The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-09-27
NEW PLAN MAY
LET OFFICIALS
BE CANDIDATES
Proposal Would Cut Legion
Loose from Nonpartisan
Restrictions
AMENDMENT PREP AIRED
Sentence Barring Politicians
from Holding Office Would
BE Abolished

San Antonio. Tex. Sept. 27.-The
American Legion. which has been
strictly a nonpartisan organization,
as far as politics is concerned. ever
since it was founded, soon may cut
loose from its old restrictions and
enter the political arena whenever it
sees fit.
That possibility arises from the
fact that certain legion members are
now preparing an amendment to the
organization constitution which
they will introduce at the legion con-
vention here. October 8 to IL.
The amendment, it is understood.
would strike out the last sentence Of
article 2, section 2, of the constitu-
ton. That section now reads:
"The American Legion shall be
absolutely nonpolitical and shall not
be used for the dissemination Of
partisan principles. nor for the pro-
motion of the candidacy Of any per-
son seeking public office or prefer
ment. No candidate for, or incum-
bent of, any salaried elective public
office shall hold any office in the
American Legion or in any depart
ment or post thereof"
Removing the last sentence Of this
section would still leave the legion
committed against partisanship, OF
course. But conservative legion
naires predict that letting down this
one bar would be but a preliminary
to putting the legion squarely into
politics.
Asa result, it is expected that a
bitter fight will mark debate over
the projected amendment.
Some advocates Of the amendment
are frankly declaring that the legion
can not exert any great influence on
national affairs until it takes a po-
sition from which it can take definite
party sides when an occasion may
demand it. Others, not willing to 60
SO far, believe that there should be
no discrimination against salaried
public office-holders who also hap.
pen to be legion officials. They in
sist that this amendment would not
put the legion into politics, pointing
out that the legion cannot be COM
mitted to any public issue except by
it's own vote in national convention.
Back Of the whole proposal, Of
course, lies the obvious fact that the
legionnaires are not the carefrel
youngsters they were decade ago
They are beginning to get BIZ
bigger about the waistline and ;
little thinner as to hair; and. will
advancing years, has come a stey
upward in society. Legionnaires art
now running for all kinds of offices
from state representative to gov
ernor and congressman. They ART
becoming prominent in politics, no.
because of the growth Of the legion
but simply because they are grow
ing up and developing their indi
vidual abilities.
The 1928 coming convention will
be a notable one. The legion ha.
built itself from the dark days Of
1924, when its membership lis,
slumped badly, until it now ha.
nearly million members-as many
as it ever had. These members vii
/. be represented at the convention
here by thousands Of delegates ant
their wives and families.
An elaborate entertainment pro
gram has been planned. Heading
the list is = great rodeo, promoted
by W. T. johnson, rich San Antonio
cattleman. Prizes totaling $25, 90,
have been offered, and the best cow
boys Of the west have entered.
Other items on the entertainment
program include prize FIGHT. battl,