Evening star., 1942-06-08
liked at Attacks, Legion Offers
To Cease Defense Work Here
Department Aide Protests to Young, Soying
Members Are Accused of Being 'Drunks

on the letter, saying he did not
want to embarrass the Commits
sioner, but he thought he should
be advised OF "a little circumstance"
that has occurred.
The circumstancme apparently
involved an offer made by the
Legion to help the Columbia Heights
area raise its local defense fund
by holding ball or dance in the
American Legion home, which is
located in Columbia Heights.
Offers Legion Building.
The offer, which. according to the
letter. included use of the building,
music for the ball and purchase
of necessary number of tickets to
permit the ball to be held, was re-
ferred by the local OCD to the Co
lmbia Heights area warden, Rudolph
Blick.
The writer referred this matter
to Mr.. Blick on the afternoon OF
June s." wrote Mr.. Luther. AT a
meeting in the Amsterdam apart
ments of the air raid wardens in the
Columbia Heights area. presided
over by Mr. Nash, on the eve
ming of June S, this offer was pre-
sented"
Mr.. Luther then charged in his
letter that during the meeting one
of the air raid wardens questioned
whether the offer OF the American
Legion should be accepted in view
of the fact that the American Le-
gion members were drunkards and
a bunch of drunks were coming in
and out of the building at 2437
Fifteenth street NV, and in gen.
eral attacked the character and in
tegrity of the membership of the
American Legion in the District of
Columbia"
Wants Action Taken.
This same man has publicly done
this before" Mr. Luther continued.
When questioned by another zone
warden, a Mr.. Benjamin Aronsohn.
a member of the American Legion.
who stated that he did not feel that
such statements should go without
demand for retraction, Mr.. Nash,
who was in the chair. stated that he
was aware Of the situation and had
a letter in his file which he would
be glad to show to Mr.. Aronsohn.
When later asked by Mr.. Aron-
sohn to show him the letter, he in
O i'm i,,f l,a L. l.
Office and Mr.. Aronsohn could come
and see it."
This letter is addressed to YOU
with the purpose of acquainting you
with a situation about which we of
the American Legion feel some ac-
ton should be taken" Mr.. Luther
wrote.
The American Legion, as you
know, represents some $1,000 citi-
zens actively participating in civic
affairs in the city of Washington,
and through their activities in vet
erans' affairs. represent a total of
approximately 10000 veterans and
their families residing in this city.
Anxious to Be of Service.
THE American Legion, under
mandate of its national organiza-
ton, has extended the hand of CO.
operation to the civilian defense au-
thorities in the city of Washington
on repeated occasions. AS an or
ganizauOn, the offers of assistance
and cooperation have not been &C
cepted.
individually, you will find Legion
naires and members of the auxiliary
and World War veterans serving in
every civilian capacity that you can
name in the city of Washington and
doing so with realization that
there is a job to be done and they
are willing to do their part regard
less of what that job may entail"
IF it is the desire of your office
that the American Legion and its
membership withdraw from all ci-
william activities in the defense of
their CITY," Mr.. Luther wrote Com
missioner Young. "a memorandum
from your office is all that is nee
eSsary, and instructions will be is
sued from this Office which will take
every Legionnaire in the city of
Washington off of every type of
civilian defense activity in which we
are now serving"
In closing the letter, Mr. Luther
said the Legion is most willing and
anxious to be of service in the Dis
trict of Columbia, individually and
as an organization and with all of
our resources. if you desire to use
them, and it is equally as willing to
withdraw from all civilian defense
activities if it is your wish that
they do So
Mr.. Luther told The Star he hoped
the situation would be Strengthened
out. but if 1t Is not we will take
some action"