Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1959-12-11
The American Legion Meets
Challenge

GhaIlenge
The Legion through its
Mcheay withdraw afaton with
40 and ban that organization from use Of the Legion name or
emblerns everywhere fairmnded Americans
The shame has been that it took over 40 years for the
inconsistency organization
barring the nations from
adjunct parent organization because color
There number of contributing factors to the Legion
drop with largest vets Organiz
Among believe these:
Rising objection Legion departments like Mime
Connecticut Pennsylvania the 40
loyal posed problem the Legion and its
40 & subsidiary
g. The 40 & SIS lifting of Jose by
body who
to be successful San Jose businessman
Resentment NegroAmercan veterans especially
World War against the American Legons continuing
tolerance of the 40 race bar This situation Kept thousands oil
Negro joining kept those who
werem constantly defensive,
alleged widening breach Legion headquarters in
Indianapolis Legion hierarchy
pariarchs policy only
minute part and which was evidently as
40 faction in Legion fractional struggle for
power n organization
g. of by & 8 narrowly
American Legion 1859 convention
Minneapolis August
T. The apparently innocuous passed by
which constitution
specifically barred discrimination in its membership against any
resolution the stage for last weeks
action by The dropping the 40
guided its position
abeed number of northern
The resignation of Congressman Charles Digg Detroit
gan Negro convention 1859 failed to
discriminatory practices Diggs
resignation received worldwide press cOverage.
10. the us. Senate exempHhed by NY
Heating Legion body
by government continuing allow biggest
affiliate practice undemOac policies defiance of the Legons
IL. growing nmb OF & members who
realizing implications whites only policy in
when effort being made to reduce racial differences to
their proper place in the world
IL growing Negro
by integatsd armed forces
groups
danger national unity Of such practices
1s The Of national commander Martin McKneay
All these factors were important development
a victory decency democracy
represent the best in Amercanim patriotism.
We American Negro Legionaire
generally played bringing
which last week bounced the 40 but in all thness cannot
just exceptions Negro American put
up with the ntOlerabe 40 situation with scarcely and
actually
Legionares criticse recfy the situation
ago LegiOnaire Benjamin
Angeles manfy enlist his Minnesota breth
ern in the Legion holy against bgoted
only membership requirement help
Iegonaes but hardly n Negro Iegonaires
Negro
only provisions Johnson the Cleveland
Ohio, kept running
fought good fight against
represented
81 the 124 Ohio delegates stood with johnson against the whites
only" clause
considerable pride that
department Legion which spear
convention against
arrogant leadership departments
votes cast the August Legion National Convention against
40 & bigotry
The Minnesota attitude the issue admirably demonstrated
by who
cowageousy resigned chapter
in protest Of the ban.
declare the Legion against
10 will not change the organizations policy We believe
It alter organizations membership
policy will put the American Legion condonng
defending policy that made mocey Legons
Amercanm held the entire
From it the 40 & If it operate
stOneAge outfit that's it's bad luck challenge
true and pracng Amecanm and alters its
ments its members invite regardless
color to the deserve the parent
Legion