Evening star., 1936-09-07

not serious. as yet. 1t would be tragic
If it should become serious. The
American Legion is a cross section of
America. 1t is made up of men of all
stocks and creeds. But, however diff
ferent our original stock may have
been, the great war taught us to like
and respect each other, as good SOL
diers and good Americans.
We are. therefore, in a position and
We have the responsibility to oppose
every move to capitalize intolerance,
to break up the country into hostile
groups. Also, we must insist upon the
preservation and protection of Amer
ican freedom, and above all the free
dom OF expression. So long as we
have freedom of expression, and q
free exchange Of Ideas, many OF our
most serious problems will solve
themselves.
We Of the Legion must stand today,
in peace. as we stood yesterday, in
war. for one fiag-one united Nation.
Secondly, want to emphasize the
duty of citizenship-citizenship in its
broadest sense. Travelling about
Kansas get a lot of satisfaction
when I find men of the Legion tax
ing influential positions in the farm
ing communities. in the trades unions,
in the chambers of commerce, in
other organizations that help our
common life. We always take pride
in the fact that one Of our comrades
is leading charities drive or q child
welfare movement.
We went into the army to save
America. The men who make up
the American Legion made the safety
and welfare Of the Nation a matter
for each mans own personal concern.
And now that we are back in civilian
life we must continue to make the
welfare and safety of the Nation our
personal concern.
But this goal cannot be attained by
individual effort alone. Achievement
in this instance must come from
unity, just as success In the World
War came by united action.
I. for one, am sorry to see the re-
cent split in the ranks of labor, and
hope that it will be speedily healed.
The great gains made by labor
through its organizations ere in dan
ger so long as this division exists.
Here again unity is requisite orprog-
ress and achievement
Apathetic Management.
The prodding by labor unions in
the past has frequently awakened
apathetic management to the need
for improving conditions. All labor
will be In a stronger position if it
eliminates the cut-throat competi-
ton Of cheap labor in the sweat shops.
Low living standards for some of our
people in this competitive age are a
continuing threat to the standards of
workers in other sections more for
tunately situated. It Is to be hoped
that organized labor may continue
In its part in the struggle for higher
living standards. And to be really
effective, it must remain united.
It Is our job to help keep America
safe. to keep it on the lines Of ordered
progress. Whatever our party, we
have q duty in honor Of the uniform
we wore. That duty is to work con-
stantly for better government in our
local communities, in the State and
the United States. As the people of
America looked to their armies to
fight for them on the battlefield. now.
in time Of peace. they look to us to
show the same lofty spirit Of love.
devotion and courage toward our
country.
Thirdly, and finally. I emphasize
our duty In preserving peace. Those
Of us who were In the service, appre-
ciate In q way others cannot, the
utter futility of war. ! need NJ teu