The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-11-06
AMERICAN LEGION
CONVENTION SOON
GREAT GATHERING OF EX-SOL.
DIERS AT MINNEAPOLIS
NOVEMBER 10 TO ~

Advance delegates from every
state in the union will assemble in
Minneapolis this week to consider
the tentative program and other i'm
portant preliminary matters for the
first annual convention of The Amer
lean Legion which will be called to
order at ten o'clock next Monday
morning by Henry D. Lindsey, chair
man of the National Executive com
mittee. 1t is estimated that at least
$500 delegates representing approx
imately 1,000,0 600 former soldiers,
the Legion, will attend this conven-
ton, the purpose of which is to es-
tablish the Legion's permanent or
ganization and determine its future
policy.
The business before the convention
will be of vital interest both to ex-
service men and women and to the
country at large. The program will
include the election of permanent of
ficers for the ensuing year; the adj
option of a permanent constitution
and policy of organization; location
of national headquarters; member
ship questions of eligibility; nomen-
~clature OF post, state and national Of
ficerS, and many other questions of
organization nature. In addition, the
Legion will take action on such ques-
tons of national Importance as the
future military policy of the United
States; educational facilities for ex-
service men and women; proper care
and rehabilitation of the wounded;
war risk Insurance.; financial. and
other help for ex-service men needing
assistance and soldier land legisla-
ton.
The convention which opens next
Monday will be the first general as
sembly of the American Legion
since the Paris and st. Louis caucuses
last March and May, respectively,
when the organization of the Legion
was started. At the Minneapolis
convention the Legion will be offic-
tally established as a big new factor
in American life and affairs. The
elected representatives of the million
men and women who served in the
great war and who have Joined the
Legion will epxress at the convention
that things that are on their minds
and will fix the course, policy and
activity of the American Legion for
the ensuing year.
Since the Paris and st. Louis meet
lngs, the American Legion has been
organized nationally and locally with
an active state branch in every state
and local posts in almost every COM
munity. On October 9th there were
5000 local posts chartered by the
national executive committee and
135 others organized and awaiting |
national charters. The approximate
membership of the Legion on that
date was more than SOC, 900 and
there is every indication that when
all the state organizations report to
national secretary at Minneapolis
Friday the total membership of
the Legion will exceed 1000, 900. In
to the posts in the United
States there are three posts in AL
aska, n in Cuba, three in Hawaii.
.ne IN Mexico and one in Panama.
Whatever actions are taken bv the
convention will be the
Will of the majority of the Legion.
although distinctions of rank and
service have been abolished among
he Legion members since it's concep-
loH, IL Is Interesting 60 note that the
expression of the convention will be
he expression of the former enlisted
nan for the greatest number of Of
icers in the service during the great
was 100000 and not all of these
re yet members of the American
In addition to this endorsement of
doughboy himself as the national
~rganization of American veterans !
t the great war, the American Leg
On has been officially recognized as /;
UGH by national, state and local of +,
lcials and by congress which grant 5
d the Legion a national charter. the 2
lrst ever bestowed upon an organi-
of this kind.