Evening star., 1937-09-22
GREENASKSLEG|0N.
FOR CLOSER BOND
Warns Against Communism
and Nazi.ism-Gen. Hines
Addresses Delegates.

Legion ana his own organization was
recommended today by William Green.
president of the American Federation
of Labor, in an address before 1889
delegates to the Legion's nineteenth
annual convention.
Another speaker, Brig. Gen Frank
T. Hines, administrator of veterans
affairs, urged upon the Legionnaires
and Auxiliaries tolerance towards new
ideas.
ut is my well-considered opinion"
Green said. that the call of the hour
Is Tor a closer and stronger relation
ship between the American Federation
OF Labor and the American Legion.
We have so much in common as to
make 1t comparatively easy to pro-
mote understanding and cooperation
between these two great patriotic
forces. Time and experience have
shown that the fraternal bonds which
were established in the beginning,
when the American Legion was formed
and Which have remained unbroken.
have been of mutual benefit and of
great public service"
He also warned the convention
against the destructive forces of COM
munism and naziism, which he said
were at work in this country, and he
stressed the necessity of preserving
democratic forms of government in
the United States.
Delegates Are Weary.
The 1889 delegates Gen. Hines
addressed were weary, extremely
weary, after their 17-and-a-half
hour parade yesterday, and it was
full hour after the scheduled
opening before the session got under
way in the great Metropolitan Opera
House, to which the business meeting
had been transferred from Madison
Square Garden.
Standing on the stage where once
the great Caruso and Scotti and Far
rar had sung, National Commander
Harry w. Colmery called the con-
Vention to order at 9l4 am. Eastern
standard time). National chaplain
Rev. Bryan H. Keathley, offered the
invocation.
Colmery introduced Gen. Hines.
You are the kind of citizens ALWAYS
needed to lead our people into proper
channels and safeguard our democratic
institutions from any disruptive force
inimical to our ideals. and which TODAY
appear TO present growing threat to
world peace the general remarked in
opening.
He told the Legionnaires many con-
oluons signify that UNEMPLOYMENT
among veterans has been materially
reduced during the past year" because
OF the intelligent functioning of gov
ernmental agencies" and through the
efforts of the Legion, as well.
And turning to the Forthcoming
census to determine the extent of rn-
employment in the country, the general
said:
1t is my intention TO recommend to
the committee in charge of this census
that appropriate questions be inserted
IN the census schedules to ascertain
whether the individuals covered are
veterans, and of what wars. Here
again your organization may be able
to render valuable service by en-
couraging unemployed veterans to
make sure that they are registered in
this census"
Outlines Aid to Veterans.
The general told the delegates of
the progress in Federal aid for veterans
In the past Is years.
He dealt further, with considerable
detail. upon the benefits received bv
veterans and dependents from the
feoeral Government, then turned to
the future.
We went forward" he said with
the hope and not without some faith
that our children might be spared a
similar tate twar) The realization of
tnls local now seems as distant as if
ola then. With another 2O-year turn
OF the tides of time our fortune will
be almost entirely in the hands of the
children We sought to save
lhey Will make our laws and fur
hlsh the funds to secure our care. 1t
is Tor us now in the maturity of our
usefulness to inculcate in them q
philosophy which proves our insnira-
IONS ana locals to be still unshattered. |
Green Is AppIauded.
Ireen was introduced amid noisv |
applause. And having called upon the |
Legion for closer cooperation with |
the federation, he reminded the dele |
gates OF the spread of dictatorship rule |
ana the dissolution of free, democratic |
eiaue unions IN autocrat-ridden lands. |
Ihelr property and funds are i'm |
neolately confiscated, their oreaniza-
tlons are dissolved and wiped ont hv
d1ctatorial decree, and, worst of all |
their leaders are seized and ruthlesslv |
destroyed or consigned to prison or |
concentration camps MANY of them |
are never heard from again." he said. |
Happily" he said after dealing
further with the effects of oppressive |
rule, the people of the United States
still breathe the air of freedom and
liberty Under beneficent Govern
ment, where the people shape and
order the administration of their
affairs greater safeguards and protec-
ton are being accorded the masses of
the people.
This fact is reflected in the enact
ment of social security legislation and
other legislative measures which have
Tor their purpose the protection of the
49, 'Aie "con oiiu eile IlelpleSS.
Inc working people of America
Green said, have won their fight for
legal recognition and legal standing
through enactment of the national
labor relations act, and are now free
to organize into free. independent.
democratic trade unions"
The American Federation of Labor. /,
he continued, with its membership
totaling more than 1000, 900 dues-pay-
Ing men and women, remains stead
fast and uncompromising in its oppo-
sition to communism, fascism, naziism
and the different PHILOSOPHERS which
all these isms' represent"
Secretary of War Harry H. Wood
ring, another speaker, greeted the