Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-11-11
GREETINGS SENT TO
AMERICAN LEGION
BY MARSHALFOCH
Georgia Delegation Headed
by Basil Stockbridge, State
Chairman, Present at
Minneapolis Convention

MINNEAPOLIS, Mimi, Nov. 10
To give the American legion per-
manent shape and declare its poll
cies as a force in the social and
governmental life Of the nation, two
thousand delegates representing all
sections and classes Of service men
and women started their first con-
vention here today.
Governor Burnquist, President
Emeritus Northrup, of the University
of Minnesota, and Mayor Meyers de-
livered brief speeches at the opening
session, which was called to order by
Henry D. Lindsey. of Texas, ma
tional chairman.
Discussion Of candidates for ma
tional officers with at least a dozen
prominently mentioned for first ma
tional head of the legion has brought
an emphatic refusal from at least
one delegate.
when I say no, 1 mean no." de-
clared Theodore Roosevelt, one OF
the delegates from New York, when
his candidacy was mentioned. 9th
ers receiving support from their
state delegations and other include
Thomas S. Wolms4ey, of Louisiana;
Milton ]. Foreman, of Chicago; Hen
ny D. Lindsey, of Texas, and Ben
son w. Hough, of Ohio.
Prepare Program
With a mass of decisions affect
ing organization to be settled, first
consideration today was given to Sc
lection of committees and a tenta-
tive program prepared by an advance
committee of state of&CerS for SUBJ
mission to the first session.
Increase in dues, said to be neces-
sary to continue publication of the
American Legion Weekly, will be
recommended, it is announced to-
night.
The proposed increase was one of
four recommendations adopted pre-
viously by advance committees and
discussed last night by the delegates
already assembled as representatives
of 100000 former soldiers, sailors,
marines and women war veterans.
The other three proposals to be
presented are:
Selection of nineteen convention
committees by state delegations.
Adoption of brief tentative pro-
gram for the organization business
of the convention.
Greetings From Foch
Greetings from Marshal Foch, al
lied commander-in-chi were trans
mitted by ]. ]. Jusserand, French
ambassador to the United States.
Marshal Foch's message follows:
The 18th of November, 1918,
saw the capitulation of the en-
emY;g vanquished Germany was
craving for mercy and she de-
/livered over to us such trophies
as history never has known.
This was indeed the victory of
the allied armies, who ardently
fighting, who had united in a
supreme, continuous and violent
effort all their energies as they
had united, all their hopes.
With head erect, the valiant
American fighters of the Ar
gonne, of the Meuse, of the
Somme, Of Flanders. after hard
days, resumed once more, by the
side of the allies, the march to-
ward the Rhine.
In this day, when for the first
time we celebrate the anniver-
sary of the armistice, 1 want to
be with you to commemorate the
past and to tell you that with
our eyes ever raised toward the
same ideal of justice and liberty.
we must remain united as we
have been in the days of trial
and the days of triumph.
Sends Cordial Greetings
Proud to have been at your
head, l send my most cordial
oraotinCrc RI Tho nf tho
great war, illustrious by their
immortal deeds, and to those
who, in the camps of America.
were preparing with ardor to
come and take their part in the
battle.
Lastly, I wish to salute, as
ever living in a memory of the
past and on the Threshold of
a future common to us, the
tombs of those who lie in the
soil of France, resting there as
symbol of our indissoluble
union.
The accompanying letter from Mr..
Jusserand said:
marshal has very truly expressed the
feelings of every French citizen"
He wrote that Marshal Foch was
prevented from coming to the con-
vention of those who took part or
were drilling to take part, in the
world conflict" by circumstances
(which will be understood by every
Af IL