, 1922-08-31
B. A. B. Tonkin)

Ol the war, the greatest was com
radeship. Such comradship 1t would
be impossible to prevent yer IL on
wanted to. The very strongest tie
of fellowship of ex-service mel
through this same comradship rem
dered the organization of the Amer
lean Legion inevitable.
The best way to make the Amer
lean Legion a force for good is fol
all eligible men to Join it, take prid,
in it and direct its energies IL
wholesome ways. 1t has been sale
that the American Legion has uset
this possibility for good in a selfish
manner valuing practically nothing
except the personal interest OF it,
members. Such accusations can only
come from people who do not know
that the great purpose Of the Amer.
lean Legion is to devote the greater
part of its and energies tC
%unselfish work.
The question Of adjusted com.
%pensation which has aroused this
criticism has been the least impor-
tant in the program Of the American
Legion. That same comradship born
nut Of our service has, however. rem
dered n deep, lasting obligation
that might be called selfish; the OBJ
legation 10 those who sleep in Fland-
ers Field. to those who are physical
ly disabled. and to our posterity. Any
organization that is capable of so
much good is by reason of hat cap
ability also capable of much evil. and
the careless exercise of the latter
will gain for u organization the
name Of being a selfish outfit.
Primary Obligations
The Legion. out of its very nature
has two primary obligations to full
fill; one. that OF the welfare Of the
public; the other. the advancement
Of the interests o. its In
attempting to pay the after ohliga-
ton much criticism is being heaped
upon the Legion. especially for its
fight for the adjusted compensation.
and its fight for efficiency in the
care OF our disabled comrades and
the proper disqualification Of the
same. especially in connection with
the attempt of outside personal in
in thwarting the efforts of
the government, who through its
representatives has willingly and
generously granted millions to care
for and hospitalize our disabled COM
rades.
Disabled Comrades
This obligation to our disabled
is equal to our obligation of
good citizenship, one cannot be para
to the other as each demands
the same things of the other. Good
depends largely upon the
fulfillment of promise and the obi
Of good government by the
to its citizens who have been
disabled in carrying out the duty of
good citizenship.
Only SO long. as far as the Legion
Is concerned, as our disabled COM
rade is improperly cared for will we
admit that we are a selfish outfit.
The accusation of Selfishness, when
you approach the subject of adjusted
cannot apply. as the
cry for adjusted compensation first
came from a people, who through
their government representatives.
tried TO pay something to the re-
turned soldier, other than praise
and glory. No one can point to the
Legion as being the originator Of
the adjusted compensation. Records
show that adjusted compensation did
not originate with the Legion but
rather with congress.
Adjusted Compensation
The five-fold adjusted compensa-
ton plan was written by Legion Of
ficials at the request Of congress.
This request was in the nature of a
promise. and the fact hat we are
human and rebel against the repudia-
ton OF a promise made. does not
mark us as a selfish outfit. Promises
voluntarily made and then repudiat-
ed will certainly shake the faith of
a rapidly increasing future genera
ton who will always be available
and willing to 60 forward to the de-
tense OF the national.
The main essentials Of the present
adjusted compensation are bound to
work for good as Its provisions are
for those things that prevent unde-
sira bility in citizenship, and are for
home and land ownership. and paid
up insurance policies. Always have
we felt that the safety of American
citizenship rested splendidly in the
hands of our frugal and saving land
and home owners With this in mind
will not adjusted compensation rem
der to the Nation that citizenship at
this time So earnestly desired.
LeRion's Main Purposes
Those parts of the Legion program
that are called selfish, as l have said
before. are the least OF our main
purposes. of which one Of the prin'
cIples is that of continued service &c
our country In peace as we'll as ir
war. AS we fought that American
might be. we also fought that II
might stay American.
Our Americanism work Is n o.
our main reasons for being, and thi:
program OF Americanization shoult
include the combating Of radicalisn
in every form of public expression
also in endeavoring to secure the CO
operation Of all its good citizens IL
carrying out the laws Of our countr!
whether they personally meet will
our approval or not. We should pas
and work for sound emigration laws
based on quality rather than QUAINT