Evening star., 1941-01-31
CutArmyW
Fees, Legion
Urges Unions
Defense Commission
Asked to Distribute
Jobs Geographically

The American Legion's National
Employment Committee ended a
two-day conference at the Ambassa-
dor Hotel today after adopting a
resolution urging local units of Or
ganized labor to "omit or substan-
italy reduce" initiation fees in con-
nection with national defense con-
tracts.
Without mentioning any specific
cases, the committee said its action
was aimed particularly at national
defense projects of temporary"
character such as the building of
cantonements, where workmen are
hired for short periods.
The committee also urged the Ma
tional Defense Commission to dis
tribute contracts and subcontracts
geographically so far as possible to
avoid needless migration of labor
into concentrated centers. In
building new factories for defense
industries, care should be taken to
avoid placing them in concentrated
centers, the committee declared.
In another resolution, directed to
Legion departments and posts, the
committee urged them to work close
II with the Farm Security Admins
tration in placing veterans whose
principal experience has been on
farms, in farm occupations.
c. C. c. Commended.
A fourth resolution commended
the Civilian Conservation Corps
Administration for providing voca-
tional training and "refresher"
courses for veterans of the World
War to fit them for work in defense
industries. The measure also re-
quested the American Legion's Leg
islation Committee to seek any
amendment deemed necessary to
facilitate this training.
The committees conference is one
Of four Legion conclaves being held
here today and tomorrow The Re-
habilitation Committee, meeting at
the Hamilton Hotel, and the Legisla-
tive Committee, in session at Legion
headquarters, 1903 K street NV,
were expected to adopt resolutions
this afternoon.
Meanwhile, American Legion child
welfare workers from seven States
and the District, opening their an
nual regional conference at the
Washington Hotel, heard a warning
against neglect of legislative gains
relating to disabled veterans and
their dependents.
Frank Samuels of Indianapolis,
national adjutant of the American
Legion, told the workers that efforts
must be made to safeguard these
gains while giving full cooperation
to the national defense and aid-to-
Britain programs.
Would Repel Amy Invasion.
"We want America strong enough
to meet any possible invasion" he
said, "and be able to turn back any
invader from our shores, so that our
homes can remain intact and our
families secure.
IF fighting is found necessary to
defend our country" Mr.. Samuels
added, I'VE insist on being prepared
to do our fighting outside the United
States"
The Legion, he declared, is giving
full support to this Nations efforts
to give aid to all countries resisting
aggression and will continue to in
sist that this Government give such
aid "as is consistent with our oblI-
cations, our liberty and our peace"
The people may rely on one as
surance, that this country will not
go to war of its own accord because
we are not an aggressive Nation and
have no imperialistic aims" Mr..
Samuels declared.
The morning session was devoted
largely to a round-table discussion
of accomplishments in child welfare
work since the last Area B Confer
ence, with reports being given by
department child welfare chairmen
from the District, Delaware, Mary
land, New Jersey, New York. Penn
sylvania, Puerto Rico, Virginia and
West Virginia. Milt D. Campbell,
assistant to the director OF the
Legion National Child Welfare Di-
x,icioY, y1reci6aJ ovor tho Jico,,ecicp