Evening star., 1919-05-04
POLITICS NOT AIM
Of WAR VETERANS
Col. E. Lester Jones So De-
| clares in Outlining Pur-
pose of Organization.
PROGRAM AT ST. LOUIS

The organization of veterans Of the
world war which is to be formed at
a conference in st. Louis May 8, and
10 will not become political power
If the Washington delegates to the
meeting have their way.
Col E. Lester Jones, commander OF
Gen. Peshing Post. No 1, of this city,
last night made public seven princf-
piles which he will advocate for any
soldiers organization which may be
created out of the st. Louis gathering.
One of these principles reads:
While no veteran who enters the
organization should alter in any sense
his political views, party affiliations
or favoritism by the organization
should be Stunned. On the other
hand. the organization should be use
full in every way possible by CO.
operating with Congress in all Amer
lean policies for the welfare of the
nation. We should be in favor Of
ideals and policies that will tend to
benefit the members of the great or
ganization as well as our country"
Additional Recommendations.
The other six recommendations
which he will lay before the meeting
are:
To effect a permanent organiza-
tion of men who served in the armed
forces during the recent war.
Perpetuate the association. COM
.radeship and ideals engendered by
the country in it's time of stress.
Adopt a name which will indicate
the origin, purpose and membership
OF the organization.
adopt and place in immediate oper-
alton a definite constitution which
shall present in crystallized form the
general purpose of the association
and the conditions under which 1t
shall function
There should be no rank, creed,
caste or sect in the organization. The
enlisted man. the general, the seaman
and the admiral will be comrades
alike. This comradeship, which is
dear to everybody, is doubly dear to
the enlisted man. for he is in the
majority, holds the balance of power.
and on him will rest the burden of
directing the policies Of the nation
wide organization.
There should be immediate steps
taken for suitable recognition of the
Eeomen CD. marinettes. Red Cross,
Salvation Army, Knights of Columbus,
Y. NJ. c. A.. National Guards that were
not in the federal service. draft boards
and all other organizations that did
50 much in the war"
Washington First to Organize.
In view of the fact that Washing
ton was the first city in the country
TO organize veterans of the war the
Washington delegates at st. Louis are
expected to take a prominent part in
the formation of the national asso-
citation of veterans.
Perhaps no group Of delegates will
go to st. Louis backed by better
organized post than will the men
from Washington. Nor is there like
~ to be a post represented there
with members from as many branches
OF the military service as that of the
District of Columbia
Because this is the seat of govern
ment 1t housed during the war tho
headquarters of practically every
branch OF the Army. Navy and Marine
Corps Consequently. when the war
ended and the suggestion was made
to organize the veterans, there were
IN washington picked men from
military and naval forces
This does not mean that the WASH
fngton post is one dominated by the
hundreds of officers who performed
their war service in the capital
Enlisted Mems Organization.
The organization is an enlisted
mans organization as well, II not
more so than an officers" writes
Serst William G. Glenn Of the ord
nance department, in the April issue
OF the Veteran, official publication
OF Pershing Post, No. /, FOR the
simple reason that the enrolment of
comrades in Gen. Pershing Post, No. i.
70 GATE Is approximately 90 per cent en-,
listed men. Also enlisted men are
well represented on all Important
committees. There is no plausible er-
cuse nor reason for prejudice of rank
TO exist at present or at ony other
time" e1
In addition to the delesates from
the states of the Union, there will he
At the caucus in st. Louis representa-
ives OF the soldiers who still are in
europe. At a convention held in Paris
March 10 to IL last these Representa-
tives were empowered TO juin with
their comrades on this side OF the
ocean In the formation Of a yeterana'
organization.
whatever preliminary steps .r.
taken at the st. Louis cancus will he
rat1ned at a convention to be held IN
me autumn, probably November. Ev
tnat time 1t is expected tina. ali Amer
leap soldiers will be home and the
work of binding together in one aso
sociation the several million ,nan ~
enlisted in the world war will he ~