The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1915-07-24
After Lusitania Disaster New
Members Poured In, and Within
a Week the Organization Had
TrebIed-Its Aim Is to Register
All Citizens Wiling to Be Called
In Case Country Is Attacked.

~ ECENT events have made mat
tiers hum in the offices of the
American legion Since May
Z the number OF citizens seek
ing membership has more than trebled.
Hundreds Of applications pour In by
every mail, Secretary John Z. Haus-
mann says.
1.-THE objects of the American legion
are now becoming more generally un-
dentood and appreciated" said DIR.
Hausmann In an interview. I'VE are
not seeking to keep men who are able
60 do so from joining the United States
army or navy or the militia OF their
state. We are not q substitute for
those forces.
Those forces form the nations first
line Of defense. We shall not prevent
one solitary man from joining the ma
tional guard II he can. Our purpose is
to make possible the nations second
line and maybe also the third line Of
defense and by the simplest form of
organization to make it Immediately
available should the country have need
to call upon II.
Doesn't Believe In Arms.
"We do not believe In militarfsm.
but We do believe in being able to de-
fend ourselves II attacked.
1.-THE aim of the American legion Is
the accumulation Of such data as to
the available civilian material in the
country as would be OF value should
the country have t. face a serious
emergency-such data as Is not collect
ed under any law. such data as In a
nation like ours is >erhaps best collect
ed voluntarily and such as. In the event
Of a national crisis involving the ne
cessity Of a call to arms. would furnish
the means of swift and efficient organ
ization. This is very different from
muitarism and really prevents militar-
ism in all its Objectionable forms.
when the birth Of the legion was
announced two months ago an impetu-
Gus public jumped TO the conclusion
that 1t was to be a mighty fighting or
%ganization Of armed, uniformed and
regularly drilled men. Such is not the
case. The members of the legion are
not armed; have no uniform except u
small button and no military exercises
are provided for their training.
"All the legion seeks to be is a well
organized, well managed. thoroughly
reliable bureau of information, ready
10 supply at a moments notice just
such information as the government or
the United States would need II sud-
denly called upon to back up Its au-
thority with force Of arms To enable
the immediate location of the men VINO
will be needed. such men as expert
merchant navigators, chaufeurs, rail-
road engineers and fremen. telegraph
operators, aviators. civil. electrical aud
mechanical engineers and men In 9TH
or vacations whose services win be
needed and needed quick; 1t Is In that
the American legion expects to prove
its value in a possible time of trouble.
Powers Stronger After War.
Locally the members may form rine
clubs and that sort Of thing. That
WIN be In their own discretion. There
can be no doubt that the fact Of mem
In the legion win inspire Amer
to have regard to their direct
usefulness to the state n their ideals
In the event Of danger.
.Mauy dangers are possible. 1t must
not be forgotten that when the war In
Europe is over the European nations
PARTICULARLY the v~ictors. will be much
,tronger than before. We know that
the United States was never so strong