The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-07-18
PURPOSES OF LEGION
TOLD TO KIWANIANS;
PATRIOTISM URGED


ganization, essential in the life of
american citizens, and that 1t stands
LOT PATRIOTISM toward American ideals
ard Tor the furtherance of mankind,
was emphasized by Oswald Ryan. city
attorney or Anderson, and Indiana
commissioner for the American Lee
slon, before the Kiwanis club Tuesday.
Mr. Ryan is also charter member of
the Kiwanis club at Anderson.
Mr.. Ryan said that many of the
members of the Kiwanis club NAV car
ny away some of the ideas of what the
american Legion is trying to do for
the country, but that if everybody only
knew OF the purposes which the Amer
: lean Legion is organized for, they
( Woudl never work against the organ
ization.
he said, great ruler of this coun-
T Try, Abraham Lincoln was shot down
IN tord's theatre by an assassin, who,
II ne had but looked into the face of
7 the nations great ruler, would never
5 have pulled the trigger which sent the
unr1ghteous bullet into the man who
mad done such great things If the
citizens knew of the things which the
american Legion is attempting to do.
they would never knife the organiza-
ton IN the back, in its attempt toward
patriotic end. We stand for loyalty
to the common life of the country.
Most Lawless Nation
The United States today is the
most lawless nation in all the world
Compare the crime records of the Unit
cd states with that of other nations.
You will find that 10 times more peo-
pie are murdered annually in this
country than in any other nation of
the world Indianapolis had more peo-
pie murdered in one year than they
had over in London. There is no
place on earth where human life is so
cheap as in the United States.
little less than so per cent of the
murderers receive punishment for their
acts. while fully 50 per cent of the
vfolators of game laws receive punish
ment to the limit 1t is safer to muir
der human being than it is to kill
deer in Canada
Mr.. Ryan pointed to the poor pa
triotism displayed by millionaire
packer, during the war time. He said
While Americas best was over the
water fighting to defend those on our
own soil, we had many who took adj |
vantage Of the situation to enrich
themselves during the pressing times.
A rich packer had his millions, but !
Wnen food was scarce. he stored it |
away. violating the cold storage act
OF the United States during the war. In |
TINS way he doubled his money. When |
ne was brought to trial, all which he |
suffered was a small fine This was
the poorest type of patriotism. But |
what want to get before you all is the |
TACT that the American Legion stands i
primarily for patriotism
nope to live to see the day when /
every man in my country from rag
PICKER 10 millionaire. is compelled to
take off his hat TO the American flag
and American law declared Mr.. |
Ryan.
me criminal rich and the criminal
poor have been able to snan their
fingers in the face of American law
and get away with it The result is
that the United States today Is the
most lawless of the civilized nations
of the world"
In referring to the opinion of MANY
about the purposes of the American
Legion. Mr.. Ryan stated, 1T should
not be necessary to pour out the Am
er1can blood on a battle field to settle
dispute and the American Legion is
not military organization, as MANY
think. and is not for the purpose of
enrolling members so. that they may
be called into another war. Not by
any means
We the American Legion. stand
for peace, but We offer no support or
protection to the professional pacifist
class. This republic was born in bat
tie and in battle it was preserved. Its
flag has never fallen and it is our
purpose TO keep it from falling. The
obligation rests on all of us to in
fluenee others to prevent any more
world combats
Had Noble Purpose
Noble as were the purposes of the
allies, there were no more noble pur-
poses than those which inspired our
own people toward participating in the
war France expected to get back her
territory, the Alsace-Lorraine, when
she stepped into the war, and England
expected to retain her naval powers |,
But, America did not enter the war for
any protection of foreign lands She |,
had no foreign possessions, but she
went into the World war for the up
holding of an ideal and for this same
ideal. the American people cast their
resources of human life and industry
into the big combat"
Mr.. Ryan Endorsed the idea of plant
ing trees along the National road in
memory of those veterans who fell in
the World war, who were from Wayne
county. He said that he hoped that
the trees would be planted thickest
near Centerville, the birthplace of
Ci:ver P. Morton, the man who did so
Euch for the state of Indiana.
n closing Mr.. Ryan said, 1T is our !
obligation to those who are under the
crosses in France. to do the utmost
honor TO them. They went over the
top and gave their last full measure
of devotion l can speak this way to :
of this club because | know
that kiwanis stands for principles of
service to mankind" +