The sun., 1915-03-28

army or navy training. Second. ~
also aim to register and enroll every
man who can shoot straight and who
has learned how to take care Of him
self while roughing II in the open.
This means cowboys, sdventurers.
prospectors. trappers. constabulary
and all Of that illk.
These two things are the purpose
of the American Legion in general.
The details may be many or few.
according as conditions and the Wis
dom " those directing the organiza-
ton may dictate. But In the main
enrolment means merely that you
will always keep the legion informed
OF where YOU may be found. This Is
the only service or routine or obliga-
ton that you will be called upon to
fulfil while the country IL at peace
and may she long remain at peace"
How came you 10 take hold OF this
idea so energetically. Mr.. Hoffman?
Are you an enthusiastic ex-arny man
or National Guardsman?
The Father OF the American Legion
smiled n grim smile Of reminiscent
aversion.
run urlhFNC HpADI lou
mean that take delight in drills
and marches and problems Of STRAIT
egy7 Forever banish suoh . notion
Of mo. II is because know some
thing about military drill that haUo
decided aversion to Il.
AT the Ohio State University Dur
ing the sessions OF 1884, and 18et-6
I was a member OF the battalion
forming che military attachment Of
the institution. We had four COM
panies. numbering between 800 and
400 young fellows We drilled ffve
days a week. and we drilled with due
diligence, you may believe.
The memory OF Il fingers yet
Sometimes. even now, twenty years
after those drills. II hear some one In
advertently uss the word Attention. -
I nnd myself starting UP from my
desk. shrrider,ngiy. and clicking my
heels together. You can't prove by
me that a military drill a. school Is
re grand thing that rao,d militar-
lists make f. II may be, but not as
I see Il demonstrated in me.
NO. do not urge the American
Legion because of any military lean
ing All the gl.ttering things about
sod,ery. the Fold braid. the trap
pings. tho medals-ail are Of small
pulling power with me. But In so
far as the disciplined nFfcng man
may be needed, and needed quickly.
in time OF my oo-intrys danger.
am a champion Of military orsanixa-
ton and readiness.
Lr HAsN
completes his term OF service IN tho
United states army and navy. unless
re Is an officer Of quite some rank
the Government loses all track Of
him. Yes. the man who has served
the flag for several years quits after
stated term and II swallowed up In
civilian life, with no way Of getting
20 him IN case ne Should he needed
quickly. Other Governments make u
special point never 20 lose track ~
their honorably discharged men
Whenever such men shit their place
ot abode the Government notes II.
The ex-sold'er ia always on the wire
Now. this viii form ono Of the
main duties and functions Of tha
American Legion. Every man who
possesses a training that viii he o,
value 10 h,s country IN case OF war
Will b~ enrolled. numhered. classified.
ross-indexed. with his address kept
right up 20 date. should war threaten
even before = 's formally declared.
and Wien the Government has only
begun perhaps. 20 think that Il vii
have 20 proceed 20 extrerntties-the
American Legion lists can be turned
right over 20 the Army and Navy de-
partments. and the men enrolled be
notified 70 hold themselves ready FOR
ord~rs or they may be assigned 10
immediate duty.
There are those who chestilv de-
clare that we do not need 70 be pre-
pared Ike other nations because we
can whip any nation on earth. once
We get after Il. What is this assur-
ance based upon? Twice only in the
l39 years OF our existence have we
fought a first class Power. Roth
times our foe-Eng,and-had bigger
war on her hands IN Europe. In the
Revolution We were helped by France.
after losing more battles than we
won. In tho war OF 1912 we lost every