“We wish to withdraw that implication,” Mr. Cummings said.  “We wish to state to you as a solid Illinois delegation that we give full faith and credit to the high, patriotic motive which prompted this gentleman in making the speech to you which he did and in bringing before this organization the question which he did.  We feel on cooler deliberation and upon giving the matter the thought which its importance demanded, that he is helping us and that he has placed the American Legion in a position to help us to move in a body politic, to overcome certain things in the State of Illinois and blot out pro-Germanism.

[Illustration:  Gaspar Bacon Treasurer]

Three State Chairmen

[Illustration:  John F.J.  Herbert Massachusetts
  Photo by Gray, Worcester, Mass.]

[Illustration:  Henry G. Mathewson California]

[Illustration:  Cornelius W. Wickersham New York]

“I say that the American Legion is bigger than any man; it is bigger than any State; it is bigger than any combination of States; it is the unified action of the millions of men who were willing to sacrifice their lives, their fortunes, their all on the altar of this country for the cause of democracy, to make the world safe for democracy, and they are going to help us make Illinois come to the front and clean its skirts of the stigma which is attached.  We know that you are going to help us in it, and with the support of the American Legion, nothing will stop us from cleaning our skirts, from washing our dirty linen at home.  When the next convention of the American Legion is held, as soon as we have had an opportunity or the boys in khaki and blue have had an opportunity to give an honest expression of views on the question of Burgomaster Thompson, we will come through with clean skirts, we will stand before you without a question as to the patriotism of the great City of Chicago and the State of Illinois.  We are for the American Legion first, last, and all the time, and I will pledge Illinois’ seven hundred thousand soldiers who have gone to the front for the colors in this organization to a man.”

“... and clean its skirts of the stigma which is attached and we know you are going to help us in it, for we will have the support of the American Legion and with that support when the boys from over there get back, nothing will stop us from cleaning our skirts....”

Attention is drawn specifically to that sentence, because it affords an excellent opportunity to explain the difference between politics and policies.  The Legion has policies but it is not political.  One prime policy is the demand for one hundred per cent.  Americanism.  Whoever or whatever cannot read that mark, be it Chicago’s mayor or the Seattle Soldier’s Council, the Legion’s caution is “measure up.”  The Legion, as the Legion will not go into municipal politics in Chicago but the members of the various posts in