The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-09-06
Liberal Viewpoint
THE New York state convention of the Ameri
by DR.. HARRY ELMER BARNES

TINE New York state convention of the Ameri-
Il Legion meeting at Rochester recon-
mended a ban on radical parties and the eXclu-
sion of radicals from the of public build
ingS At the New York State Fair in Syracuse,
Gov Lehman declared that the peace time serv-
ices of the American Legion will be more impor-
tant than we're their deeds of valor on the bat
tlefieldS of France in 1917-16
All of this moves me to write what I regard
as the most important and timely newspaper
column I have ever composed. I believe it
touches upon one of the two or three most i'm
portant public problems now facing American
education, journalism and craftsmanship
While Fascism is not inevitable here or any,
where else it seems to me that it is now getting
under way in America. 1t will become inevitable
and especially savage unless the forces and fig
ures supporting it today are frustrated and de-
feated.
Among the factors and organizations pro-
noting the growth of Fascist tendencies in the
United States right now it seems to be the we'll
nigh unanimous opinion of expert investigators
that the American Legion stands away out in
front of any competitors. Even the Elks and
Mr.. Hearst make bad showing by comparison
Hence, the most strategic step, if we wish to
avert Fascism in the United States is to set
the rank and file of the American Legion
straight as to the character of the policies it's
leaders are attempting to foist upon them and
their country.
THERE are two major elements in the Amer
Il can Legion, the governing hierarchy, and
the mass of legiOnnaires, who follow more or
less meekly, unhesitatingly and unthnkngly the
decisions made by the hierarchy.
The hierarchy in the American Legion is itself
by no means a homogeneous unit. Some are self
seeking office holders endeavoring to advance
their own economic we-beng and personal
prestige. Others are consciously subservient rep
resentativeS Of Wall Street and of oppressive
and reactionary employers. Not few are sim
cere but ill-informed and misguided patriots
whose lack of realistic information make it
possible for them to believe that the reactionary
program of the Legion leaders is serving the
interests of the people of the United States.
But whatever the types, motives. and back
ground of the leaders of the Legion their official
policies are almost uniformly directed along lines
that will bring Fascism to pass IL the United
States.
1t would be quite unfair to indict the mass
Of the American Legion for these policies They
have little responsibility for the Official acts of
the Legion and are only dimly aware of their
deeper nature and consequences
The problem then is to enlighten the mass
membership of the Legion as to the forces and
factors lying back of the policies of it's officials
and to show them how these policies are dia-
metrically opposed to the interests of those
very classes and groups in American society
the American Legion is actually drawn.
During the World War the great mass of the
American soldiers were played for suckers bv
selhSh economic interests in the United States
Ihey performed their deeds of valor and self
sacrifice in the thought that they were defend
ing the cause of democracy and were protecting
their country from invasion Historians have
since shown clearly enough that they were really
protecting the loans of J. P Morgan and other
international investment bankers.
THESE same selfish economic interests that
l. helped to send the American dol1ghbovs
abroad to pull their chestnuts out of the fire
soon took leading part in encouraging the
formation OF the American Legion and they
contributed generously to financing its organ
ization
With very few exceptions they still seemingly
control the Legion hierarchy today hand and
loot. Through the hierarchy they utilize the
Legion as a peacetime army to forward and
protect their explorations of America including
The exploitation of the great mass Of the men,
bers OF the American Legion.
The interests of the rank and file of the
American Legion are thus squarely opposed to
the official policies of the organization. The
majority of the Legion would profit by higher
salaries for the clerical classes, higher wages
and collective bargaining for the industrial
workers and square deal for the farmers
exactly those goals which the present strike
breaking and patrioteering policies of the Ameri-
can Legion make impossible Of realization.