Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1933-10-12
The Legion and the President

Continuing its fight for one hundred per cen,
Americanism. the American Legion very commend.
ably included in its program for the coming wear
warfare on crime and Communism. The Legion rep
fesents an ever powerful group of men who fought
70 defend the principles of Democracy in time of
war, and they are unwilling that bars should be let
down that would permit radicals to continue with
their program Of rebellion, class hatred and the owe
ihfoN OF our most cherished institutions. With a
million men, such as compose the American 10
SION Openly arrayed> against radicalism, the program
OF Amerieanism and the fostering or American In
sa'atons should move steadily forward. In peace a,
II war me men of the Legion will continue IN de-
tense Of their country.
In spite Of the fact that President Roosevelts
address at the Chicago convention was in some mea-
sure disappointing 10 some of its followers. the Lee
son very properly included, as the third point In Its
program for the year. cooperation with the Admin
lsffatlon in It's nationwide re-employment effort
Whenever there Is need for patriotic service. the Am
eriean Legion has always been called unon ana :.
has never failed to answer the call This wear WITH he
no exception.
In his speech President Roosevelt coura ueous,v
laid down certain principles to the veterans which
should govern the payment of pensions and special
oeaefts because Of wartime service.
The President declared that those who fought
should not be placed in a special class OF benerc-
laries over and above all other citizens" He was not
talking about men who were wounded or tf,ad IN
service but able-bodied men.
President Roosevelt also said that "the fact of
wearing a uniform does not mean that he can de-
mand and receive from his government a benefit
which no other citizen receives. IT does not mean that
because a person served In the defense OF his conn
try, performed a basic obligation of citizenship. he
shoaid receive a pension from his government be-
cause q q disability incurred after his service had
and not connected with that service.
Every American citizen is willing and anxious
hat the Government take the very b~est-care OF the
WIDOWS and orphans OF those who were called upon
Q sacrifice their lives in the common defense. The |
laflon also owes. and every citizen admits, the obi
iatlon 70 men disabled in the War to see that they
re properly provided for and cared for during the
Of their lives. These two classes Of nene-
lelafles are those most often referred to whenever
OF benefits are being discussed but these
Y y cadsses nave not been the groups which have
auea me public treasury for the largest aggregate
mount.
What President Roosevelt was opposing. and
hat the average citizen Of this country objects to
the payment Of pensions. to able-bodied and In d
ONE cases, well-to-do and even rich men, because c
ley engaged in war at one time or another. which E
are often used politically by congressman ].
secure the support OF those particular groups or n
o1ers- Payments to this class or beneficiarres WIN '
nat PRESIDENT Roosevelt tried to stop this spring 9
40 was the practice he condemned In his speech in
hicago. :