Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-25
By John v. Homer

tlonal commander OF the Amer
ican Legion, believes he Is the
last serviceman from World War
I who will head the big veterans
organization.
This may or may not be the
case. but surely the legion win
be hard put to find a more tire
less advocate Of its causes.
During the last IL months,
Commander Connell has Travelled
$4,000 miles on official BUSH
ness for the Legion. In that Pc
Rod, he visited So Of the SO de-
partments-in all AZ States. the
District Of Columbia. Canada,
Alaska, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the
Canal Zone, Hawaii and the
Philippine Islands. He missed
only the departments Of France
and Italy.
Seven Days at Home.
In the so weeks required for
this crowded itinerary. Mr.. Con-
nell managed to spend just seven
days at home in the pleasant
city Of Middletown. Conn.
Few men could have stood the
strain. But Arthur Connell, at
56. comes to the Legion's annual
convention looking as fit as II
he had returned from a long
vacation cruise.
The commander missed not a
single day from his duties be-
cause of sickness or fatigue. In
fact, he failed to fulfill only one
engagement.
That was q luncheon APP
pearance In Houston. Tex, early
this year. A private plane in
which he was flying there on the
day Of the luncheon developed
engine trouble and had to turn
back. Commander Connell
quickly made up for the broken
date. He went to Houston in
March and delivered the delayed
address.
Positive Advocate.
A man of firm convictions, he
Is ever ready to espouse the
Legion's four-point basic pro-
gram: The rehabilitation Of
veterans. child welfare, Ameri-
canism and national security. He
is a positive advocate of the pro-
gram, never on the defensive.
This is illustrated by his posi-
ton on the controversial SUBJ
ject of veterans disqualification.
Last fall" he said. 'the very
heart of the entire veterans pro-
gram-the hospital and medical
service-was the object of sus-
tanned attack by powerful forces
in this country.
1--WE met that attack head-on,
not with wild charges but with
facts. We let the people know
that there is another side-a
factual and honorable side-to
the picture that was being drawn
by some of the spokesman for
the American Medical Associa-
ton.
I'VE countered the ANA
charges whenever and wherever
they were made. with the result
that this particular anti-veteran
crusade lost not only Roadway
but followers"
No "Free Rides"
Commander Connell declared
the Legion asks no handouts or
free rides for 20 million veterans
but does ask and will continue
to fight for the finest possible
treatment of those veterans who
''need and have earned the as
sistance of a grateful Govern
raent."
Mr.. Connell is particularly in
terested in the Legion program
for child welfare and sound
citizenship training for Ameri-
can youth. He sees a healthy
sign in recent public discussion
of school board policies and
classroom curricula, although
he comedies some criticism has
gone too far.
Strictly speaking, he says.
there are no outsiders in the
field of public education. He be-
lieves the school system. like the
Government. depends upon pop
ular understanding and partici-
patton.
eff education is a public re-
sponsibility," he said recently,
"then the people have the duty
to examine and question what
is being done In the schools.
Here, as in all other public is
sues, there is room and need
for honest differences Of opin-
ion.
Would Hear All Views.
1.-THE last thing we want, it
seems to me, is to discourage
parents and other interested
parties from expressing views
that differ from those having
official sanction.
There has developed a tend
ency. both in and out of the
teaching profession. to regard
every suggested change or criti-
cisin of existing techniQues as an
attack upon education. We Of
the Legion are concerned about
that trend. because we feel 1t
threatens to wipe out a lot Of
the constructive curiosity and
concern attracted to our schools
In the past"
Would Emphasize History.
He is a strong advocate Of
emphasis upon history courses:
1.-THE study of history. of the
American heritage. should be not
only a part but the most dra-
matte and unforgettable part OF
every youngsters school ex-