The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-04-24
LEGION CONVENTION
FORMALLY OPENED


They fully realize the terrific
seriousness of their present situa
ton and unquestionably appre.
ciate it is a life and death struggle
in which they are determined tc
win out, no matter what the cost.
''The morale of both the civilian
population and the armed forces
is excellent. The armed forces
particularly are hungry to close
with their enemy and get their
hands on him. / would not like to
try to land or place an invading
force among them. The civilian
population is unselfishly sacrific-
ing and courageously carrying on.
They sorely need war ma
terials, munitions, and certain
food supplies, and it is definitely
in the balance whether they can
win without them; that is, the ac-
tual delivery to them, in Great
Britain, of these much needed
munitions and food supplies, with
which their ultimate victory is
practically certain.
Germany is conducting care
fully planned, relentless, and be-
sieging warfare by submarine and
bomber upon English shipping,
its life lines and terminals, and
while the British air force is con-
fident that Germany will never
secure supremacy of the air over
England, and the army is con-
fident that an invasion can not
ultimately be successful, never
theless, the British realize the
great threat against their ship
ping. and the difficulty actually to
get munitions and supplies into
England.
This, in part, was our report to
the national executive committee,
composed of one representative
from every state in the Union.
"They debated and discussed
our report for two days, and may
/ say this committee is repre-
sentative of all lines of political
thought, geographical location,
economic and social standing in
the United States. 1t is true
cross-section of our country"
Emphasizing the American Lee
gion does not take part in any
labor disputes, National Com
mander Warner said the organiza-
ton stood for law and order.
Let us consider one example
which has come to your attention
quite recently, the commander
said. Outside the Ford factory
in Michigan groups of men with
clubs engaged in beating into UNI
consciousness certain workmen
who were proceeding unarmed
and in a lawful manner to their
regular place of employment.
You know that it is true be-
cause you saw the photographs of
the actual beatings in your daily
newspapers. There is no mystery
about it. We still have a free press
in the United States, and some
very alert and very courage
Gus photographers went out there
and got the news. So we saw law
lessness and disorder with our
own eyes. Who was responsible
for il?
"On one side the mayor and
chief of police of that community
have the first responsibility. If
they fail, the governor has the
next responsibility If he has not
the force 10 maintain order, the
President has the final respon-
sibility Under our system of
government there is no doubt
about that.
"On the other side of the ques-
ton. who is responsible, First,
the men with the clubs who did
the beating. Second, the leaders
of those men, who inspired them
to do it, and from them right up
the line TO the national head of
the organization they represent. I
refer to the leadership Of the
Congress of Industrial Organiza-
tons l mention this because
their responsibility is very great.
That leadership has not, so far
as we have any evidence, made
any effort 10 clean their organiza-
ton Of radical and communist
elements which promote lawleSS-
ness and diSorder--not to win
strikes as they claim-hut to Grip
pie the defense work Of the United
States and cripple the govern
ment Of the United States. We
have vet 90 observe the removal
81 a single anti-American agita-
tor from the personnel Of that
union leadership On the CON
trary that leadership recently is
sued a statement in which there
was a pre- judging OF the efforts of
the United States Of America 10
remove a radical agiiator from
the Clio ranks.
The United States is moving.
lawfully and in an orderly man
ner. To try Harry Bridges ard de
termine If he is a dcportablc
alien.
Does the labor leadership In
fNFfN .-.~.A-..s A. s,.s.F..f &