Evening star., 1933-10-06
BY EDWARD A. HAYES,

National Commander. the American Legion.
CHICAGO. October s.-The American
Legion has just closed the greatest con-
numbers and IN the force Of its man.
dates, every one of which emphasizes
the spirit Of America first.
The Legion has reiterated its opposi-
ton to the recognition Of communistic
Soviet Russia. It has added to that
traditional policy its opposition to any
loans by the United States Government
to the Soviet States, either directly or
indirectly.
The veterans showed thei- teeth in
regard to the World Court. Uncle Sam
was told no" by the Legionnaires in
regard to the League Of Nations, either
with or without reservations.
The convention voted to oppose can
collation. OF war debts or any portion
thereof.
We pledge anew our support Of the
Governments efforts to end the depres-
sion through the National Recovery Ad-
miniStration.
Rehabilitation Outstanding.
Outstanding In the program of the
year, as the national convention has
decreed. Is rehabilitation, the care of
our disabled veterans Those DEGREES
Of the national convention are my
orders from the Legionnaires back home
I take this opportunity to state with
all the force at my command that every
mandate handed to me by the national
convention will be my guide. When oc-
casion arises that does not come under
convention decree, or under the in
structions that will be given by the Ma
tional Executive Committee, naturally
will make decisions as deem wise and
right. However, I wish to assure every
ex-service man in this country that the
mandates Of the national convention
are my orders, and those orders will be
obeyed and carried out.
In the rehabilitation efforts the di-
rection Is clearly outlined in the four
point program which has been widely
studied through conferences and dis
cussions Of all the department conven-
tons.
call on every service man and wom-
an Of the World War, and 1 urge every
other citizen to study carefully the res
olutlons, the recommendation and
Gus committees adopted by the conven-
ton just ended
National Defense Attitude.
It Is my opinion that the American
Legion has made no mistake in any
OF them. In national defense, our or
ganization has had the advantage of
the experience and the advice Of the
best experts in the world on naval and
military affairs. This counsel has been
from men who have devoted their lives
to the study Of the needs of this coun-
try on the question Of an adequate ma
tional defense that will insure peace.
Our membership represents every
calling, every creed and every section
The opinions Of the Legion, as they have
come out Of the national convention
therefore, are the composite thoughts
OF all the American people expressed
through the cross-section as it is rep
resented by the American Legion.
Here are some Of the blows delivered
on behalf Of crystal clear Americanism
and good citizenship:
Registration and physical identifica-
ton Of all aliens.
Exclusion of alien Communists, or
other aliens who would overthrow our
Government by force.
Expulsion Of aliens from the United
States engaged in the overthrow Of the
United States Government by agitation,
sabotage or economic warfare
deportation OF members OF the Third
Internationale.
On Record Against Crime.
We recognize and applaud the efforts
of the Federal, State and local govern
ments to stamp out crime To that
end they will have the united and tire
less help Of the American Legion. One
of my first duties will be the appoint
ment Of a strong national committee
to study crime problems and to de-
termine ways for effective cooperation
by the Legion's 10,650 posts.
This does not mean the Legion will
take over the police duty of our law
enforcing machinery, but will bring
vigorous support to the authorities an6
courts which are constituted to do that
work. 1t will mean an educational
campaign to encourage jury duty. and
going further into the problem, to en-