New Britain herald., 1927-12-12
AN ANU SING SIDESHOW
 IN THE LEGION

politics as 1t concerns humanity WHO are able to see behind the scenes of the hokum exercised in every po- litieal campaign must be getting considerable amusement out of the hullabaloo that has been raised over the proposed poll of the American Legion to endeavor to ob- tain an indication of the sentiment of the veterans on the prohibition question. Both parties in the deal are tarred with the same brush and both are exercising every means at their command to either block the poll or put it through. It takes no great amount of perspicacity to see through the whole game, the mys- tery in the excitement is not so great.
 Tn the first place Mir. Spafford,, in whose fertile mind the plan is said to have originated, is a Tammany henchman, New Yorker and an admitted adnlirer of one Al Smith, whose name looms largely us a nom- inee for president in the campaign of next year. His run will probab- ly be made on the wet appeal, if not a definite wet plank In the plat form. All of us are probably firmly convinced that an honest poll at the Legion would show an enormous wet sentiment. The veterans are not yet so old that they must turn to regulating their fellow citizens as a means of diversion, nor have the majority the inferiority complex so well developed they must prohibit to others what they do not dare take themselves. Also-Ne have seen some of the boys" of "17-1S" on parties ourselves. Mr. Spafford probably feels as we do, that the veterans would vote wet and that they would aid the Democratic par ty someH hat by so doing. Hence the poll idea.
 And then what happens? Various officials Of the Legion, local state and national start the cry that the poll is unwarranted, should not be taken. And they probably think the same as we do, that the vote would be wet. But they do not want the poll because they fear that the Democrats would gain the adyan- 1age, the very thing the Democrats expect to gain. They claim that the Legion should not play politics. That perhaps is right, but they are play ing politics themselves in trying 10 block the poll
 As far as playing politics goes tip2 in several localities, whose political dictators were opposed to the bo- nus a few years ago, played politics to the nth degree in lining up on the bonus. Political dictators carefully handpicked the leaders Of the Lc- zion posts. making 1t imperativ" that the Legion should vote against a bonus, which was politics. Politics has been played with the Legion everywhere. probably. and past I.c- zion officers may be found, right here in Connecticut. enjoying ap- pointive posts, rlums indeed. after they have served their tour ot duty as post officials Which is proof of the pudding.
 The poll is moi an ont and cut po- lilical issue, but politics is as in- cvitably tied up with it as it will be with every major issue, And the | Legion is 1lso closely al!1ol with i politics, as it will alsay5 ho. And ! there will always be pulling anl ! hauling for political advantage by officers of the Legion who arc will . ling to vote one wd! an1 feel an- other, if necessary. to gam the fa- . yors of the moguls Of politics Just . as there has been ll the past h'rc in Connecticut.
 The poll, as q pal would have been a good thing from tho stan l. point of the vets, unqucstionahly. But there is no reason why the Le- zion, which. theoretically at least, has large membership of real should be .debarred from expressing it's opinion on the pro- question. That is there Is no reason except politics. It is re- freshing to find, here in Connecticut. some few Legion officials who are willing to let the poll go on