The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-01-23
Liberal Viewpoint
by DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

THE discussion owe, the bonus brings clearly
Il to the fore the question of the larger i'm
plications of the American Legion as a force in
American life. Indeed most thoughtful oppon-
entS Of the bonus more fearful Of its polit-
ical implications than its economic dangers.
The money which is to be paid might actually
make a valuable contribution to the restoration
of purchasing power and prosperity. The dan
ger lies IN the encourage cement it might give to
future drives Of the Legion upon the government
in support Of measures which would be more
exceptionable than the bonus.
The record Of the G. A. r. as a force for
political intimidation and reactionism comes to
the mind Of all historical students of the bonus
issue. The whole evolution Of the American
Legion policy is handled in admirable fashion
by Walter Wilson II an article on Labor Fights
the American Legion" IN the American Mercury.
Mr.. Wilson points out clearly that the Legion
was really formed in the beginning not to pro-
mote the actual interests of the soldiers, but
rather to suppress the discomfort which was
arising within the eXpe6itionary force as re-
suit of the autocratic features of the army sys-
TEN in France and contact with radical soldiers
and movements abroad.
THE value of the Legion as bulwark against
Il radicalism in this country, once the SOL
diers had returned, was quickly recognized AS
Mr.. Wilson puts it.: 1T may fairly be said that
Wall Street took over the job of wet nurse to
the Legion and that it has not neglected the
growing child
Large sums of money were raised from the
wealthy to promote the organization and pub
Lefty of the Legion and it formed friendly re-
ations with the National Civic Federation and
other patrioteering and red-baiting organiza-
ions" The whole situation surrounding the
origins and early policy CT the Legion is adj
mirably summarized by Mr. Wilson:
In short, the Legion was arrogant in the
bother cultivate
the conservative officials of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor; it didn't bother much about
claiming neutrality in industrial wars. 1t mere
ly went about openly as an ally of big business.
1.-The Legion did not do these things because
it took a delight in such activities, of course.
1t was performing a duty in maintaining law
and order and the right of labor to have the
open shop Striking and picketing were against
law and order. The employers said so.
zone doesn't have to be long-whiskered and
to be armed with bombs and daggers to be a
'subversive eIenent'-and the Legion is hell to
all such. All militant iaborites are reds to the
Legion's off1cialdom. ProgesSives, Liberals, Pa
ci1sts, Socialists and Communists are all sub
versive.'"
YIN spite of the fact that the Legion was drawn
Il mainly from working classes, who constituted
the bulk of its membership, the anti-labor
policies Of its early days dominated the Legion
for more than decade.
Then Herbert Hoover quite unwittingly per-
formed highly beneficial service by turning the
troops on the bonus army in Washington and
driving these eX-Service men out of town as
though they were stray dogs. This woke up the
Legion, and at its Portland (Ore.) convention in
1882 sit was proposed that the Is billions of
war profit garnered by big business during the
war be taxed to raise the funds to pay this obi
cation which had already been recognized by
Congress-"
There had been some dissent within the
Legion before 1882 on the part of certain en-
lightened posts like members of the Willard
Straight group in New York City, who knew
what it was all about. But these had fallen on
deaf ears before the bonus army was ousted
from Washington.
1t was not long after this latter event before
there were many notable symptoms of dissent
from the patrioteering and anti-labor policies of
the plutocratc hierarchy at the top Of the
Legion.
Instead Of break strikes, Legionnaires all
over the country began to help them along and
take their place as picketS. World War veterans
have been shot down in considerable numbers
among the strikers who have been fired upon by
the militia, state police and private guards Mr.
Wilson concludes that:
ct isn't likely that the organization will ever
again be foolhardy enough openly to show its
bias against labor.
"This being true, it is impossible of course,
for it to become an avowed Fascist organization.
Any attempt to steer the good ship American
Legion into such dangerous and turbulent wa
tiers would cause it to crash on the rocks of the
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