The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1919-11-19
The American Legion
and What it it

l have had a good many ex-service !
men ask me the question, what is !
the American Legion?" So, for the
benefit of those who wish to know and
who are not in touch with some mem
Der of the Legion, l shall try to give
in this article sketch of the Legion's
purpose and aims.
On Feb. Is, 1919, twenty members
of the A. E. F. who were in Paris for
conference on conditions in the A. E.
F., decided that something should be
done 10 launch an "After the War
organization. Being members of the
A. E. F., to decide that thing
should be done was to decide to do it.
So on March Is, 1919, caucus made
up of men of the A. E. F. invited
from all the divisions in France met
at Paris, formed an organization and
adopted the name of "The American
Legion" This organization now has
more than a million members, with
posts in every state in the union.
The question, what is the Ameri-
can Legion?" might very we'll be
answered in this one sentence: The
American Legion is an organization
of soldiers, sailors and marines who
served in the World War, established
for their own welfare and the well
fare of the United States.
Now the question very naturally
arises, in what way can such an or
ganization serve the veteran and his
country? Here is The answer: Any
organization of a million or more
voters can WELD powerful influence
! in the United States. Certainly an
organization made up of the best
citizens of the country (Which think
you will grant the ex-service men
are) and of men who, as Governor
Roberts said Nov. 18th in his speech
at Maryville, ''have a place secure in
the hearts of the nation" can WELD a
far greater influence. Just now the
Legion is welding this influence to
bring order out of the war risk mud
die, to cause the expectation of alien
slackers, and to make the Federal
Board for Vocational Training more
efficient, as well as many other
things of varied Importance for the
welfare of the veteran.
At present the American Legion
national convention is in session al
Minneapolis, and the power of the
Legion's influence may be gaugec
from the fact that more than sever
hundred bills introduced in congress.
have been tabled awaiting an expires
sion from this convention. SO yol
see the Legion represents the veteran
whether he is a member or not, ant
if you are an ex service man and no
member. of the Legion you are il
! the same position as a voter dis
franchised because he has not PAL
his poll tax.
Of course, it goes without sayin
that the Legions' influence can b
welded just as effectively for tn
welfare of the country in general
That this grea: responsibility will b
properly borne, think there is yer,
little doubt Surely the men VIII
fought to preserve the nation will
work 10 make it greater and better
In my opinion the Legion will prov
to be the greatest law and orde
league in the world.
In closing this article, as a repre-
sentative of the local post, l ext end t.
all honorably discharged soldiers
sailors and marines who served dur
ing the late war a cordial invitation
to join The American Legion an,
continue to serve the country tina
you saved.
-- Leslie G. Walker,
Adjutant Captain Emerson j. Lone
Post No. 10.