The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-02-09
BY DOUGLASS LARSEN
NEA Staff Correspondent

Washington. Feb. 9-The
attack by John Stelle, Nation
al Commander of the Ameri-
can Legion, on Gen. Omar
n. Bradley and the Veteran Ad-
ministration has set of a bomb
within the Legion and has given
World War II veterans organiza-
tons new lease on life.
Led by Amvets and the Ameri-
can Veterans Committee, World
War II veterans organizations are
capitalizing on the bad publicity
attracted by STEELE and the Legion
and are reporting increased MEM
bership.
Meanwhile the Legion is seeth-
ing with internal strife over the
rlckus. There is a movement on
foot to Dust STEELE as National Com
mander. And Legion heads are
cropping for something to restore
their damaged prestige at this cru
cial time when millions OF veterans
are making up their minds about
which veterans organization to
join.
COMMITTEE TO MEET
The Legion's executive committee
meets Feb. II. Several members OF
the committee plan to put STEELE
on the carpet and make him ac-
count for his antics. No Legion
commander has ever been kicked
out before. But the Legion has
faced such an important year.
In all the noise and confusion,
which has been raised by STEELE S
request that Congress investigate
VA and give Bradley's job to a
business man these facts stand:
!. There has been no denial, by
Bradley or any of the men or Or
ganizations which came to his de-
Tense, that the figure the Legion
gave, on how far VA was in ar
rears In its work, were true. 1t must
be assumed the Veterans Admin
istration, then, is just as begged
down as STEELE claims And Stelle's
charges about the Slowness OF the
VA hospital plan haven't yet been
answered.
2. STEELE did have the mandate
Of the Legion to ask Congress 10
investigate VA. 1t was based on
q study Of VA facilities by the Le-
gions legislative committee.
3. STEELE did not have the man
date Of the Legion TO ask for Brad
ley's custer.
4. STEELE has not successfully
denied that he had a telephone
argument with Bradley over Brad
ley's refusal to put hospital III
Stelle's home town. McLeansboro'
III, shortly before his attack.
II Is this latter fact which mas
Legion big-wigs worried. They stood
ready to back up every charge mace
against the Veterans Administra-
ton. But they now feel their whole
cause was oiscredited when per-
sonalities were brought IN.
What goes on in Veterans Ad-
ministration has always been con-
sidered a sort of family affair by
Legion heads. Frequently they have
criticized it sharply but have man
aged to leave the Administrator S
name out of 1t, even though ne
HlLlfnaLeiy NhS lAtS
man. They used this publicity as
a sort Of persuader.
SHOCKED LEGION
Months before former VA heao
Gen. Frank 7. Hines was easeo
out. the Legion knew what sao
shape affairs Of VA were in. But
they got Hines out smoothly; There
Is no indication that the legisia.,
tive committee of the Legion had
the least idea Of getting Bradley
out when they made their report
10 STEELE. Stelle's direct attack on
Bradley was his own idea, and ne
shocked members Of the Legion by
his method Of making II.
The Legion Is now studying pro-
posals which it plans tot make 70
Congress which would help VeLer-
ans Administration get on It's ieel'