, 1924-07-03
LABOR UNIONS
AND LEGION ARE
NEARING FUSION

1.-THE Freds Duncan Post No. %,
of the American Legion has missed
the support Of the railroad boys for
entirely too long a time, to h 1
am sure has been our mutual dis
advantage" declared Paul H. Leim-
bach Monday, in discussing an art
icle which appeared in the WOyming
Labor Journal under the heading
Labor and Legion Should Cooper
ate To Bring Betterment." "The
.Rawlins post is more than pleased
to see such an article appear in the
official organ of organized labor, be-
cause it indicates a tendency toward
reconciliation of differences of sew
eral years standing" Leimbach con-
tinued.
1--WE are talking over plans for a
. big blowout such as that staged here
last summer, and If the local Legion
and the rail road boys-who have
stayed out of the service organization
because they once felt that the Lee
gion had taken a stand against Labor
during the Denver street car strike
can get together we can make history
right here in Rawlins. Membership
is vital to n organization and the
Legion surely wants to do the square
thing by every eligible ex-service man
in this city"
The Labor Journal article referred
to follows. as taken verbatim from
the issue of June 9th:
The American Legion was formed
with the idea of associating together
those who served under the American
flag in the late war. 1t was and is
perfectly natural that an organization
formed with this background should
hn STRONGLY nafrintf< I'm Characfar and
should subjugate other and personal
considerations to the supremacy of
this idea.
The American Legions were form
ed Of men OF all religious beliefs and
from all stations in life, though by
far the larger number came from
the ranks of the wage earners as
these outnumber all other elements.
So in turn men of all political be-
liefs, serving in the war. became pos
sible members of this organization.
1t follows hat 1t would be necessary
to prohibit the discussion of religi-
Gus, political or labor questions. on
the same basis that they are barred
in the Moose. Elks. Masons, Eagles.
Odd Fellows and other fraternal or
CARNATIONS. To open the door to
these questions would invite dissen-
" III
So 1t is with the American Legion
as with most of the fraternal orders,
= In that you will find employer and
employee, with and without union
sympathies or attachments as well as
men of all religious and political be-
liefs. 1t Is the function OF the Le-
gion to bring together all veterans
of the late war for their protection
as we'll as for the institution and pre-
%servation of such high ideals as may
be understood by For God and
Country"
Having members with conflicting
economic views: many strongly OPP
posed to organization of labor. 1t was
natural hat these should use their
influence where they were in the ma
jority. to have their local Post assume
their stand on any labor question.
But this has never been the policy of
the American Legion as an institu-
ton. nor have these instances been
approved by the orangization rs u
whole. AS members Of organized Ia
Dor, in excess OF the total member
ship of the Legion at the present
time, served in the war and are elig-
ible to membership and fellowship
therein. Il can readily be seen what a
%leavening force these union veterans
will constitute when they finally be-
come affiliated with the Legion.
Many of the ideals underlying both
are held In common and the national
legislative representatives have work.
cd in harmony on many bills. The
Legion IL strong for the ratification
amendment enacted this session that
by tho states OF the constitutional
would give congress the power to
~~ AhnA 1ohHn 1A~ls1sl~A That
would end this tnhuman practice.
In common with the labor move
ment they stand for a higher stand
ard OF life and civilization. In COM
mon with the large part Of the labor
movement they believe that this
country of ours il the best nation In
the woodland this does not mean
that they are blind to the injusticcs
practicsd by individulas In high Of
flee or 10 the graft and misgovern-
meat.
Contact" must be made by the
union movement with the Legion and
better understanding OF these two
great movements effected in the
minds OF each. 10 that they may work
In understanding harmony for the
success Of their efforts. Just ~ ia
Dor" has been backward In impress
Ing the Justice Of their movement ON
>the Legion. 20 the latter has been
equally lax In their efforts to better
acQuaint the union membership with
tho truth concerning their organize
ton.
against brother Elks who wore also
We witnessed "B1ks" arrayed
union men: Mason against Mason
Eagle against Eagle and Moose
against Moose: 20 have We Witnessed
members Of various churches divided
on the labor question but va haven't
denounced the Institution for what
the fndlvidual has dnna In thaan n.