The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1922-04-21
The Position Of the American Legion
Relative to Its Attitude Toward Organic
ed Labor Is Shown to be Friendly

Republic, and 10 build up a apIit
Of LOYALTY and love for the ideals
which the Republic has stood for
and fought for at home and abroad.
This is In brief the policy and pur,
nose Of The American Legion ana
Is actuated by no other ambition
To such a program every good citl-
zen and organization can, without
hesitancy. subscribe, and particular
lv Il this true Of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor which has SUD
scribed to an identical program. The
purpose, therefore, in this constfuc-
tive far sighted program makes to
that extent The American Legion
and the American Federation OF La
Dor inseparable.
II Is obviously true that there Is
n line Of demarcation between the
international Unions and The Am
erican Legion in that the former
concentrates largely in economic de-
velopments. The American Legion
Is not an economic organization but
purely fraternal and legislative
organization purposing the Things
that have herein been referred 70
However, so far as the economic
struggles Of international Labor
Unions are concerned, The Amerl-
can Legion has very properly de-
termined that il shall not and VIII
not interiect itself into controver-
sizes arising from economic disputes
between employer and employe or
ganizations That this position ~
the correct one is borne out by the
fact that The American Legion IS
made up Of men from all walks OF
ife,-Union men, men unatiillated
with unions, professional men, busi-
ness men and statesmen, and hence
of course. II would be highly inn
proper for The Legion to take po-
sition Of craftsmanship in industrial
controversies.
II is the height OF sophistry 20 at
tack The American Legion because
some member OF The Legion may
engage himself in industrial contro-
versies. whether his act is partisan
TO the trades union movement or
partisan TO the organizations OF the
employers antagonistic 20 organized
labor. No organization is free from
imperfection. There are members
of the Chamber of Commerce who
have denounced the policies OF this
organization and have withdrawn
from il. This does not mean that
the act Of such member OF the
Chamber Of Commerce represents
the sentiment and the policy Of the
organization. BY the same token
there are instances where members
affiliated with international Labor
Unions have withdrawn from their
organization and joined forces with
the employer in defeating the ef-
forts Of the union in which they
formerly held their membership.
| This does not mean that the union
is responsible for such an act. IL
is. therefore, unreasonable 70 expect
that there will not be members OF
The American Legion who will, IN
periods Of industrial controversy
| take sides as in their judgment IN,
situation warrants, but this does MOI
mean that The American Legion
approves of such a course or VIII
/ follow the act Of an individual mem
I Der or members Of the organization
The use Of an act Of an individual
of an organization, that might on
its face raise a controversial ques
ton. as measure Of attacking ar
organization IS both unfair and COW.
ardly The American Legion is
free institution made up Of mer
who have proven their allegiance
and love for the cause Of freedom
and democracy at home and abroad
and in the pursuance Of such
course it will be in harmony viii
the high ideals that have animated
the American Federation Of Labor