The Redwood gazette., 1919-10-08
'AmeriGan Legion
States Its Purpose


A severe and entirely unjust at
tack was made upon the aims and
purposes of the American Legion at
Labor meeting held in st. Paul last
Tuesday night. In view Of this at
tack and the misinformation which st
carried with it, the following state
ment was prepared by authoritative
members of the Legion, is worthy the
consideration of every thinking Am
erican citizen:
The flrst caucus of the Legion was
held in Paris March 15 and was at
tended by 1000 delegates, represent
ing each combat division and each
section of the S. o. S. The delegates
consisted Of forty per cent from the
commissioned ranks and sixty per
cent from the enlisted prsonell. Tt
merely laid the ground work for an
organization, recommending that it
be called the American Legion, and
designated joint nommittee of men
who came from the al. E. f. and men
who had not served on the other side
which was to arrange for a further
caucus at later date.
This caucus was to be held in a
sNOA1CAc4AJ 4OIdbGA 5C1tyt a11d q 3 ClACA al
invitation was extended through the
Interested in the idea of the Ameri-
can Legion, and to existing soldier
organizations.
Caucus Held at St. Louis.
The caucus assemble at st. Lou 8
May to 10 as the result. It was
attended by 1900 men, representing
every state and territory in the I'm
ion. The basis of representation was
two delegates for each member of the
states representation In Congress,
and wit hfew, exceptions the repre-
sentation from each state was COM
plete. Delegates from several pre-
viously existing soldier organizations
were also seated. This caucus drew
up tentative constitution, appoint
ed temporary officers, and passed GER
tain resolutions. fixed place and a
date for the first national convention,
J which will be Minneapolis, Noven1-
fber 10, II and IL at which tirae the
proceedings of the ST. Louis caucus
will be presented for ratification or
amendment, permanent officers elect
ed, prominent national headquar-
ters established and the organization
of the national body completed.
This convention will be attended
by delegates elected from each state
on the basis of double the number Of
delegates at large for the states con-
gressional representa- on and one adj
diional delegate at large for each
1000 members in good standing.
"The local post Is the unit Of the
Legion. 1t elects its delegates to the
state convention, which must be held
prior to the national convention and
the state convention decides the man
ner in which the delegates shall be
chosen for the national convent on.
Delegates come instructed from
the local posts, the state delegations
are instructed and it is believed that
if there is anything in this theory of
representative. form of government,
that the procedure above outlined
should insure that the convention will
represent the majority sentiment of
Legion members.
100 Per Cent American
'The purpose of the Legion is best
expressed in the preamble of the con-
stitution, which is as follows:
For God and Country we asso-
ciate ourselves together for, the fol-
lowing purposes: To uphold and de-
fend the constitution Of the United
States of America. to maintain law
and order, to foster and perpetuate
a 100 per cent Americanism, to pre-
serve the memories and incidents of
our association in the Great War, to
inculcate a sense Of the individual
obligation to the community, state
and nation, to make right the maste~
of might, to promote peace and good
will on earth, to safeguard and trans
NIT to posterity the principles of
freedom justice and democracy, to
sanctify our comradeship by our de-
votion to mutual helpfulness.'
Principles of Legion.
The resolutions passed at the ST.
Louis convention covered the follow
ing points:
1T demanded investigation of the
pardon and subsequent honorable dis
charge by the War Department Of
! convicted conscientious objectors.
1T strongly condemns the activi-
ties of the /. w. W., anarchists and
red radical Socialists.
1T recommended that Congress
Continued on last page.)