St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1959-12-11
The American Legion Meets
Challenge


The decision of the Legion
national commander Martin McKneay with
of the Legion name
embems will be hailed everywhere
40 for the American
Legion recognize inconsistency veterans organization
barring of the nations from any group or
adjunct parent organization because of color
There number of contributing factors to the Legion
decision to drop the
ton. Among believe these
Rising objection departments of states like Mime
NY and New Jersey to the 40
racial bar.
Admission of Hawaii he population
problem for the Legion and its
subsidiary
The 40 SIS lifting of the Jose by
initiated ChineseAmercan veteran who
happened Jose businessman
among Negro-Americ veterans especially
against the American Legions continuing
40 bar This situation kept thousands of
Negro joining the Legion and also kept those who
constantly the defensive.
alleged widening breach Legion headquarters
Indianapolis Legion hierarchy and the 40
policy matters of which the issue only
part evidently a
factona struggle for
power the organization
The close by narrowly
Legion
Minneapolis August.
The apparently nnocuous passed by
Legion constitution
specifically barred discrimination its membership against
This resolution the for last weeks
by National Commander dropping the 40
The continued subboness Of the 40 guided IN its position
abetted number of northern
The resignation of Congressman Charles Dggs Detroit
Negro after the convention 1859 failed to
discontinue its discriminatory practices Dggs
resignation worldwide press coverage
n US exemphfied by NJ
Senators Javts and Heating over the American Legion BODY
chartered the US continuing allow its biggest
constitution.
growing number northern 40 & members who
just realizing the implications of whites only policy
when effort being made to reduce racial differences
their place in the world
growing number Negro
by integrated
these which racial
proved
the danger to national unity of such practices
of national commander Martin McKneay
important development
victory decency democracy organization
which should represent the best in Aercansm patriotism
We could Negro Legonaire
which last week bounced the 40 but in all thness we cannot
just notable exceptions Legonaires
with the intoerable 40 situation with scarcely
often actually resented attempt by the Negro the
militant Legtonares criticise rectfy
ago Minnesota Legonaire Benjamin Peery,
Angeles resident manuy Negro bret
Legion holy against the bigoed
only membership requirement He considerable help
Legonaires hardly brother Negro Legionares
The Negro Lonaire who has waged battle against
whites only" provisions
Ohio kept up running
Legion family against the racial prescription
He fought good fight against the odds he found his
represented by the vote the SO convention
81 of the 12 Ohio delegates stood with Johnson
with considerable pride that position
the Minnesota department
heads the attempt the
the 40 leadership
votes in
40 bigotry
The Minnesota attitude admirably
by Minnesota T Lindholm wh
cOurageousy resigned November chape
in protest of the
There who declare the against
40 will not change the organizations policy
1t will Even If does not alter the
policy it will put the American condemns
defending policy that has made
Amercansm and held the organization rdice
From now on it is to the 40 operate nx
Sone-Age outfit that's it's bad luck challenge
true and practcng Amecanism membership REQUIRE
men to permit veteran regardless of thei
color to join the deserve forgiveness paen
body the American Legion organic
It's o" run ana special project feels
necessary to the work the 40 doing
event the American