those who
served it.
Remember no state so far has turn
ed down soldier legislation when
submitted to the voters at an elec-
ton
1t is up TO every Legionairre and
every service-fran to see that New
Mexico not only passes this amend
nent but passes It by a record ma
iority.
Let's Stick Together
Every post should get in commu-
nicaton with this office regarding
what action Il is taking Special
meetings should be called at once for
which all Legionairre's and all other
service-men should be invited TO at
tend at which time every service-man
should be asked to Join the Legion
in its "Stick Together spirit and
and work for the passage of the
amendment.
Yours for service
HERMAN G BACA.
Department Ad'urtsnt.