The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1940-07-25
Speakers at American Legion Convention
Urge U. S. Defense, Fight Subversive Forces

0HI OuUVcISINC ! OINCS
tional commander of the American
Legion, in the Roxy theatre in Glas
gov Friday morning at II.
The national commander spoke
before some 700 Legionnaires and
in joint department ses-
sion. Outside the theatre a crowd
of more than $50 heard his talk,
which was also broadcast over
KICK.
DR.. Mark D. Hoyt, mayor, of
Glasgow, gave welcome address
after he was introduced by George
M Gosman of Dillon, department
commander.
Governor Gives Greeting
Greetings from Montana were
given the distinguished speaker by
Gov. Roy E. Ayers of Helena, who
said in part, 1T is obvious to any
thinking person that, however the
present conflicts in Europe and Asia
may be finally determined, we shall
live in world vast sections Of
which will be reduced to utter
chaos.
IF any of the cultural, economic,
social, political and moral progress
achieved in tens of centuries of
strife, toll and sacrifice are to be
salvaged for the benefit of genera
tons to come, it will be the task
of this great republic of ours to per-
form that operation.
I'VE are at this moment faced
with two impelling duties. The
first is to exert every possible eff
fort consistent with our national
safety to keep out of war; and the
second is to hasten with all the re-
sources of material wealth and in
dustrial genius to prepare our coun-
try against any possibility of sue
cessful attack from other lands.
Those are to be performed before all
others.
Slight Sacrifice
'sThose of us who will sacrifice
only to the extent of paying in
creased taxes to our government IN
order that it may successfully repel
attack will assuredly find it easier
to render that comparatively light
service without complaint if we can
be constantly reminded Of what you
men and millions Of others like you
SO willingly and courageously did
when our country called to you
nearly a quarter of century ago.
I'VE who have known war want
enced the cost of war which is 9
moral and economic carousal," Com
mander Kelly began. I'VE saw the
awakening the morning after aftel
we had signed the check for the BIZ
party, as America did"
rs it worth an effort to main
tain a national sobriety7 The lie
gion thinks So"
Not AT Any Price"
Legionnaires now find it difficult
to define the cause for which their
comrades gave their all, he CON
tinued. At the same time, they want
it distinctly understood that they
do not want supine pacifism OIL
peace at any price Some things
he said, are worse than War--loss
of our international rights, our dig
nifty, our territorial limits and pos,
sessions. These are all worth de,
Tending.
Every citizen has a solemn duty
to defend his country against al
enemies, foreign and domestic" ht
declared.
If we are to remain at peace, WE
first must build our defenses ST
our wishes as a nation will be re
spected and when we make state
ments they will not be greeted will
jeers across the waters. We shoule
be SO strong no nation will want t.
war with us, strong enough to repe
any combination of aggressors.
Not Fought With Sentiment
Il say it is not the will of tn,
people that we should become in
volved overseas. But if the peopl
did want that, with what would w
intervene2" he asked. Modern war
are not fought with sympathy ant
sentiment, nor with blueprints 70
the future"
I'VE must become armed to tn
teeth. We are the worlds creates
nation, envied by many and hate
by most. All of the Is nations Whicl
have succumbed to the blitzkrie
had bigger armies than we.
Lets not throw insults at power
full nations until we can back ther
up
A complete armament program
was advocated by the national com
mander with, above all, traine
men.
You have now become aware q
a people of what the Legion ha
been aware for years, the fift
!.