Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-01-03
What the American
Legion Stands For
CONTINUED from last week.

utllFtItu az line hilSIiSai Leg ioh ho
tional convention at San Antonio,
Tex, on the various clauses of the
preamble to the Legion constitution:
PREAMBLE
"For God and Country we associate
ourselves together for the following
purposes: -,
tuition Of the United States Of Ameri-
ca and the State Of Montana; to
maintain law and order; to foster
and perpetuate a one hundred per
cent Americanism; to preserve the
memories and Incidents of our as
ISOLATION in the Great War; to in
dicate a sense Of individual obligation
to the community, state and Nation;
to combat the autocracy of both the
classes and the masses; to make right
the master Of might. to promote
peace and good will on cath; to safe
guard and transmit to prosperity the
principles Of justice, freedom and
democracy; to consecrate and sane
tify our .comradeship, by our devo-
ton to mutual helpfulness.
ITO Make Right the Master of Might"
Mr.. Ryan Duffy (Wisconsin): Mr..
Commander, my Comrades, Ladies
and Gentlemen: ITO make right the
master Of might" By that we mean
that which is just, honest, fair and
equitable, square dealing between man
and man. The words "the Masses"
clearly explain themselves, and when
we use the word might" we UNDER
take to use that as distinguished from
legitimate power and strength.
This is perhaps the most impor-
tant phrase in the preamble OF our
Constitution, because if we faithfully
carry out the spirit Of its provision,
this American Legion becomes the
greatest insurance society that the
government of the United States can
have in its efforts to guard the lib
critics Of the world. In our country
we have one of the most wonderful
countries in the world, rich in miner
al wealth, wonderful water power, an
ideal location for great nation.
They had visions that across the
peribus sea was that which they de-
sired above all else, LIBERTY. And
with that vision ever before them, no
obstacle was too great, no task was
too difficult of accomplishment, and
they were willing to and did make
many sacrifices because Of liberty.
From beginning of separate small
states further great sacrifices were
made, and there came into being our
beloved United States. And as long
as we are truly the UNITED states
our liberties are secure. That magic
word United is the very cornerstone
Of the liberties that we now possess.
We Americans are great cosmopoi-
itan people with different racial IN
stincts, with divers religious creeds;
but with all our various rfselinatlons
and tendencies we have happily sue
ceeded in this country in the past IN
developing true. spirit Of teamwork
among our citizens. When the mem
bers Of the American Legion were
serving in the armed forces OF TINS
country in the world war they recog-
nized daily the absolute necessity Tor
a united country. A united citlzen-
ship pulling together was the founda-
ton upon which ultimate success was
builded. Might or brute force has no
place in free government. 1t may
manifest itself in many forms. 1t may
be impressed by force OF the will OF
the strong and the powerful upon the
weak and the defenseless, or 1t may
be organized minority, intolerant and
dictatorial, ruthless in its demands and
commands, and the latter is by far
the greatest danger to free people.
The weapon commonly used by MI
nority seeking power is the false COS
mel of hatred. The American Legion
therefore, opposed the use OF force
and the light Of hatred, no matter
upon what it may be based. Anything
that tends to destroy the friendship
between neighbors, classes, states or
sections of our country is contrary
to the best interests of our country.
1t has been truly said, united we
stand, divided we fall And II, my
comrades, there was no place for ha-
tired among our citizens one against
the other in time Of war, there should
be NO place for it in time Of peace.
Square and above board, friendliness,
a genuine spirit of fairness and an
exemplification Of real comradeship
and tolerance for the ideals and be-
liefs of others must triumph over and
must become the master of class ha-
tired and racial, sectional and other
intolerance. We must stand together,
Comrades All!