The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1947-08-28
Veterans Agoin
Give Voice To
Wise Policies

BY Charles d. Rowe

by NUArlCS -. AgOWC
I have always had much admira-
ton for most of the policies con-
corning government advocated by
the American Legion. The veterans
Americanization program has al
ways been of a high order and sound
in every respect Like comment
can be made regarding their recon-
mendationS for national defense
They have long advocated universal
military training, believing that
one of the best safeguards against
another war is a prepared nation,
and that national weakness only in
vites attack While the veterans
have always stood steadfastly for a
strong army and navy, no one can
charge them with desiring war.
They know the horrors of war by
personal experience. They also know
that strong nation is the best in
surance for the maintaining of
peace.
An echo of this long-held policy
was heard last week at the Wash
ington state convention of the A
merican Legion, held in Spokane.
One of the speakers at the conven-
ton was Brig Gen Leon w. John
son. congressional medal of honor
winner and now commanding gen
eral Of the 18th air force at Colo
RADIO Springs, Colo. Speaking for
an adequate national defense. Gen.
johnson said:
We want peace. Yes. But not
peace dictated by an alien con-
queror with a political philosophy
entirely at variance with What we
have come to call the American
wav of life.
The general insisted that he is
not a 'waTmonger,' but that he is
in reality a "peacemonger, trying
to prevent war by encouraging the
conviction that Strength is our only
salvation
The speaker drew vigorous APP
plauSe when he said This is not
a time to shut our eyes and close
our ears and wait for a newer and
more terrible Pearl Harbor-this is
the time to wake up
Every real American can agree
Fundamentally with the attack
made by the Legionnaires on com
munism and in the adoption of three
resolutions which asked for:
An immediate embargo on the
shipment of scrap iron and petrol
cum products to Russia, as well as
on many products which might be
used as materials for war except
for food. clothing and medicine.
2. Availability of F. B. l. files
for investigation of any office seeker
in the United States, suspected of
un-American activities or affilia-
tons, unless the attorney general
decides the opening of a particular
file might impair the national
security
g. And, active and aggressive
programs post-by-post in the state
to sell Americans on America" to
defeat the propaganda being cir
culated by un-American groups
Someone long years ago said that
Providence called the New World
into existence to redress the bal
ance of the old.
Every passing year seems to add
to the truth of that wise statement.
Today Europe and Asia are in an
intolerable mess. After a devas-
tating war, confusion, pestilence and
famine seem to be the order of the
day. And the entire world is look
ing to the United States to lift it out
of the mire and pitfalls into which
the quarreling and poverty -strick-
en- nations have worked themselves.
Truly the job of the New World to-
day is to redress the balance of the
old Are we strong enough and
wise enough to do it?
On our recent trip to Portland,
Ore. we witnessed the after effects
of two bad accidents on the high
way. In one car was piled onto
some rocks beside the highway and
an oldish woman was laid out on
a stretcher and calling for Father"
as we drew near A large number |
of cars had stopped and everything |
was being done for the injured that
was possible.
In the other accident an auto was
bridging a narrow and deep ditch |
at the highways edge, with the car
turned over on it's side We couldn't
determine whether or not anyone
was injured as the occupants had
been removed when we
drove by.
In both incidents there apparent
ly was no excuse for an accident.
The first one was on a level and
straight stretch of highway. The
other one right in the edge of a
town with nothing to cause a mis-
hap so far as could be seen. Per-
haps there was excessive speed, or
perhaps a reckless passing car might
have crowded the other one off the
The two incidents were merely
to US of what is taking
,lace on our highways all the time.
And the blame rests squarely on
he people themselves. We thought
4 the outstanding efforts being
made on every hand to prevent
highway accidents. Curves are
marked carefully, dangerous hills
re pointed out TO the driver before
is car fully reaches the danger,