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Show TELLS EOMPERS LEGIOII HOT BIASED National Commander Gives Correspondence With j , Labor Leader j i IN DIANA POL! 3, Ind, Jan. 1. Cor- j rp.ipond.riM between K. W. Oalbraitb Jr., national commander of the American Ameri-can legion, and Samuel Ciompera, president of the American Federation of I.ab'.r, haa been made public at th , national headquarter! of the legion.' The letters, which continue an x-1 rhnnge begun before Mr. Galhralth j took office, reve.il the two executive In accord on the principle that an organization, or-ganization, an aurh, can scarcely be held responsible for acta of Individual member which muy not agree with either the letter or the aplrlt of the body' official pronouncements Both of the corresponrii-nts expreseed the hope" thnt iney mtjhf meeflnd tant over the problems confronting them. The firat letter waa written by Mr. Onltirnltii Novemlver 1 In response o one which Mr. (lompera had aent to Kranklln d'Oller. former commander of the legion, la.t August The labor leader had ealled attention to report! that "members of the American legion wero Improperly participating m certain cer-tain political actlviuea in tha (tat of Kanaaa," and Mr. Oalbralth wrote that a reply had bean delayed because ha nc-ded time to familiarise himself with the situation, lie added: "As reault of an Investigation, the officials of the American legion In Kansas report that the American le-Klon le-Klon did not participate ae auch la the incidents reported to you. If any member of the American legion did take part in any of three reported Incident In-cident It waa entirely upon their own responsibility, without sanction from any official of the American legion and In violation of our expressed policy. OUTLINE PURPOSES. As you know, the American legion is an association of former soldiers, sailors and marines associated for the following purpoeea: "To uphold and defend the constitution constitu-tion of the I'nlted Htates of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a 100 per cent Americanism; Ameri-canism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our association In the great war; to Inculcate a sense of Individual In-dividual obligation to the community, atate and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and good will on earth; to safeguard and transmit trans-mit to posterity the principles of justice, jus-tice, freedom and democracy; to consecrate con-secrate and sanctify our comradeship . other organisations: they don't know the real purpose for which an organisation organ-isation la formed. New organisations especially find It difficult to restrain their members from doing those things which are a menace not only to them but to all the people. "I have been helpful In a way In acquainting the members ef trade-unions trade-unions with real alms and objects of the American legion. On several occasions oc-casions resolutions that have been presented pre-sented In meetings of labor organisations organisa-tions have been laid on the table or defeated because the Information they have received through me In relation to the work of the American legion. Many of your members do not understand under-stand the trade union movement and have been misled aa to the work of the American Federation of Labor and it la my belief that if they knew the renl object of the American Federation Federa-tion of Laibor as outlined at the 1910 convention, it would also be an Influence Influ-ence causing Individuals to cease Interfering In-terfering In any way with the trade, unions. " ' by our devotion to mutual helpfulness. "The position of the American legion le-gion In political controversies Is neutral neu-tral and nonpartisan. We are on record In favor of policies and are not Interested in political differences as they arise In the different sections of the country. ADVOCATES Mtinfty "In a great national organisation It la necessary that the Individual members mem-bers retain to themeelvea ths greatest freedom In matters of political affiliation, affilia-tion, religion, etc., and that they decide de-cide upon their own conduct along these lines strictly In accordance with their own conscience. "Two successive conventions of the American legion have unqualifiedly upheld and reiterated this policy. The people of the United Btatee have the right tee decide for themselves any political po-litical question which may come before be-fore them. The American legion does not believe In the abridgement of this right In any respect The American legion believes In law and order. It Is steadfastly opposed to the use of force or violence In furtherance of any doctrine, end will oppose such methods through the lawfully constituted consti-tuted authorities wherever they may appear. "No one knows more truly than do you that the alma and attitude of a great national association may often be misjudged by the irresponsible conduct con-duct or statements of Individual members mem-bers of the association or by small group of members, and that It sometimes some-times unfortunately occurs that the aewspaper report of such Incidents "Permit me to congratulate you on your election as national commander of the American legion. I hope that some day I shall have the pleasure of meeting you personally and discussing dis-cussing . the problems faced by both organisations." LIKES DECLARATIONS. The reply of Mr. Galhralth. dated November IT, aatd that II was "with a real sense of pride In the fundamental funda-mental soundnes of our American Institutions In-stitutions and aa renewed proof thereof there-of that I read again the American Federation of Labor' declaration of 1910. "la there anything In that declaration declara-tion to which the American legion can object? you aak. Certainly nut. The legion subscribe to every word of It. Compare it to the preamble of the constitution con-stitution of our organisation. But. aa you and I both muat be aware. It Is one thing for a great organisation like the American legion or th American Federation of Labor to aspire to lofty alms and In convention assembled give birth to excellent pronouncements; and It la another thing for such organisations or-ganisations to go out sik) in the daily acts and deliberations of It Individual member and small group always adhere ad-here to such declarations. . . "In this respect the problems of the respective organisations we represent appear to be the same. We have before be-fore us constantly the task of living up to our professed declarations In letter and aplrlt. I venture the same may be said of organised labor. "I ahall look forward with pleasure to the time whn we may meet and personally discuss some of the phases of our common problems." 1 or statement are not strictly accur- I at reports of th facta and elrcum-atancea elrcum-atancea as they occurred. Incident of this nature cannot commit a national na-tional organisation to policies or positions posi-tions In conflict with the policies and positions taken by such sn association at Its conventions or as eel forth In It constitution.1 QOMPERS GRATIFIED. Replying a week later, Mr. Compere wrote: "It I Indeed gratifying to' know that you hav taken the same stsnd as your predecessor, Mr. Franklin d'Olier, and sr Just much In earnest as wss he in conserving th good nam of th American legion. I would ask you If there Is anything in th following declaration by th A. F. of L. convention In 110. to which 'th American legion can object: ! "'Organised labor contends for the ii Improvement of th standard of life, to uproot Ignorance and foster education, educa-tion, to Instil character and manhood .and aa Independent aplrlt among our i people, to bring about a recognition I I of the Interdependence of the modern life of man and his fellowman. It cisims to tmpiiin a normal workday, , take th children from the factory and i the workshop and place them In the i school, the home and playground. In 'a word the unlnna of labor, recognl. Ing the duty of toll, strive to educate their member, to make their borne i more rheerf u I In every way. to contribute con-tribute an earnest effort toward making mak-ing life th better worth living, to avail their member of their right i clttsens and to bear the duties . and I responsibilities and perform the obligations obli-gations they ewe to our country and our fellowmen. Labor contend that In every effort to achieve Its praise-I praise-I worthy end all honorable and lawful I means are not only commendable, but ehould -receive the aympathette ua ' port of every right thinking progress-tv progress-tv man.' I 'DIFFICULT TO RESTRAIN. I "Ton undoubtedly will find that) imemhere'of the American legion, out- 1 I side of a few, are like lae member of |