Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-01-25
Legion Committee
Urges Continuance
OF Dies Group
Statement Warns OF Peril
Body Believes Facing U. s.
In Coming Months

Below is the text of statement
issued recently by the American
ism Committee of the American
Legion:
"These are perilous days for the
Republic. There have been several
critical episodes since the day
George Washington was sworn il
as our first president, but sterr
resolve, resolute energy and wise
judgement have kept the ship Of
state on an even keel. Today new
and insidious attacks, the like Of
which we have not experienced be.
fore, are being made upon our gov.
eminent. 1t is trinity of at
/ tacks from Communist, Nazi anc
Fascist groups. They are engaged
in an unceasing effort to rip apart
our people, foment strikes, project
religious and race wars, create
hunger and misery, to the end
that revolution shall stalk through
out the land and an authoritarian
dictatorial government of an un.
American brand be established
amongst US.
"What should we, as Americans
who have imbibed from our moth
er's milk love of individual free
dom, liberty and justice, do? Shall
we remain supine and quiescent
or should we be aroused and like
our colonial fathers of old seek out
these marauders. of our govern
ment, expose their diabolic con-
spiracies and send them back to
their cunning masters in whose pay
they are.
"The undersigned, members OF
the Americanism Commission, De.
partment of Maryland, proudly de-
clare that the American Legion has
had as a part of its national
Americanism work since 1919 q
distinct dues tional program
against alien "isms". The Legion
with far-sighted wisdom requested
Congress to appoint committee
which shall investigate un-Ameri-
can activities. Came the Dies Com
mittee. Our organization has
loyalty supported this committee
Recently, the Chicago National
Convention and the National Ex-
ecutive Committee went on record
asking Congress to make possible
the continuation of the Dies Com
mittee. Congressman Dies recent
ly introduced a resolution to con-
tinue the committee for another
two years.
"What has happened? Those
sinister marplots in the pay OF
foreign governments are exercising
every stratagem developed by the
science of propaganda to defeat
the resolution. Aided and abetted
by so-called misguided liberals, I'M
terrified radicals and parlor pinks,
they are waging a subtle cam
paign to defeat House Resolution
No. 321. They would have the
Dies Committee stop it's work.
eve believe that our people, our
citizenry, have the right to know
all the facts about un-American
activities here at home. The Dies
Committee has made known to the
public already some of the find
ings. Now that Europe is witness
sing a war of what may prove OF
holocaust proportions, our enemies
within will, for manifest reasons,
labor diligently and cunningly to
continue their abominable prac-
tees.
"There is definite Americanism
Job for every citizen who wants to
preserve the ideals and traditions
of our government. We urge
every member of the American
Legion, every citizen who believes
that our Constitution is worth
cherishing and our democratic form,
of government worth preserving,
to forthwith address letter or
post card to our Senators and
Congressman urging them to sup
port House Resolution No. S21. Do
not delay! Time is of essence!
Members of Committee:
DIR. w. D. Clodfelter, chairman
George D. Hartman
Joseph A. O'Grady
Edward D. Stone, Jr.