The Coconino sun., 1923-06-15
THE COCON1No SUN

SO that there was no representative
OF the American Legion present at the
conference.
say 20 you that representative
Of our organization and the other ex-
soldier interests, who was authorized
to represent and speak for you was
not invited to the conference.
Now wen talk about something
else.
The governor accuses me of playing
politics
Realize that he is 4 politician, hold
ing g political job. | am not.
Legion Must Take Non-Partisan
Hand in Politics
Upon my election last September
as your department commander, I
took the stand that If the American
Legion was to advance and succeed
in accomplishing its accepted obliga-
ton of fighting for the ex-service men
and for the cause Of Americanisnl, it
must take O non-partisan hand IN pol
ities. Your department executive
committee in January OF this year, by
the affirmative vote of every member
present at the meeting, went on rec
ord declaring that this department
should take a non-paltisan hand in
politics. In every talk that | have
made, and / have made good many
throughout the state | have without
exception presented this point and
urged our members to take a nom
partisan hand in selecting and elect
ing men and women to office who
stand for the principles upon which
the American Legion was founded and
to which it was dedicated. And again
say to you, If the American Legion
is to advance the cause OF American
ism, it must take hand in electing
men TO office who will fight fer the
real cause Of Americanism and for
justice to the ex-service men and wo-
men.
How was the Reorganization Of the
Veterans bureau accomplished? The
American Legion took a non-partisan
political hand in it at Washington.
How was the present disqualification
program brought about The Ameri-
can Legion took non-partisan, poll
tical hand in it at Washington.
How is the Americanism of Ameri-
ca to be preserved? ? BY the American
Legion and other patriotic organiza-
tions taking a non-partisan, political
hand in electing the right kind Of men
to office.
There was time when you fought
in uniform and did not know whether
the man on your left was a democrat
or the man on your right was q re-
publican; you did not know whether
the man in front of you was Jew or
the man behind you a Catholic; you
did not know, nor care, whether the
officer holding the watch waiting to
give the command go Over the Top!"
was a prohibitionist or a Seventh Day
Adventist, and | say to you, no more
do we care now what mans political
or sectarian faith may be when we
are fighting for the preservation and
advancement Of the ideals Of our or
aization-Americani and justice.
Politics and religion are only inciden-
tails when we consider the serious
problem of Americanism, the very
backbone and life of our country.
There IS not man nor woman
within hearing of my voice this after
noon but viii know what my politics
are:
l am Ter AmerIc2DS WREN /
feel will best carry cut the prin-
ciples Of true Americanism and
justice and / don't give a damn
whether they are democrats or re-
ublicans-Pretestant or Jews.
IN passing, permit me to touch upon
rather humorous point in the gov
ernor's letter, He censures me for
having sent letter from our head-
quarters at the expense Of theestate,
because our stenographer draws her
salary from the payroll Of the adju-
tant general [ note, with, interest.
that the letter-head that the governor
used is stationery bought and paid for
with the taxpayers money-and
have been given to understand that
one Of the stenographers in his office,
on the states payroll, typed his letter
and sent copies of it to all the posts
,4 fta Ax,antsiao,4 + aoin,,