The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1937-11-11
democracy? Listen!

ACrOSS CIle lace OIL Cne SlODe To-Day
we hear only the hooking echo of
democratic processes in governments,
being crushed by the iron heels of die
tators!
Does this mean that America must
give up the ideals which impelled it to
lead the World toward a grander con-
ception of civilization than thinly
veneered jungle savagery?
The American Legion emphatically
says it does not!
Ideals that were fine enough to die
for are fine enough to keep fighting
for! In 1917 and 1918 we sought to
transplant our ideals to foreign shores.
If we failed in this, our first attempt,
it was because the soil had not been
made ready. We must turn with grim
ardor to preserving our ideals at home.
After the storm of relationships
passes, America will be accepted again
as the hope of the entire world. We
must be ready to lead the peoples
of all nations into the Promised Land
of freedom of speech, press, religion,
free education, individual initiative
and of government by laws agreed
upon by the will of the people.
AS the first step toward preserving
America as the cradle of liberty for
all mankind, the American Legion
says the Armistice must be made per-
manent as far as America is con-
cerned.
Let other nations tend to their
CHASTITY unfinished business of the
World War if they are so determined.
But America finished that business in
1919 and is done with it forever. 1t
must never again entangle itself in
foreign quarrels.
To this end the 10Th annual Ma
tional Convention of the American Lee
gion in New York City adopted def
mite, three-point American Legion
peace program, designed to insure at
once the peace and the security of
America for all time to come.
That program calls for:
1. A universal draft act, providing
by law for equal service for all, spe-
cial profits for none," in time of war.
2. An adequate army and navy for
defensive purposes and not for ag-
gression.
8. A proper neutrality policy, rig
idly enforced.
The convention further resolved
that
"Reaffirming our belief in and allie
glance to the preamble of our Consti-
tuition, devotion to the Constitution of
the United States and our established
institutions, and reiterating our fixed
determination of American neutrality,
we yet believe that the American Le-
gion, in continued loyalty to our pur-
pose, to promote peace and good will
on earth,' has real duty to continue
it's work for world peace, to combat
propaganda of international hate, and
thus aid in averting the tragedy of
war and making permanent the bless
ings of peace"
Universal service is the greatest in
strumentality for peace ever proposed.
We shall fight without ceasing to have
the next Congress enact such law,
providing that in time of war the ma
ton shall call to it's service capital,
industry and manpower on basis of
strict equality, with special privilege
and profit for none. This law will serve
three great purposes: 1t will equalize
the burden of war, if war must come
despite all of our efforts to prevent it.
1t will deproftize war and thus elimi-
nate the greed motive for fomenting
war. And it will strengthen the ma
tional defense by permitting long
range advance planning for the imme-
date procurement of essential sup
plies and services in the event of a
crisis. 1t is truly American, it will not