The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-10-01
MARION'S EX-
SERVICE MEN
Should Attend in Full Force the
Meeting of the American Legion
Tomorrow Night

The American Legion, the Marion
county post Of which meets in regular
session tomorrow night at o'clock IN
the Board OF Trade rooms, Ocala, is
daily becoming a most formidable
organization in this country. 1t now
has a membership of upwards of a
million or more. The American Le-
glon Weekly. official publication of the
legion, Is gaining in circulation by
leaps and bounds No man who was
in the army, navy or marine corps
during the world war can fail TO be-
come a member of this organization,
if he is at all interested in the vital
problems now affecting the nation and
the world. The Marion county ex-
service men should be at the meeting
tomorrow night.
Some idea of the work that is be-
ing done by the American Legion is
&c be gained from the action taken at
the st. Louis meeting.
/. 1t demanded investigation of
the pardon and subsequent honorable
discharge by the war department of
convicted conscientious DIRECTORS.
2. 1t strongly condemned the ac-
tivities of the |. W. VS., the anarch-
lists and the international socialists.
3. 1t demanded of Congress the
same disability pay for men of the
national guard and national army as
row pertains to those in the regular
establishment
4. 1t initiated a campaign to Sc
cure to service men their rights and
privileges under the war risk insur-
ance act.
5. 1t demanded that Congress
should deport to their own countries
those aliens who refused to join the
cclors at the outbreak of the war. and
pleaded their citizenship in other
countries to escape the draft.
s. 1t undertook TO see that dis
abled soldiers. sailors and marines
should be brought into contact with
the rehabilitation department of the
government, which department helps
them to learn TO gain lucrative occu-
pations.
Z. It demanded that nationalized
citizens convicted under the espionage
4
celled and shall be deported.
s. 1t authorized the appointment
| of a competent legislative committee
| to see that the above recommenda-
tlons were effectively acted upon by
| Congress, and that committee has
! been appointed and is now at work.
! 8. It authorized the establishment
of a bureau to aid service men TO get
unemployment; and of legal bureau
to help them get from the government
their overdue pay. and allotment.
Since the st. Louis convention. il
has among other things thrown a
spotlight upon the federal board for
vocational education, and has shown
tnat this board has failed to keep its
promises to disabled veterans. The
legion is now demanding punishment
of all those responsible for the alleged
necessary wrongs inflicted against of
ficers and men of the A. E. F., and
recommends legislation which viii
prevent such conditions from agair
being placed upon the military force:
OF the United States.
At the national convention of the
legion in Minneapolis, Nov. 18th
many questions of great moment are
to be disposed of. 1t is expected thai
Marshal Foch. commander in chief OF
the allied armies in the field, will bt
the guest of this convention. Florida
must get busy and have as large {
representation as possible at the
Minneapolis gathering.