South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-16

Continued from PAGE one)
posed 20 labor. He said IN part.
A smsu percentage Of the public
have vague idea that the American
Legion is opposed 20 organized Ia
Dor Nothing is further from the
truth
no American citizen denies the
right 81 laborinE men 70 organize
fer the betterment and protection OF
thelr members. that e exactly why
the American Legion IS organized for
the cx-service men. There are radi-
al and irresponsible members of all
orgs "a ions vino do not reflect the
true sentiments of the bodies which
they purport a. speak for. and DO
take it upon themselves to stir mp
autagonisms when there really
should be nothing but cooperation
and friendship Members Of the
American Legion have been accused
Of acting 1s strike breakers. hired
police, sca5s night riders and an
tagonistic 90 an labor movements.
Ta.s is not American Legion pro-
cedure
I'VE want 10 call 20 their atten-
ton the fact that no procedure Is
American Legion procedure except
that arrived at i'm open meeting. We
csn assure them that the American
Legion has no invisible inside work
ing The American Legion can no
more be held responsible for acts %
certain irresponsible than ca n
union labor be held responsible for
the actions Of some agitatora who
pose as their adherents.
When H. comes 70 the protection
Of homes women and children,
property rights and public decency.
and when all properly constituted
guardians OF public safety have
failed and only then. men Of the
American Legion. like all good
American citizens. and there viii
be just as many union men standing
with them. intend 20 see that our
communities have protection and IL
does not matter whether such dam
age or threat comes from capital and
paid strfkebreAkors or from strikers
infiamed by radical agitators.
mo one believes an law and order
more than the American Federation
OF Labor. We have tho best sort
and closest kind of connection with
that organization. The first ma
tional vice-commander Of the Amer
team Legion, elected at Kansas City
is president of an international
union and labor leader of many
years standing. lie is working with
Us and for ne to counteract impress
sions which are spread abroad by
irresponsible agitators whose sole
purpose is 90 90 everything i'm their
power 20 undermine an orgauiza-
ton which they fear because it
stands for public dccency, the iutcg-
ritv Of this nation and respect for its
lawful government. aud 20 which
every union man and American Le-
Eionnaire subscribes.
samuel Gompers is one OF the
Legions' good friends a. this state
ment from him testiflcs that the
pleasant relations between the
American Legion and the American
Federation can be extended 20 every
post and local union OF both orga nj
cations is nay earnest and sincere
wish Thousands OF union men are
splendid Legion members.
In my own state the American
r-c5or,t,nn ~ Tabor nor only on
-. ~. ,,,.-i.sr T.sio, bp.
~s,it-i,. ~ ,o org,1fz9tior can
s+,v f,ir ON any oueetiou miles III
49, -. ,,,s,.,-,,os ,s the ,c.,1 situ.
go t1,c ,c,1 r,,rnose rb,- un5errie
IN .,,.-h ,,,o,.er,.rts The, urrs all
- .if.i,,l, ,-,a~,t,.~s -, 80 the
A7oerirs~ torio0 and work with il
s,1 a. g.. ,., tb,t trova ave never
u7izunderztandlnrs
d have rosorufion here I'm nv
ut-. $500. en-. 60 "a +-,an-
sssemb1v Of the largest cit- nm my
f.,.4-.l. A,aA-tvp tLe
Amer-,sr I.erion win rs rreserf,
r.E,o,,sI Drevr.-, aud oeicor- Tr.
.o-,-.. = -. 80. - an ou,. +,.o,,.
al-s Tho o1lr VA the American
r~s,,,, ava .bo Ar,arira, Eederafion
- Iabor can he treated fairly IS 70
set each one to understand the
eth.~ b.+tor This has hen practi-
csliv accomplished an over the
United state
.rb.ro ~. certss7 Wild neriodi.