The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-06-06
One of the First in Iowa Of the
Great Organization Of Sol
diers of the World
War Formed.
CHARTER IS KEEP OPEN
Every Soldier in Keokuk and
Southern Lee County Will {
Have Chance to Become
Charter Member.

The first step toward the organi-
zation OF the Keokuk post OF the
American Legion was taken last
night, when twenfy-one men VINO
had served in the world war met at
the court house and perfected tenn
porary organization and made apph-
cation for a charter. This is one OF
the first posts to be established IN
| the state.
| A temporary organization was
perfected in order to apply for the
charter and to profile for a perma-
nent organization. l. H. Vaughan,
who had been designated by the
state committee to call together the
| first meeting, was named the tenn
porary chairman of the organization
and Leo G. Mckinley the temporary
secretary-treasurer-
Under the temporary organization
1t was decided to apply for charter
Immediately by those men present at
the first meeting.
The men who were present and
who signed the application for
charter were: Leslie H. Vaughan.
Leo G. Mckinley, John S. Sprowls,
Floyd A. Seifert, Louis G. Vermillion,
LIE Roy S. Walsh, William ]. BRASIL,
Nicholas Mckenzie, Jr., Louis Il. NC
Kenzie, Thomas N. Burr1s, Loren D..
| Mecum, Fred j. Keiss, John D. Han
cock. Rolla o. Erdmah, Frank Swan,
Jr., DR.. Frank M. Fuller, DR.. Coral
r. Armentrout, julius J. Jones, Fran
els ]. Weber, Willis w. Tanning,
Walter E Williams.
To Be keoLeuk Post
| A committee composed of DR.. Ar
mentrout. John s. Sprowls and Louis
G. Vermillion was appointed to make
recommendations as to name Tor
the post. Their recommendation was
that 1t should be the Keokuk Post
The decision Of the committee was
accepted and the application for
charter made under that name.
Owing to the fact that there was
some misunderstanding regarding the
first meeting, it was determined to
hold the charter open until the next
meeting, and that all who signed at
| that time should be considered char
ter members. The next meeting was
left subject to the call of the tempo
rary chairman.
That there were not more men out
to the first meeting was felt to De
due to a misunderstanding regarding
the requirements and that the meet
! ing had not been called far enough
in advance.
81 have talked to some Of the men
and they had the impression that
they would have to pay $11 if they
became charter members. They did
not understand that each member
had to pay 81 and that the post
should pay the $40 for the charter.
| I am sure when the men understand
/ that there will be a lot more of them
who will want to become charter
| members" said one of the men pres
ent last night
Has Somebody Been knockins7
ut should not be necessary to urge
! men to Join such a movement, and
I do not think that it will be when
they understand the purpose Of the
organization was the way another
of the men put it. There are some
who think that it will be something
like the national guard, and If they
Join 1t they will have to get out and
do SQUADS east and west, and they
have had enough Of that
Each one of us who Is present
here tonight should make ourselves
a committee Of one to see the other
men and explain to them that 1t is
absolutely non-military and non
political organization"
"The men Of Company L swear by
Colonel Brewer. and if they knew
that he is one of the members of the
state committee, know that every
ana af than would come in" said