The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-06-07
PROFESSIONAL PATRIOTS

principles advocated recommended. ............
a. Referendum to the people2 b. The recall Of
judges and judicial decisions? ....c. Initiative
direct legislation by the peopleT.
d. The right of the people whole to the earnings of
the indlvidual!
Is there active propaganda among the students or
faculty for further reduction of the size Of the army
navy! OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
If So is such propaganda based on the idea that mill
tary preparedness tends to produce and that dis
armament by this country is the first step toward perna
hent peace!
Are any of the above principles or theories offered as
subject for debates between the students and if to
what extent?
In 1920 when the fear of Reds was at it's height the
American Defense Society took the lead in proposing
direct action along lines not dssimar Fascist tactics
in Italy. 1t headed ga Call to Arms" and among
other points said:
"Ctzens Committees of Defense have been formed and
the process of formation in number Of towns and
cities. practical plan for organization and operation
has been worked out by the society," and leaders in
ructed to how to meet the situation in their respec
tive communities"
American Legion.
It is difficult to characterize the American Legion in
the the other organizations, whose ditec-
ton is centralized The legion is made up of virtually
independent local organizations cooperating through
state and national conventions and officers. National
policies fixed at the national conventions but the To-
posts take Such acClon IN their commune
tiles they feel consistent with the Legion's aims
1t is therefore difficult to characterize the Legion
whole except the local posts show similar tenden-
ces On the whole it may be said that the Legion i'm
medatey after the war; ndulged in many localities in
violent anagonism to radical and progressive forces
But this violence subsidized and only systematically
in the few years Legion posts used force in
the interest of their conception of patriotism.
Hot After Pacifists.
Their extensive activities in propaganda directed
chiefly against pacifsts, and occasionally against rad-
GALS several communities the Legion has been stirred
into action by the regular professional patriotic societies
who have felt that the patriotic appeal of the exsodier
would be more effective than their own. During 1926
two such instances occurred-one in Massachusetts,
where the Legion active in opposing meeting of
the Fellowship of Youth for Peace Concord inspired
by the Industrial Defense Association and in Los An
gees and Pasadena Ca where the Legion inspired by
the Better American Federation endeavored prevent
Roger N. Baldwin from speaking before the City Club
and the State Conference Of Social Work. and succeeded
in cancelng the City Club engagement.
the whole record of the Legion in this respect must
be skeched to show its varying character and its poten
al power when any issue arises to stir up its defense
of patriotism conceived in military terms Its interest
is that of the professional patriot out to capitalize
a situation job organization of business hackers,
but of genuine belief that ex-soldiers peculiarly
qualified protect American institutions" in the
Of a superior patriotism.
Ito be continued)