Iditarod pioneer., 1916-07-01
THE AMERICAN LEGION,
 ITS OBJECTS AND MAKEUP

We are under obligations to Major George W. AlDrecht for the following information regarding the American Legion its objects and plans. The patriotic purpose Of the organization has made an especial appeal to all classes of citizens and its member ship includes many of the most prominent men in the land, including ex.re,idauts Roosevelt and Taft:
 Tie United States government has no record of the present addresses aod quail. hcations of its honorably discharged sol Gers, sailors and marines, nor has 1t !n formation of available men trained ill tine various occupations essential to the con duet of modern war.
 The American Legion is formed to en- roIl the names of all such citizens quail fled either by previous military or tech nica experience and who will now express their willingness to respond in case the government should at any time need tleir services The information obtained by the Legion, carefully classified as to quallhca- ti0ns and localities by a thorough system of cross-indeXing, is intended for the Use of the government.
 The advice of officers of the Grmy nay and marine corps was ob aimed as to the kind of information valuable to tn" gov ernment and also as to tie best method of conducting the great amount Of detail work involved.
 The Legion will not organi2e into mih tary units, nor require any drill or as*em- blaze; nor arm or equip its members, winch functions, when necessary, are for the gov ernment to perform. Members VII be nn- der no obligation of service 10 the LeGlon but must inform the secretary Of changes of address By hi~ enrolment the citizen expresses his intention and desire to serve the government, and states in what man her he is especially qualified so to serve.
 In order to facilitate obtaining enrIj ments and classifying names by qualitica- tions and by localities, a number of com mittees and auxiliary committees will be appointed. who will have the duty of su- r,e.> isinE the work in its several chief G"i- siCh, a, above outlined.
 The management and control of the Le- sion are vested ill an advisory membership of three hundred representative c.tI2cn-, chosen from all sections >f the country, anH headed by q council composed of not more than rna members.
 The service membership of the legion .hsu be composed of:
 First Men of previous experience in tn" army, navy or marine corps of tie tmtei States, or in the national guard CT naval militia of any of the states.
 Second Men especially tra.rei in any of the numerous vacations drawn upon to meet the conditions of modern warfare. such as navigation, aviation, operator ot motor-cars and motorcycles, and al trades in which technical and skilled manual labor is cmployed. Of vital importance aiso will ha the services of those trained in surgery, medicine and nursing. The form of aD- 1ication blank rectes eighty-tNo distinct vocaticns compraed in the above divisions.
 < man may be qualified in either class CT in both classes of the Legion, and those who are not qualified to enroll in either of these classes can, nevertheless, render most laluahIe service by obtaining the names and errciinlent of those who are so fitted
 Men serving in the army, navy or marine corps of the United States, or in the na- Hanl guard Of any of the several s)a;e> being in the frst line of Gefenre, are not cligihle for enrolment in the Legion. Uron their resignation CT honorable discharge they however, become eligible,
 Each application for membership will be carefully passed upon. and in case of ac- ccptance the applicant will receive ceT- titicate of enrolment
 1 The dues of service members are ? cents per annum The dues of advisory mem ! bers gre $5 per annum.
 i The insignia is pnamcled on a button | and consists of a blue star on d white heIL on tha outer edge of which is a red circle | This button is distributed to members of | the Legion for the sum of p cents and i all are expected to wear it.
 There may be difference of opinion as to the extent of preparation necessary t9r CUT national defense There should be but one opinion as to the wisdom of loasen,ng | our present unpreparedness and of collect ing and indexing information in regard to those who are especially qualified ana i are willing to serve their country if needed. | There is vast difference between nlh- 1 tarism and ordinary commcn-sense pre- ! caution.
 No more conservative step in the direc i tiCn of advance preparation than that aG- yocated by the Legion has yet been oe vised. The Legion creates no new means | of natIOnGl defense 1t merely collects, CO., i ordinateS and makes instantly aVa.laHIa for 1 time of need such material as already eX 1 ists
 i President Wilson has said that inc United States in cage of war must depend chiefly upon ''citzenry trained and accustomed to arms" What the Legion plans to Go iS to provide the necessary advance inf 'rm2- tion regarding citizens already trained and accustomed to arms" and in other essen taI occupations, SO that in ca@e ot war the work of the government will be greatly i facilitated.
 The work of the Legion should appceI to all American citizens, and it is earnestly honed it will receive their active supper, and assistance in the attainment of the ob- | jects for which it was formed. Major Albrecht has a supply of enroll ment blanks, and wishes to hear from every i ex-soldier CT sailor who is still physically Ct ond ,rbO |. ,o,ontoIly- ,r1ir)Npd tO apain