The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-01-23
Legion Answers Questions

with rrfcr~nc. 10 QUESTION q. we
cannot help hut feel tina; the aues.
TONER - mistaken tn hss statement
that IN controversies between labor
and capital tho American Legion
has taken The side % capital. II IL
true tina, Immediately after the
conclusion Of the war ther~ Nprnnr
up In the ranks Of labor a class such
zs the I. w. W.. claiming 10 repre-
sent orranizrf labor, which attack.
81 the gosvrument and attempted 10
overthrow governmental innuiu.
iona II became necessary at that
time for tho American Legion. com.
posed as II was Of loyal American
oitirena 20 sapousc tho cause OF the
government For that action on the
part OF tho American Legion W..
make no apologies. and We do no,
believe that The rank and file Of or.
Eanisd labor approved OF The atii.
tudo OF the I. W. w or the bolshe.
visit Our attitude toward the I. W.
W. was not in any way Indicative
Of our attitude toward Organized
labor. We include in our rnemier.
ship Representatives Of Organized
labor probably 10 an overwhelming.
~ greater degree than We include
representatives 81 capital W. ar.
not In any way interested In tho con-
troversies between capital and labor.
and the organization does not coun.
tenance nor favor any antarunistic
attitude towards organized iRi.or
We do not feel that there is any
Analogy between tho actions OF the
individual members OF THO American
I,egion and tho case Of Senator New.
berry. The American Legion In an
extremely large organization. II
numbers over 700. 900 Numbers. No
/ reasonable person can expect that
We can control the actions or state.
ments Of all the individual members.
All that we can do In TO assure the
legitimate representatives. OF organ.
izcd labor that we have no feeling Of
antaFoniErn towards them and that
we do not take sldes In their con.
troversies. The best evidence OF trio
attitude OF the American Legion
towards organized labor Is the fact
that at its third convention at Kan.
sas City on October 81. 1871. there
was elected. as one OF the vice com.
manderr OF the national organiza-
ton, George l.. Berry. president OF
the International Pressmen's and
Assistants Union. and we believe
that our attitude towards organized
labor can test be expressed In the
statement made by Mr.. Berry at that
time: The federation and the lie.
zion have much I'm common In the
legislative fields. In that they both
arc advocates of progressive. con.
structive, Humanitarian Legislation.
and because they are both nonparti.
san In politics, seeking to promote
the interests OF tho state rather
than the politician. There II every
reason why our two Organizations
should maintain n contact that viii
be helpful TO the whole OF the com.
munities In America"
We have no knowledge Of INV
members OF the American Isgion
having been expelled from the or.
ganizauon for activities for or
against capital or labor.
With regard 10 question 7. the
constitution of the American I,egton
provides that the organization shall
be absolutely non-political ana shall
not be used for the dissemination of
partisan principles nor for the pro.
motion OF the candidacy OF any per.
son seeking public office or prefer.
ment No candidate for or incum.
bent OF salaricd elective public
office shall hold any office in tho
American Legion or In any depart.
ment or post thereof. No letters or
circulars have ever been sent out
from any American Legion post or
department and II auestioner has
received letters purportlnR TO be
from the American Legion. such
letters have never been authorized
The legion has no control over. nor
does 1t care. with what party its