The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-10-14

every way AVk AtA Va 1ss .
I thank God each night that
such an organization as the Amer
ican Legion exists In our country.
And alert TO the ever present dam
ger TO cur institutions and meth
DDS both from within and with
out the borders Of this nation, the
American Legion has become the
watch dog Of democracy - the
guardian OF equal rights for all
IA warning TO destructive inter-
ests the world over that Ameri-
cans will stand, II necessary, In
support Of true democratic gov
eminent and against the hates
and prejudices Of . world gone
mad.
We ell know that the fight
against intolerance did not end
with the Armistice Of 1918. It may
never end. II has been well and
truly said that eternal vigilance
Is the price OF liberty" And liberty,
In It's truest sense, Is the most
priceless thing any man or any
nation can have TO enjoy. But do
not need 10 tell you this. You and
others like you, gathered In your
great national Convention, are
this country's best assurance that
Americans are still vigilant and
Americans will continue TO be
vigilant against our country, up.
root our institutions or curtail
our liberty.
Poisonous Propaganda
In recent years, since various
foreign governments have fallen
into the bloody hands Of dicta-
tors, autocrats and tryrantS, other
organizations have grown up with
In our own borders. These groups
are inspired, financed and man
aged by foreign interests, which
are supplying never ending
stream OF poisonous propaganda
aimed, directly and indirectly, at
the destruction Of our national
life.
These organizations stand % o
constant threat to the Ameri-
can Legion because they seek TO
take your place and usurp your
rights and powers 10 the end that
our country may become O ter
ror.ridden copy OF their unhappy
lands. But only the American
Legion can be the bulwark Of
true Americanism from which
men and women like you must 60
forth each week, each day, each
hour, to combat these unwelcome,
un-American forces. Those who
seek 10 change our system OF gov.
eminent and TO SOW the seeds OF
discomfort, Of intolerance, and ma.
tional destruction, ere our com.
mon enemies and We can never
relax In our vigilance against
them II America 10 10 fulfil her
splendid destiny.
The fundamentals OF American
Ism were established long ago. A
group Of truly inspired men, de-
termined TO establish O haven for
the oppressed people OF the earth,
wrote into the Constitution Of the
United States O Bill OF Rights
which has no equal anywhere on
earth. All the hopes and prayers
Of men and women who had been
victims Of oppressive government
too long, were incorporated into
that remarkable document.
Nations Backbone
II has served as the backbone OF
our great nation for more than O
hundred and fifty years. II will
always serve as long as you and
! and all OF US guard II against
encroachment There Ia no room
In America for those outsiders who
preach intolerance, who ape the
bigoted leaders OF other troubled
lands and who seek by every pos
sible means 10 tear down what our
forefathers built and which you
and others like you have preserved
at great sacrifice on Flanders
Field.
I say 10 you who represent here
the Gold Star mothers, the women
whose sons, husbands and fathers
died that America might hold 70
It's sacred principles Of freedom
and equality, that we must resolve
anew now 10 protect forever the
rights for which they have sacri-
ficed 30 much.
] hope the necessity never arises
but we know now that every true
American must be eternally on
guard and ready 10 make the nee
essary sacrifices II sacred duty
calls.
We stand, as always, dedicated
TO the cardinal principles OF liberty
and justice for all and we have
been trying In our humble way, 10
contribute TO the welfare and peace
Of our country through the pic.
lures we make here.
Not oil that you see around you
10 ours. We are only employees Of
this corporation. But whatever
part Is ours, we would gladly give,
30 that the American ideal Of
government may continue. II our
country should, tomorrow, ask tis
for al we have, our lives, our sons,
our fortunes, whatever they are,
70 preserve the principles Of liberty
for oil people, regardless OF race
or creed, we win not be found iizl-
worthy.
Reglmentatlon
We have no need Of regimented
thinking IN this country. We need
no dictators 10 rule our private
lives. We can sleep nights. Our
families are safe here. You and ]
do not want these things changed.
You may have heard tina. COM
munisfn IL rampant IN Hollywood
and IN the motion picture industry.
! tel you this industry has no
sympathy with Communism, Eas-