The labor world., 1922-09-09

Lands, high commissioner of Or
ganized baseball, and ,other no.
tables. =.
Mr.. Gompers was instructed by
to attend the legion convention fol-
lowing an address before the union
men by Hanford MacNider, national
commander of the legion.
Zone of the most interesting and
pleasurable events of the Cincinnati
convention was the eloquent address
you delivered," Mr.. Gompers has
written Commander MacNider. II
heard many expressions Of commen-
dation of your remarks. You made a
deep impression upon the delegates.
Personally, I want to take this op-
portunity to say to you that I regard
your address as another strong link
in the chain binding together the
American Legion and the American
Federation Of Labor"
Commander MacNider, in explain
ing the relations between organized
labor and the American Legion, de-
clares:
Not Opposed to Labor.
"A small percentage OF the public
have vague idea that the American
Legion is opposed to- organized labor.
Nothing is further from the truth
mo American citizen denies the
right of laboring men to organize
for the betterment and protection
of their members; that is exactly
why the American Legion is organ
lied for the ex-service men. There
are radical and irresponsible men,
bers of all organizations who do not
reflect the true sentiments of their
bodies and stir up antagonisms when
there really should be nothing but
cooperation and friendship.
members Of the American Legion
have been accused of acting as strike
breakers, hired police, scabs, night
riders and anita tagonistic to all labor
movements. This is not American Le-
Sion procedure. We want to call to
their attention the fact that no pro-
cedure is American Legion procedure
except that arrived at in open meet
ing.
1--WE can assure them that the
American Legion has no invisible in
side workings. The American Legion
can no more be held responsible for
acts of certain irresponsibles than
can union labor be held responsible,
for the actions of some agitators who
pose as their adherents.
"When it comes to the protection
of the home, women and children,
property rights and public decency,
and when all properly constituted.
guardians of public safety have
failed and only then, men fof the
American Legion like all good Amer
lean citizens and there will be just
as many union men standing with
them, intend to see that our commu-
mites have protection and it does not
matter whether such damage or
threat comes from capital and paid
strikebreakers or from strikers in-
famed by radical agitators.
Friendly to A. F., of L.
"No one believes in law and order
| more than the American Federation
of Labor. We have the best sort and
closest kind of connection with that
organi3a ton. The first. national vice
commander of the American Legion
elected at Kansas City is president
Of an international union and labor
leader Of many years standing.
HE is working with us and for
US to countt ract impressions whichs
are spread abroad by irresponsible
agitators whc5e sole purpose is to do
everything in their power to under
mine an organization which they fear
because it stands for public decency,
the integrity of this. nation and re-
spect for it's lawful government, and
to which every union man and
American Legionnaire subscribes.
Samuel Gompers is one of the
Legion's good friends as this state
ment from him testifies,s That the
pleasant relations between the Amer
lean Legion and the American Fed
every post and local union Of both
organizations is my earnest and SIN
cere wish Thousands of union men
are splendid Legion members. " =
I'm my own state the American
Federation Of Labor not only en-
dorses the American Legion. but
realizing that no organization can
stay fair on any question, unless it
has people informed of the real sit
uation, the real purpose that underlie
all such movements. They urge all
their eligible members to join the
American Legion and work with It
and in it to see that there are never
misunderstanding. g."
Endorses Legion.
II have a resolution here in my
pocket from the labor and. trades as
sembly of the largest city in my state
voluntarily endorsing the American
Legion with its present national pro-
gram and officers. Ignorance is the
cause of all our troubles. The only
way the American Legion and the,
American Federation Of Labor can be
treated fairly is to get, each one to
understand the other better. This
has been practically accomplished all
over the United States. s..e. -
"There are certain wild periodicals
and hare-brained wobbleys not rep
resentative of anything but anarchy
who are still battling to keep up the
prejudice which their early efforts
- - .