The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-19
VETS STRADDLE
 ON KHAN ISSUE
(Contirued From Page One)

vice. irrespective of the religion or politics of the menAbers now, there- fore. be it resolved,
 "Ameriaan Legion adheres to it's original purpose and stands for the service man irrespe eetive of belief in religion or politics and welcomes all such to it's fold. That within this fold the question: Lof such belief or affiliation be never raised to the prejudice or hurt of any one, but that the spirit. of tolerance and good will be extended to all. irrespective of their belief in or adherence to any society or organization whatso- ever, so long as the same does not conflict with allegiance to God and the government of the United States"
 Pussw-FOOting Charged.
 Major Kendrick accused the 1e- gonnaires, of "pussy-footing' the ku k1ux klan question and an- noaneed that he was there to tear the mask off things and see just where we are"
 He said: Far be it from me to in ject into this convention a religious issue. However, much as l desire that such not be the case, there is religious issue here and there has The only way to meet the issue is to meet it squarely, meet it face to face. the same as we met other is- sues in times gone by.
 .'we can't pussy-foot in this or ganization and get anywhere. Let's tear the mask off of things and see just where we are.
 You all know just ss we'll as do what happened in New Orleans You know perfectly well that Bill (Wflliam) Deegans candidacy was proposed down there and the most important factor regarding him was his religion.
 Major Kendrick withdrew the statement when it was objected to by California delegates and said:
 q withdraw the statement tha: you all know it and merely say that I know it, and let me get little closer to home with you. In Kansas City, my name was proposed through out the convention as a probable candidate for commander and on all sides I found my religion was z most interesting matter to men who desired to know whether they should CT should not consider me as pos sihle commander"
 "Not A Small Matter
 This is not small matter tt some little village; it has got so tha great state had to declare msrtia law because~of it and other states II a. the union are considering the ques tiou in a great statewide way ant 1t is high time that the American Legion, if it sands for the things i says it stands for, if it has what w' thought it had in the war, if it hal courage on both ends of the gun. i will stand up and stop pussy-footins and come out in open against thing that are destructive to our American government, to our constitution.
 Let me read you a telegram receive today from Lindsay Blaine, good Texan from Houston, Texas, man who served with me for tw' wears on the Americanism commis sion and with Commander Owsley When this issue came before us w recognized it was the most insidiou and a vicious one, and here is Blaine message:
 Congratulations in the name O thousands of Protestant veterans 10 your stand against this un-Americal organization. Former post here O three thousand, now few hundre' on account of this issue. Americ; is ready for some other orEanlzatlol ol standing for fundamentals unles the American Legion gets off tn fence
 Are we any less American thai the American Federation of Labor That organization has not pussy footed the idea. There are as man. veterans of the World war in tn American Federation of Labor a there are in the American Leglol and they haven't 'pussy-footed. " are going to do so? 1 slncereI. trust no, and l offer my suostitut