The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-11-28
PEOPLES FORUM
THE LEcIoN's ANSWER!

Ordinarily the attacks of crack
pots and irresponsible individ-
uals upon the dignity and in
tegrity of the American Legion
go unanswered. In the case of
Arthur Sawyer Post No. % of the
American Legion, the members
are too busy with such matters
as child welfare, veteran relief,
community service, youth train.
ing and Americanism to devote
any attention to statements at
tempting to discredit an organi-
cation of more than 100000
men and women who served
their country in time of actual
war.
In the case of William E. P.
Roberts, Arthur Sawyer Post
feels that his attack should not
be ignored. For that reason, at
special meeting Sunday, it was
determined to answer the I'M
warranted and untrue statements
of this man because he happens
to be first lieutenant with Bat
terry E, 265th Coast Artillery.
Florida National Guard. Accord
ingly, a letter from this post
setting forth Mr.. Roberts state
ments and the posts position has
been sent to the Florida Depart
ment Commander of the Ameri-
can Legion for whatever action
he cares to direct after con-
ferring with the Adjutant Cen
eral of the Florida National
Guard.
For the Key West record the
following is a brief outline of
Arthur Sawyer Posts answer to
Mr.. Roberts unfair, uniformed
and misleading statements:
l. Not only has Battery E had
the moral support of Arthur
Sawyer Post in recruiting efforts,
but several of our members have
personally interviewed a number
of prospective recruits and urged
them to enlist.
2. The average age of Ameri-
can Legion members is 46. Very
few of them, if not barred by
their age, could pass the physical
examinations of the army, ma
tional guard, navy, coast guard
and marine corps. Many of our
members are now reservists, some
are still in the regular army, in
Guiding the 18th Coast Artillery,
the navy and coast guard, while
a few have sons in the active
service of the country.
3. Our Legionnaires once pa
raded quite frequently in pa
rades that "count" -parades in
defense of their country. They
were not all drafted, as Mr.. Rob-
erts implied, but even if they
were, no stigma should attach to
the draft. Nearly all nations use
or adopt that principle. and no
one is necessarily coward or
Stacker because he does not en-
list in the National Guard and
quietly awaits the call to duty.
For Mr.. Roberts information we
would like to state that seven
eighths of the world war forces
were called up under the selec-
tive service system. and in the
next war even the members of
Battery E will be drafted into the
federal service. It is a matter of
record that a majority of the
men who saw action in France or
elsewhere were draftees; that a
majority of the world war graves
are occupied by departed draf-
tees; that a majority of the men
still flat on their backs in hos
pitfalls as a result of war wounds
and injuries were draftees.
4. Two members of Battery E
now are members of this post.
Another man was sought as an
officer but was turned down be-
cause of age. Candidates for
lieutenants in Battery E must be
under 37--or does Mr.. Roberts
know that?
5. Arthur Sawyer Post men,
bers will tell their sons to fol-
low any good example set by the
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