Evening journal., 1916-12-28
Defense BODY IS
killed By BAKER
American Legion, With 25,-
900 Trained Men,
Frowned Upon
NO REASON GIVEN
FOR OPPOSITION

NEW YORK, Dec. 2S-The Ameri-
can Legion, which was Incorporated in
March, 1915, to discover and organize
men capable OF giving and willing to
give specialized services to the gov
eminent In the event of war. will dis
incorporate on January /. at the d.
rectlon or Newton ID. Baker. Secretary
OF war It's records, which include
the names of $4,000 trained. adven-
turous men, have been turned over TO
tue Council Of National Defence.
we must disband." said DR.. John T.
Hausmann, secretary OF the organiza-
uon. because We have been unable TO
OBTAIN governmental recognition. Don
ask me why we couldn't get it, for [
haven't the slightest idea. have made
countless trips to Washington for
That purpose and, although army and
navy men favored our plan, could
get no satisfaction from the Secretary
Of War.
With governmental recognition wa
could get 100000 men, each trained i'm
some particular work that would rem
der him valuable for military service
Without it we have $4,000. | sincerely
hope that some use is going to be
made by the government OF those
names. but [ fear that they will be
pigoonhOlcd.
No Reason for Opposition.
at first thought that the Opposi
tion Of tho administration was base
on political reasons because William n
Taft, Theodore Roosevelt and men win
had served in their cabinets, were mem
bcrs of our council. But there is neither
political nor religious sigifcance in thi
body. II is purely patriotic, and ! ca
conceive of no reason why our worl
should be halted"
In the announcement IL was said tina
although all members ware release
from obligation of promise of servic
OF payment of dues" the Secretary O
War had been requested TO communicat
with each that his services might b
utilized by Tire Officers Reserve Corps O
similar bodies. Volunteering as aids t
the Red Cross is suggested TO those VIII
wish to render further individual sci
vice.
The $4,000 members were divided int
more tina eighty classifcations. Their
were wireless operators. chauffcurs, SIN
geons, cooks, telegraphers, electricians
interpreters and host of others @
Hausmann estimated that 80 TO 40 pt
cent. could qualify as commissioned off
GERS
Men Trained and Patriotic.
"They are not only trained men,
he said. but they are patriotic
eager and adventurous. Some havl
served in the European war or ar
serving there now. others in the Doe
war and others. engineers or mem
bers of exploring parties have pene
trated wildernesses. Every one o
they would join the cOlors at the drol
of the hat. We got numerous Querie
by telegraph, when the guard wa
ordered TO the border, from member
who wanted to volunteer
The membership dues were >
cents year and their aggregate wa
insufficient by far to meet the neces
sary expenses of the organization
The deficit has been met by an in
dividual, not a director i'm the league
who has remained anonymous.
In the council OF the league wer
Theodore Roosevelt, William Howar
Taft. Elihu Root. Jacob NJ Dickinson
Henry y. Stimson, George Won /
Meyer. Truman H. Newherry an
Charles J. Bonaparte Alexander T
White. OF New York. was presiden
and Roy d. Jones, of Boston, vice
president. The directors were J
Ormonde Power, Theodore Roosevelt
Jr.. A. S. Hoffman, Henry g. Walsi
Frederick Trevor Hill. Henry Roger
Winthrop. CORTLAND Smith w.
Hornaday. Regis Henri Post, Charlie
II. Frost and Samuel Wesley Long.
Many Paciiists Proposed.
Soon after the league was forme
the American League TO Limit Arm;
ments began to send protests by vii
to Washington. Its members objecte
10 the activity of General Leonar
Wood and Captain Johnston in b.
half of the American Legion. Bisho
Greer and Dr.. Stephen S. Wise wei
among those who called the Pres
dents attention TO General Woods a.
tons.
In response to a message sent
Bishop Greer, who admitted that II
source of information was the press
General Wood sent sharp messas
expressing his Indignation that fu
Their investigation had not been mae
before censuring him to the Pres
DENT. General Wood declared thi
his approval Of the league was NJ
official but was an expression OF b
private opinion.