Evening star., 1932-10-19
HOLDS ROOSEVELT
IS NOT OTLEG|ONNA|RE.
Johnson Challenges homi-
nee's Claim, but Records
Verify 1t.
BY the Associated Press.

by tne Associated freSS.
NEW YORK, October 19-Challeng-
ing a statement attributed to Gov.
Franklin D. Roosevelt that Il am
Legionnaire," Representative Royal c.
johnson Of South Dakota in statement
last night said 1t was impossible for the
Democratic presidential nominee 10 be
a Legionnaire.
In a letter made public at Hartford,
Conn, by Dominick Delucco, veteran
who has questioned the New York Gov
ernors stand on the bonus and other
questions, Mr.. Roosevelt was quoted as
having written in part:
i want to remind you that ! served
in the Department of the Navy, saw
war from both sides of the ocean, and
am a Legionnaire and a member of
other veterans organizations myself"
Officials of the Hall of Records of the
New York Department of the American
Legion said today that Gov. Roosevelt
Is listed as member of three Legion
posts in this State
The New York headquarters Of the
Legion listed the posts to which Mr..
Roosevelt belongs as follows:
Fort Orange Post, No. 30. Albany.
Montgomery Post, No. 429. Rhinebeck.
Lafayette Post, No 81, POughkeepSie.
JOhnSOnS Letter.
Representative johnson, in letter to
Gov. Roosevelt. released through the
Republican National Committee, wrote:
''Of course you would not consciously
wish to give the false impression that
you were member of any organization
to which you are not eligible to men,
bership, and to which you did not be-
long, but If you are quoted correctly, you
have given that impression to the
LegionnaireS Of the United States.
"As the member of the House Of Rep
resentatives who introduced in Congress
in 1919 resolution creating the Amer
ican Legion as a national and quasi
governmental organization. and as one
familiar with the constitution Of the Le-
gion, 1 must direct your attention to the
fact that no individual is eligible fol-
membership in the American Legion
except those persons who served in the
military or naval services of the United
States during the period of the World
War and hold an honorable discharge
from such service.
"As you were not in the military OF
naval service Of the United States dur
ing the World War, and do not now
hold an honorable discharge therefrom
you cannot be Legionnaire.
Furthermore. there IS no such thing
as an honorary membership in the
American Legion-nothing but active
membership
The question might be only academic
except that there is already so much
confusion in some sections of the
public mind as the activitie;
and ramifications OF the Roosevelt
clan. 1t might be easy for some
citizens and even Legionnaires to be-
lieve that you actually saw active wal
service when they recall that your dis
tinguished cousin resigned as Assistant
Secretary of the Navy in 1898 so thai
he might 60 to the front in the Wal
| with Spain; and when they remember
| that your cousins, sons of Theodore
Roosevelt. all enlisted in the World War
one of them making the supreme sacrl
| flee.
Naturally, the Legion is jealous o
| its members, and this is the reason !
has made its qualifications so strict.
Dates Not Revealed.
In disclosing that Mr.. Roosevelt wa
| listed as belonging to three posts, ON
| cials of the Hall of Records said thel
/ records on this membership had no
| been brought up to date. Under tn
constitution of the organization. the.
said. member may not be membe
| at any one time of more than one post.
Mr. Roosevelt" it was said, "appar
emily joined and paid dues in the thre'
posts at different times. and his mem
bership, in turn, was reported by tn
posts to these headquarters. The Hal
| Of Records will have to notify Mr.
Roosevelt to choose one of the post
| and pay dues to the one he selects
officials here were unable to say whel
| the memberships were taken out.