The New York herald., 1922-02-26
Continued from First Page.

tohbuucu iIOm Tlfst Edkc.
President is studying facts regarding
the American Legion which Mr.. Mac
Nider did not reveal in his telegram
regarding that organization.
In addressing the President the
American Legion commander prefaced
it with the statement "the American
Legion is speaking for nearly 5,o0O.-
600 returned service men and women
and 100000 to 10000 900 of their i'm
mediate families"
An investigation OF this statement
shows that it is not true. The real
facts concerning the Legion and its
membership are presented in letter
written by Charles j. Biddle uf Phila-
delphia TO Senator George Wharton
Pepper OF that State and probably
other members of the two houses. Mr..
Biddle. who is a member of the Amer
lean Legion and assisted in the or
ganization of it at st. Louis. is op-
posed TO the bonus scheme. He has
recently investigated the condition of
the legion. In his letter TO Senator
Pepper the result Of this investigation
is clearly set forth.
Ieeion's Paid Up Mcmbership.
According to Mr. Biddle the national
membership OF tie organization on
February TO- 1S22-fifteen days ago
consisted OF 344504 paid up members
in good standing" and not in excess
of 100000 as claimed by the officers
of the American Legion The names
of 10000 members were carried on
the books OF the organization on De-
cember /. 1920. The falling off iu
membership from 1920 to 1921 is ex-
planned by the legion on the ground
that it was due 10 business depression
and consequent inability of men TO
pay their dues. Mr.. Biddle in his let
ter to Senator Pepper said: ~
THE largest membership was In
1919, when in round numbers tie
legion consisted OF 100000 men. The
falling off since that time is explained
somewhat by the fact that in 1919 the
dues were only about 25 cents"
Mr.. Biddle further disposed of tie
claim Of Commander Mac Nider that
the legion speaks "for nearly 5000
600 of returned eX-service men" by
saying:
"As you know there were about
100000 men in the service at the
end of the war. From this it is ap-
parent the American Legion consists
of about 20 per cent. of the ex-service
men"
Erroneous Opinion, Says BiddIe.
Mr.. Biddle makes no distinction be-
tween the 344504 paid up members
in good standing" and the 451 .295
whose names were carried on the
membership rolls on December 81 last,
but who had not paid their dues. Mr.
Biddle in opposing the bonus says:
1T seems that there is an entirely
erroneous opinion abroad that the ex-
service men are almost unanimously
in favor of bonus. In view of the
fact that If bonus is to be obtained
1t Will be by reason OF the efforts OF
the American Legion it would. there
fore, seem that IL the balance OF the
men in the service had been en-
thusiastic for "A bonus more of them
would have joined the American
Legion TO assist in putting it through
1t is. OF course. true that the ma
jorty of the American Legion is in
favor OF bonus. otherwise the legion
would not be in favor of it, On the
other hand, | think the majority of the
men who are able to appreciate more
clearly what an unfortunate thing the
bonus will be both for the legion and
the country, are opposed to the bonus"
Mr. Biddle calls attention TO the pub
lished statement that the legion claims
to control 100000 votes" On this
point he observes:
When we consider that the mem
bers of the legion are by no means
unanimous in favor of the bonus. the
100000 votes must be made up by
the families of those in favor of it,.
1t seems TO me, however, that If GER
tain members of Congress are voting
in favor of the bonus because it is a
vote getter. they may be making a
great mistake.
"In my opinion. any soldier vote